Photography was a way for me to freeze time and to capture the

The words of Rachel Morrison, “Photography was a way for me to freeze time and to capture the moments that were happy and healthy. I saw a photo as a way to go back to a memory if I ever needed to,” carry the weight of longing, remembrance, and the human desire to preserve what is fleeting. In them, she reveals the sacred power of the image—not merely as art, but as an anchor of the soul. Time is a relentless river, forever carrying us forward, and in its flow we lose the laughter, the warmth, the faces of those we love. But through photography, Morrison discovered a way to hold onto fragments of eternity, a way to return to joy when the heart is weary.

At its heart, this teaching is about the fragility of memory. Human recollection fades; the voice of a mother, the smile of a friend, the glow of a sunset—all dissolve with time. Yet the photograph stands as a defiance against forgetting. It allows the soul to revisit the past, not as imagination alone, but with eyes that see again the very moment. In Morrison’s wisdom, we see that photography is not simply the art of looking outward, but a tool of preservation, a bridge between what was and what remains.

The origin of this truth lies in Morrison’s own life and craft. As the first woman ever nominated for an Academy Award in cinematography, she understood images not just as storytelling but as vessels of emotion. For her, the camera was not only an instrument for others, but also a personal refuge, a way to keep alive the beauty of times that might otherwise be swallowed by sorrow or loss. Each photo was more than a picture—it was a promise that she could return to that happiness when the present grew heavy.

History itself echoes this wisdom. Consider the ancient Romans, who carved likenesses of their ancestors in marble, so that future generations might remember their faces and feel their presence. Or think of the soldiers of the First World War, who carried faded photographs of wives, children, and sweethearts tucked into their jackets. In the midst of horror, those fragile images became lifelines, reminders of home and reasons to endure. Just as Morrison described, these photographs became portals—ways to hold onto health, happiness, and hope even in desperate times.

The deeper wisdom here is that life is not only about the living moment, but about the ability to carry that moment forward. Without remembrance, the heart grows barren; without tokens of the past, the future feels rootless. By freezing time in a photograph, we create anchors of meaning that can guide us back to gratitude, even when darkness surrounds us. Morrison’s reflection shows that to cherish memory is also to protect the spirit, for memory is the soil in which love and resilience grow.

To the seekers of wisdom, let this be your guide: honor the moments that bring light, and do not let them slip away unmarked. Capture them—not only with cameras, but with the mindfulness of the heart. For while a photo preserves the image, true memory preserves the soul’s response. When you look upon the photograph later, let it not be only the picture you see, but the laughter you felt, the embrace you held, the joy that once burned brightly.

The practical lesson is this: live attentively, and when you are blessed with beauty—be it in the smile of a child, the glow of twilight, or the presence of loved ones—pause, and capture it. Take the photograph if you must, but above all, take the moment into your heart. Create a treasury of joy to return to when life grows heavy. And when you revisit these memories, let them remind you that even in struggle, you have known happiness, and that happiness can be found again.

Thus, let Rachel Morrison’s words endure as a teaching: photography freezes time, but memory revives the soul. To preserve joy is to arm yourself against despair, to carry within you a light that time cannot extinguish. Seek to capture the beauty around you, for in doing so you weave together the story of your life, a story you may return to whenever you need strength, comfort, or hope.