Lost moments, rediscovered: Rolls of decades-old forgotten film are developed for a new online archive - revealing poignant memories including a woman's post-war move to America, children's birthday parties and touching family portraits

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Before the days of the ubiquitous selfie and camera phone, budding photographers filled rolls of film and had to wait until they were developed to see if their picture was in focus but as technology advanced, rolls of film quickly became a thing of the past. 

Now, a new national archive titled Lost Rolls America is allowing people to rediscover memories on forgotten rolls of film.

Created by award-winning photojournalist Ron Haviv and New York University professor Lauren Walsh, the online archive contains hundreds of images that came from unprocessed rolls of film submitted by people from all over the United States. Once the film was processed, they asked each person to select images that meant something special to them and required them to answer a specific set of questions related to the photo. Their answers and the images make up the Lost Rolls America database of then uploaded into the database of forgotten memories.

The idea came about a few years ago when Haviv realized he had more than 200 rolls of his own film that had been exposed but never processed. He produced a book called The Lost Rolls showcasing the images that belonged on his film.

‘The images for my book The Lost Rolls became this exploration of my own memory, my past, my present, the way that photographer is used to document life, I was kind of inspired to offer the same solution for people,’ he said.

Haviv and Walsh approached FUJIFILM, PhotoShelter and Photo Wings to partner with them on the Lost Rolls America project, broadening out his own experience to others who had unprocessed rolls of film at home. 

Walsh, who is the director of the photojournalism lab at NYU's Gallatin School, shared that they’ve received an ‘incredibly overwhelming positive’ reaction to the project.

‘Hearing from people saying, “thank you so much I didn’t know where to get my rolls of film developed”, “thank you so much for pushing me to look for these lost pieces of my life”, and then just the testimonies themselves that come through as people record alongside seeing it, it’s been amazing,’ Walsh said.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS:

Memories: A small selection of photographs featured in the Lost Rolls America project and archive reveal intimate portraits (left and center) and a colorful photograph from Coney Island (far right)

The Lost Rolls America hosted an installation in Los Angeles to display some of the photographs submitted as part of the project. Contributors provided one roll of film, which was developed and sent back to them. The participants then choose one image and, in a small write-up, explored the meaning of the photo and the significance of re-viewing a piece of their personal, sometimes lost past

She added that a lot of the responses from people who see the images for the first time ‘evoke really strong emotional responses whether it brings back really warm, happy feelings … or just kind of sad.’

Out of the hundreds of images they’ve processed the pair agree that their favorite photo is one of the oldest in the archive: ‘I think probably the most remarkable story is with the black and white photograph from 1950 post war Germany showing a woman with her family. She’s packing her bags to come to America,’ Haviv explained.

'The remarkable tale, is that the film itself is nearly 75 years old. It survived a house flood and then it was tossed into someone’s night table drawer and it was only recovered when a family member heard about the Lost Rolls project and they sent it in,' said Walsh.

Walsh noted the photo, which shows Valentina Zavarin, represents the first time in that family’s history that they have been able to see a visual representation of a story that had been passed down through family members.

‘What also was interesting with us working on Lost Rolls America is that we realized that this film is so old that it has the ability to operate and have a really strong emotional resonance with the family but it’s also a part of the American dialogue at this moment,’ Walsh said. ‘What is the role of immigrants, what is the immigrant experience, is it similar today as it was 70 years ago or different now? So, it sparked all of these discussions for us.’

Haviv also said Lost Rolls America is different from other archives of film due to the fact that their project is about memories.

‘It’s about the person writing something that means something to them, it’s about their life, there’s a personal connection,’ he said.

‘When you read what people are writing it’s so honest. Talking about what went wrong, talking about loss, talking about their marriage and how amazing it is.

‘I find it fascinating and overwhelming amazing. The honesty and emotion that people are putting into a public archive. I’m really impressed by the participation.’

