My family and I took a drive to Hibbing the other day, for a sort of “mini” day trip. I had never really been there before and was intrigued by the town’s mining history. So get this- Hibbing was booming in the early 1900’s due to their large iron ore mine. What they didn’t know as they began building the town is that it was on iron rich land as well. As the mine grew and they realized the profit that lay under their homes and streets, they eventually decided to relocate the entire town 2 miles south so that they could mine that land as well.

Today part of the original town has been mined and is an open pit, but there is a small section left. Lamp posts, street signs, and even old fire hydrants remain in tact-but the lots are empty because the homes had been moved to make way for the mining.

As we drove down the streets of “old Hibbing” and observed where the town used to be, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. Husbands and wives shared their first meals in the homes that used to sit here. Mothers had brought their newborn babies home here. I can only imagine the neighborhood streets busy with playing children and evening barbecues. And now it is all gone. At one time these streets were full of life-now they sit empty, vacant-only memories and a few old photos document this once thriving community.

This is why photography is so important to me. We go about our lives and rush through our days. Then all of a sudden today is over and moments that you thought you could never forget are gone-or at best a faded memory. This is what I’m thinking about as I press down the shutter button on my camera. I have a chance to freeze time-a chance to preserve history-memories-life. What an amazing thing! So wether you have a dslr, a simple point and shoot camera, or your phone-start documenting! Because before you know it today and all of its wonders will only be a thing of the past.