Documenting your family | Cup of Joe (name pending) ep.1 

Last year we took my grandmother to the airport so she could fly to Thailand, where she would live out the rest of her life. On my way to the car, I managed to grab my camera that just happened to have a portrait lens on it. Just before she boarded the plane, I danced around her to get her to laugh, a laugh that filled the airport and encouraged everyone around her to laugh with her. I snapped a few photos with the intention of just sharing them on social media. I didn't know that this would be the last time I'd see my grandmother. She fell ill this year and died unexpectedly. It was all so sudden, I didn't even get to say goodbye or attend her funeral in Thailand. But, my family over there sent me photos of her viewing, and to my surprise, they made large prints of the photos I took on our last day together. I am humbled knowing that the centerpiece of her memorial was an image of her, full of genuine happiness. I may not have gotten to say any last words, but that's okay, because in a way I still got a chance to share what she meant to me.

This is such important and good advice. You have the right approach to the matter. My dad is 98 now. He started taking photos as a young boy and has taken photos of his life and the family all his life and still does and of excellent quality. He has dozens of thick home made cardboard albums with b+w photos and handwritten comments regarding the date and subject. These photos have not changed the slightest since I first saw them as a small boy. From the 60s he started to shoot slides, but he has always made prints and albums alongside. He has no computer, so he still rely on prints from his digital dslr. I have inherited his passion from a kid when I inherited his camera when he upgraded to his first slr in 58 and nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing how treasured all our photos will be one day. Although the numer of photos taken have exploded with the smartphone cameras, I doubt that the next generations will have many family photos to look at, because people generally don't back up and they don't print, and they don't really have intreest in the process and art of photography as such, so most of the multimegapixels will probably be lost along the way. I make photobooks of essential photos or family events that I think will be of interest to my children and grand children, because I don't think my harddrives with 100.000+ of photos will ever be of any relevance to anybody else than me. Thanks for your always spot on vlogs.

Joseph, another great video of yours. I've been following your channel for quite a while now, and very much against my nature to value privacy over comfort online (greetings from Germany! ;) finally subscribed to it just now, because you simply deserve the support. I really find your content and your whole thoughtful approach to photography very refreshing and valuable! Particularly in these gear obsessed times, it's wonderful to see you dig into the reasoning and motivation behind taking actual photos that tell a memorable story, not just test shots of ISO and DOF results. Couple that with your amazing calm and positive attitude and you've got a real RU-vid treat for us who love photography. Thanks for investing the time and energy into this channel, it is much appreciated!

Very inspirational episode and comforting to hear you articulate what I what I've enjoyed doing for the last 50 years. I was blessed with a mother who did the same and taught me the basics of darkroom "post processing" when I got started. To go a step further, I've scanned, restored and documented thousands of photos from old photo albums of my parents and (great-)grandparents from the last 125 years to preserve them for not only my kids but also for my brother, sisters and cousins. Some of these (originally tiny) prints really come to life with a little bit of image enhancement and viewed on a large computer screen.

Hey Joe, firstly thank you very much tor your tips and tricks etc with Olympus gear and this is why I'm here, I've been enjoying it while learning at the same time, this video hits home though with your passion of just being the guy with the Camera, I've been that guy for many years and have documented all my family's and friends lives just by carrying my old Minolta 110mm camera with me long before phone cameras, I was the guy with the camera and it was always a pleasure and never a problem, always loved it without knowing and that passion still burns, this is a really cool take on this over a whiskey and thank you for your time and effort on all your videos,

Brilliant! Lovin me a wee dram now and again.. Not to mention, a nice cigar.. As for the annoying photographer, I rain supreme among friends & family! They can run, but they can't hide.. LOL.. Truth be told, over the years, all have come to learn that those moments captured are priceless to them now.. They tend to be less 'head shy' these days.. Many times, the simple snaps are the best.. My small part in pictorial history.. And yes, I have off times bemoaned my absence in photos.. But your comments regarding the refection of the photographer in his or her work is comforting.. I love visiting someones home, and finding a framed print of that friend or family on a table, or hanging on a wall.. A lot of the memories of the day it was taken come back to me.. I must admit, I also get a kick out of sneaking my reflection into the shot.. Who hasn't, right? Some times I try to hide it, if possible.. Hey, and thanks for the heads up on Nick Carver.. Great video sight.. And, he's right here in Orange County, Ca! OK, here's my four "shots" for the series title.. Reflections in the glass.. Reflecting on the glass.. Reflections through a glass.. Reflecting with a glass..

Another excellent video; thanks! I am in the phase of my life where I'm spending most of my time either working or with family. I started photography maybe 20 years ago, and sure enough, the photos that have staying power are ones of my family and friends. For the rest, I kind of just roll my eyes at my poor skill level. For the family photos, if The Decisive Moment was captured in anything approaching a competent level, it's a win.

Thank you for this wonderful video Joe. I wish I'd found it earlier! I loved hearing your thoughts on being the family historian. Saving this video in my library

Joseph, well said ... Perhaps "a whiskey time with Joe " , this way I can have some too ... You hit the nail on ... , with the handy camera. I use my PEN-F with 17 mm f1.8 , very compact setup with great flexibility and outstanding image quality. Well, my family lives in Europe, so for me it is a "must" to document all my visits ...etc, and also for last 35 years I have been documenting our school reunions ( only my classroom) which we have every 5 years and every time it is just a ..." memory lane ..." when we go back

Thank you for the ideas and input. I like the concept of the video. Looking forward to the next one.

Great thoughts Joe. Very helpful for me as a new dad, and just what I needed to hear. Thank you!

Nice video Joe,One of life's great pleasures for me at least is finding an old album usually in the loft in a box that you forgot about. How do you think we will be viewing pictures in say 30yrs time ?

Kind of reminded me of this song... Time it was And what a time it was, it was A time of innocence A time of confidences Long ago it must be I have a photograph Preserve your memories They're all that's left you.

Loved that aside "Oh, that's good!" :)

Useful tips . Thankyou

The Balvenie Blog? The Talisker Talk?

Lovely thoughts Joe. I recently bought an E-M5 for that purpose :). What kind of lens do you have on your e-m10 III most of the time for this purpose? For me it's a little paradoxical, you want to be close and unobtrusive at the same time.

Thanks for the thoughts on family pictures. Being ready is a challenge for me. I fumble around too much. What do you do with flash for your quick family picture camera?

Maybe I missed it, but what lens do you keep on your em10? I keep the 17mm f1.8 for most of my family shots but sometimes I wish I had something better for portraits and changing lenses interrupts the grab and go philosophy.

Better to drink on the rocks than to be on the rocks so why not : "on the rocks" !

Did you say my daily scotch. You may have a problem.