GERMANY, 'AFTER WORLD WAR II': OLDEST PHOTO IN THE ARCHIVE REVEALS WOMAN, THEN 18, PREPARING TO IMMIGRATE TO AMERICA AND 'HOW HAPPY I WAS TO START A NEW ADVENTURE'

'I fell out of my chair when I saw these images. Really a miracle,' said Valentina Zavarin of a long-lost photograph that depicts her sitting on a box in the back of a truck as she prepares to leave her family for a new life in America

One of the most remarkable photos in the Lost Rolls archive shows Zavarin, then a young woman of 18, sitting on a wooden box in the back of a truck near Ravensburg, Germany after the Second World War. She is a refugee preparing to leave for America alone, beginning a new life without her family.

The photo - which Zavarin describes as being from 'after World War Two' but Lost Rolls America archivists Haviv and Walsh say is from 1950 post-war Germany - is almost 70 years old if it was indeed taken in 1950, but may be older. 

In answers to a series of questions posed by them, Zavarin wrote: 'It has been exposed to the light for years. What a surprise. I fell out of my chair when I saw these images. Really a miracle.' 

She went on to explain that the photo which would have been taken by a friend or family reminds her 'how happy I was to start a new independent adventure'. 

'I was leaving alone to America. Time for adventure away from my mother and siblings. I remember how excited I was for this new life ahead after World War II. Everyone is smiling but I remember they were in a shock that they were left behind.' 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 1969: A 'VERY LUCKY GUY' WHO TOOK A PHOTO OF HIS SOON-TO-BE WIFE OF 48 YEARS

Taken in 1969 in San Francisco, California by Keith Munger, this photograph . It shows his then-future wife alongside two small children. He said that seeing the photo makes him feel 'like on of the miraculous few that loves his wife as much now as in 1969.'

Another black and white image shows a woman with two small children sitting near a fountain in San Francisco, California. It was captured by Keith Munger in 1969 who explained that the woman in the photo is his wife and they are still married. 

He wrote that seeing the image makes him feel 'like one of the miraculous few that loves his wife as much now as in 1969. I am a very lucky guy.' 

Besides checking out hundreds of stories related to images published on their website, photos are also shared on the Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts for Lost Rolls America.  

WASHINGTON DC. SEPTEMBER 2007: 'SENTIMENTAL AND JOYFUL' BABY BUMP 'SELFIE' 

Tamika Jancewicz captured the above image of herself smiling into the reflection of a building's window in Washington, D.C. She took the photo in 2007 and said that it makes her feel 'sentimental and joyful.' She added that she had forgotten about the roll of film that the image was one and that it brings back memories of how 'huge' she was while pregnant. 'I think I felt that way when I took the picture as well,' she wrote.

Tamika Jancewicz captured an image of herself smiling into the reflection of a building's window in Washington, D.C. She took the photo in 2007 and said that it makes her feel 'sentimental and joyful.' 

She added that she had forgotten about the roll of film that the image was one and that it brings back memories of  how 'huge' she was while pregnant. 

'I think I felt that way when I took the picture as well,' she wrote. 

POULSBO, WA. 2005: PHOTOGRAPHER SHARES SNAP OF HIS 'DAUGHTER IN A PENSIVE MOOD WHILE ENVISAGING FUTURE OCCUPATIONS'  

An adorable photo showing a little girl wearing bright yellow goggles is also among the hundreds of images Lost Rolls America have developed. This particular photo was captured in 2005 by Scott Ellerby in Poulsbo, Washington and it shows his daughter in a 'pensive mood while envisioning future occupations' he explained. Ellerby added that seeing the photo makes him feel 'sentimental' and that it brings back memories.

An adorable photo showing a little girl wearing bright yellow goggles is also among the hundreds of images Lost Rolls America have developed. 

This particular photo was captured in 2005 by Scott Ellerby in Poulsbo, Washington and it shows his daughter in a 'pensive mood while envisioning future occupations,' he explained.

Ellerby added that seeing the photo makes him feel 'sentimental' and that it brings back memories. 

