6.15.2010

Experiments in Time Travel

I've been to many cities year. Hong Kong. Corpus Christi. Orlando. Venice. New York. Looking through my dad's pictures I see that he's also been to these places. We just missed each other by about four decades.

One of my favorite possessions is a picture of him feeding pigeons at Piazza San Marco, Venice. When I went with my mom five years ago, all I could think about was that we were standing where he once stood. We were marveling buildings and shooing pigeons just at different moments in time. I visited Venice again last fall and it should have occurred to me to replicate his photos frame by frame. Since most tourists take the same pictures anyway, I came pretty close.

It's not everyday that I go to Hiroshima or Rome. But now when I travel, I'm going to replicate my parents' photos.  

Time Travel Experiment #1: Washington Square Park, New York


Present: I visited New York in April, 2010. 
Past: My dad (far right) studied at NYU in the early 70's. Not sure who the couple is next to him.

Report: The fountain in the park was in the process of being relocated but otherwise the other landmarks were the mostly same. The streetlamp had been updated to a triple light and the apartment building behind the Arc still stood. 

8 comments:

allison orphan said...

Raina, I love this idea of replicating past photos! What a great post!

lshih003 said...

This is AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWESOME!!! Can I come with you? Hot tub time machine. AHHHHHHHHHHH

Raina Lee said...

aww, thanks allison!

lijay, you can come with as long as you don't bring skanks into the hot tub "time machine"

Unknown said...

I have pictures of my dad traveling on business trip in Europe. I should find them and replicate them myself if I ever find myself in Rome...

Andrew Hsieh said...

This is more than just a little bit poignant to me. Glad to see the pidgeons are still over there, though, bahah.

Parisa said...

this is the most important project in the world.
xo p

Raina Lee said...

thanks, poketo, let's all start replicating our parental photos and make a book!

andrew, yes, neverending pigeons. that's how you know its NYC.

awww p, thanks, xoxo

RLee said...

What great idea and a wonderful tribute to your parents. You should definitely make a book!

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