'AT HOME'. 2006: 'THE INNOCENCE OF YOUTH - ESPECIALLY WHEN ASLEEP': LINDA WALKER'S PHOTOGRAPH OF HER LITTLE SECOND COUSIN EMILEE

An image of a young girl named Emilee peacefully sleeping is also among the hundreds of photos developed by Lost Rolls America. Captured by Linda Walker, the photo was taken in 2006 and it shows her 'second cousin twice removed' who is more like 'her granddaughter.' Walker explained that Emilee would spend summers with her and vacations every year. She shared that Emilee is now 'grown' and a teacher working in North Carolina. '(It makes) me feel nostalgic and very happy to have been apart of her life,' Walker wrote

An image of a young girl named Emilee peacefully sleeping is also among the hundreds of photos developed by Lost Rolls America. Captured by Linda Walker, the photo was taken in 2006 and it shows her 'second cousin twice removed' who is more like 'her granddaughter.' 

Walker explained that Emilee would spend summers with her and go on vacation trips every year. She shared that Emilee is now 'grown' and a teacher working in North Carolina. 

'(It makes) me feel nostalgic and very happy to have been apart of her life,' Walker wrote. 

When asked if this is what she expected to see when the roll of film was developed, Walker said she 'had no idea what was on the roll' and that it brings back memories of 'her childhood.' 

CONEY ISLAND, NY. CIRCA 2006-2007: THE ICONIC WONDER WHEEL SNAP BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE BOARDWALK AND SEASIDE

In addition to photos showing people, the Lost Rolls America also have developed images of special places or tourist attractions around the country. One of those specific images was taken by Deb Klein and shows the Wonder Wheel on Coney Island in New York. She explained that she captured the image in 2006 or 2007 and that it's one of her 'favorite objects to shoot.' When seeing the photo, Klein said she feels 'happy every time' shooting at Coney Island. 'It holds a dear place for me. I've always been drawn to the seaside and old piers and parks,' she added. 'Also, being a native New Yorker, this is always available to me and I try to go and shoot there a lot. This photo feels especially good because of the feel of the film and the imperfections.'

In addition to photos showing people, the Lost Rolls America also have developed images of special places or tourist attractions around the country. 

One of those specific images was taken by Deb Klein and shows the Wonder Wheel on Coney Island in New York. She explained that she captured the image in 2006 or 2007 and that it's one of her 'favorite objects to shoot.' 

When seeing the photo, Klein said she feels 'happy every time' shooting at Coney Island. 

'It holds a dear place for me. I've always been drawn to the seaside and old piers and parks,' she added. 

'Also, being a native New Yorker, this is always available to me and I try to go and shoot there a lot. This photo feels especially good because of the feel of the film and the imperfections.'

When asked what kind of memories the photo brings back, Klein shared that it reminds her of the smells and sounds of the park and the boardwalk. 

I-20, TEXAS. SUMMER 1998: TOTAL STRANGERS THROWN TOGETHER WHEN THEIR GREYHOUND BUS BROKE DOWN AT 4AM IN A 'TINY HAMLET SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS'

Jason Thomas Fritz took a photo of a fellow traveler he met while on a Greyhound bus during the summer of 1998. The bus broke down off of Interstate 20 in Texas around 4am and the passengers were dropped off at a tiny town where they had to wait for the next bus. He explained that everyone was stranded there and that they all waited six hours for the next one to arrive. The image he captured shows a young black male wearing a baseball cap looking off to the side while the background of the image is blurry. 'It's interesting the way you can connect with total strangers when you are in unique circumstances.' Fritz wrote of the image. 'There was a sort of solidarity among all of us, after we were treated so poorly by Greyhound. We were these random people, all stuck together, in this random little town.'

Jason Thomas Fritz took a photo of a fellow traveler he met while on a Greyhound bus during the summer of 1998. 

The bus broke down off of Interstate 20 in Texas around 4am and the passengers were dropped off at a tiny town where they had to wait for the next bus. He explained that everyone was stranded there and that they all waited six hours for the next one to arrive. 

The image he captured shows a young black male wearing a baseball cap looking off to the side while the background of the image is blurry.     

'It's interesting the way you can connect with total strangers when you are in unique circumstances.' Fritz wrote of the image. 

'There was a sort of solidarity among all of us, after we were treated so poorly by Greyhound. We were these random people, all stuck together, in this random little town.' 

He added that he wasn't sure what would come from the undeveloped film rolls and that this specific roll contained pictures that were from an interesting period of his life. 

'I was traveling a lot and shooting photos, but for whatever reason, I never had a (chance) to develop them,' he wrote. 'Sort of the lost years. It's nice to put a photograph to these memories.'

He added, 'I remember this trip being a total disaster. It was cursed from the start. But I look back now, and think of it as a time when I lived a very spontaneous life, filled with adventure.'

BOULDER, CO. 2002: 'THE DAY I FOUND OUT JUDY WAS KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH AND I PICKED A BIT OF PUSSY WILLOW'

Pussy willow sprig brings back the 'grief and disbelief' of the day this photograph was taken in Boulder, Co in 2002

To Anne E. A. Clarke, this photograph taken at her home in Boulder, Colorado in 2002 shows more than a small sprig of pussy willow. She explains, but does not elaborate, that seeing the picture again makes her feel like she 'can so easily touch the grief and disbelief of that day. I wish I could go back to that 14-year-old girl and listen to her thoughts, to hold a space for her to grieve in.'

She added: 'I'd kept this branch and other things that were significant to various events in my childhood. I took them out to photograph them and I'm not sure if I got rid of them after that or stored them again. The photos were taken in my childhood home. 

'I remember the squeak of the hardwood floors.'  

STEPHENTOWN, NY. AROUND 1996: THE 'DIRECT, KIND, UNASSUMING AND SECRETLY BRILLIANT' LATE INVENTOR AND INNOVATOR BURT SWEENEY AT HOME

For Matthew Amster, seeing the image he captured of the late Burt Swersey developed brought up a 'strong emotions' as he expected to see 'something random' or even 'out of focus.' Amster captured the image of Swersey around 1996 in upstate New York at Swersey's home in Stephentown. 'Burt was an inventor, who taught innovation. He inspired students to think about solving problems worth solving,' Amster wrote. 'He was a deeply reflective man. Burt died unexpectedly a few years ago & for those of us who knew him the wound is still fresh. The photo is quintessentially Burt: direct, kind, unassuming, & secretly brilliant.' 

For Matthew Amster, seeing the image he captured of the late Burt Swersey developed brought up a 'strong emotions' as he expected to see 'something random' or even 'out of focus.' Amster captured the image of Swersey around 1996 in upstate New York at Swersey's home in Stephentown.

'Burt was an inventor, who taught innovation. He inspired students to think about solving problems worth solving,' Amster wrote. 'He was a deeply reflective man. Burt died unexpectedly a few years ago & for those of us who knew him the wound is still fresh. The photo is quintessentially Burt: direct, kind, unassuming, & secretly brilliant.'

Amster added that he learned about the Lost Rolls America project from Burt's son, Bill, who is a childhood friend and photographer.

'The kismet & coincidence of Bill's Lost Rolls tip leading me to find this roll felt magical,' Amster shared. 'There were only four images on that roll, all portraits of the his family, each capturing something special. 

Amster also said that seeing the image brings back memories.  

'I can remember the feel of my new, cheap, Chinese made Seagull Rollilex knockoff in my hands. I loved taking pictures with that camera (rarely used 120 film as it's not convenient to develop-hence it sitting in a drawer twenty years),' he explained. 

'We had a meal that day on a screened patio with fresh corn from the local fields, & a stroll around the garden. The image is (black and white) but my memory comes back in full color.'

HAMPSTEAD, LONDON. 2002: STRANGELY DISEMBODIED FACE IN A GARDEN BRINGS BACK NOSTALGIC AND HOMESICK FEELINGS - AND MEMORIES OF A LOT OF LAUGHTER

Mette Lampcov captured an image of her friend Tracy Garden in Hampstead, London that shows her disembodied face in a garden. For Lampcov, seeing the photo, which was taken in 2002, makes her laugh and feel ‘nostalgic’ and ‘bizarrely home sick.’ 

Mette Lampcov captured an image of her friend Tracy Garden in Hampstead, London that shows her disembodied face in a garden.

For Lampcov, seeing the photo, which was taken in 2002, makes her laugh and feel ‘nostalgic’ and ‘bizarrely home sick.’

‘It makes me think of how much I used to laugh my head off with her. It makes me miss London and old friends especially people who have a wicket sense of humor - and seeing her head float in back garden is a perfect reminder of her beautiful funny madness,' Lampcov shared.   

'IN MY APARTMENT'. 2007:  'NOTHING IN THIS PICTURE IS WITH ME ANYMORE. I AM DIVORCED AND MY EX TOOK THE DOG'

A brown Dachshund name Grapefruit is the star in the photo in 2007 inside of an apartment. ‘My dog, Grapefruit, loved to stand. He would hold this position as long as you stayed with him (or he fell over), whichever came first,’ the photographer wrote. Of seeing the photo, she shared that it brought back a lot of emotions. ‘It makes me feel like life is fleeting. Nothing in this picture is with me anymore. I am divorced and my ex took the dog,’ she revealed.

A brown Dachshund name Grapefruit is the star in the photo in 2007 inside of an apartment.

‘My dog, Grapefruit, loved to stand. He would hold this position as long as you stayed with him (or he fell over), whichever came first,’ the photographer wrote.

Of seeing the photo, she shared that it brought back a lot of emotions.

‘It makes me feel like life is fleeting. Nothing in this picture is with me anymore. I am divorced and my ex took the dog,’ she revealed.

‘At the time, all the material things in the picture meant something to me (down to the ring on my hand) and now they don’t. It also makes me miss my dog.

‘I have been sober for a few years now. Honestly, I thought I would see a lot of pictures of me drinking. But it makes complete sense that 90 per cent of my pictures are of my animals. They have always meant so much to me. I also thought it was interesting that in 3 rolls of film, there were no pictures of my ex-wife. Perhaps that is telling.’

CHICAGO, IL. AUGUST 2009: 'MY DAUGHTER'S 5TH BIRTHDAY... THERE'S SOMETHING TIMELESS ABOUT THIS PHOTO. IT COULD BE FROM MY 5TH BIRTHDAY IN THE 1970s'

Leslie LaPlante captured an adorable photo of her daughter preparing to blow out candles on her fifth birthday cake in August 2009 while in Chicago. ‘There’s something timeless about this photo. It could just as easily been from my 5th birthday in the 1970s,’ LaPlante wrote of the image 

Leslie LaPlante captured an adorable photo of her daughter preparing to blow out candles on her fifth birthday cake in August 2009 while in Chicago.

‘There’s something timeless about this photo. It could just as easily been from my 5th birthday in the 1970s,’ LaPlante wrote of the image.

She revealed that she was not expecting to see this photo on the developed film roll.

‘I assumed there was nothing of note in my old roll of film or I would have gotten it developed at the time. So glad to have this photo now.’

LaPlante added that the photo of her daughter brings back ‘wistful and happy’ memories. 

MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOME, GOTHENBURG, NE. ABOUT 2004: 'MY BROTHER DURING A LATE NIGHT OF DRINKING BEFORE OR AFTER MY GRANDFATHER'S FUNERAL'

Stephanie Heimann captured an image of her youngest brother with his shirt over his head exposing his hairy stomach and chest while cans of beer are visible on the counter inside of their grandmother’s home in Gothenburg, Nebraksa. She explained that the photo, which was taken during the summer of 2004, was captured during ‘a light night of drinking before or after my grandfather’s funeral.’ 

Stephanie Heimann captured an image of her youngest brother with his shirt over his head exposing his hairy stomach and chest while cans of beer are visible on the counter inside of their grandmother’s home in Gothenburg, Nebraksa.

She explained that the photo, which was taken during the summer of 2004, was captured during ‘a light night of drinking before or after my grandfather’s funeral.’

When asked what the photo made her feel, Heimann wrote: ‘ Not remembering at first the circumstance (or identity) of the subject was initially jarring but then I remembered this is my youngest brother messing around with my siblings and cousins after the funeral of our grandfather. It was a celebration of life.’

She added that the image brings back ‘nostalgia’ for her grandparents’ home.

NEW YORK. SUMMER: 'PERHAPS THIS WAS MORE PEACEFUL TIME. A TIME OF INNOCENCE'

Lost Rolls America founder Ron Haviv captured a photo of a man preparing to jump into the water at one of New York's beaches. The photo, which has been double exposed creating a unique color array that looks like a filter on Instagram, made Haviv 'incredibly nostalgic' when he first saw it.

Lost Rolls America founder Ron Haviv captured a photo of a man preparing to jump into the water at one of New York's beaches.

The photo, which has been double exposed creating a unique color array that looks like a filter on Instagram, made Haviv 'incredibly nostalgic' when he first saw it.

'Perhaps this was more peaceful time. A time of innocence. Most likely when I was just beginning my photography during university,' he wrote.

He added that he didn't expect to see this image once it was developed because he didn't 'photograph on a lot of streets or daily life' in his own world. 

'IN MY APARTMENT', BROOKLYN, NY. JANUARY 17, 2014: 'TO ME THIS PHOTO IS PERFECT' AND CAPTURES A 24-HOUR ENGAGEMENT BEFORE THE COUPLE MARRIED 

A beautiful black and white image of a happy couple shows Nick Trusty and his now-wife inside of his Brooklyn apartment moments before they left to be married at a Brooklyn court house on January 17, 2014. He said seeing the photo makes him ‘so happy’ and that remembering the day they were married ‘always makes’ him happy. ‘Not only the memories of that day, but all the memories of how we got to that day,’ Trusty shared 

A beautiful black and white image of a happy couple shows Nick Trusty and his now-wife inside of his Brooklyn apartment moments before they left to be married at a Brooklyn court house on January 17, 2014.

‘I met my (now) wife on a backpacking trip in Turkey. She's French and was on the tail end of a 13 month long trip over Europe and Asia. She was/is the most amazing person I've ever met,’ Trusty wrote.

‘Three years after we met, we were getting married in Brooklyn in the court house. Before we left, in the 24 hours we were engaged, we made sure to take a photo with my old Canon FTB QL.

‘We were so excited we ended up moving slightly out of the focal plane, but I couldn't care less. To me, this image is perfect.’

He said seeing the photo makes him ‘so happy’ and that remembering the day they were married ‘always makes’ him happy.

‘Not only the memories of that day, but all the memories of how we got to that day,’ Trusty shared.

‘Our life, lived three months at a time for years as we dealt with tourist visas was a ton of fun - but also hectic. We've since continued to travel, but also just welcomed our baby girl into the world.’

Trusty added that he was hoping this image would be on this roll of film.

'AT HOME'. 2003: SOPHIE, 3, PLAYS THE GUITAR

 Alan Wong captured an adorable image of a then-three-year-old girl named Sophie playing a guitar in 2010.

Alan Wong captured an adorable image of a then-three-year-old girl named Sophie playing a guitar in 2010 'at home'.

He explained that the photo makes him ‘happy’ and that he had forgotten about it.

Wong shared that the photo brings back ‘good’ memories and that he hopes it brings a 'smile' to those who see it.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV. FALL 1999: AMY MODELS VINTAGE WEDDING DRESS

During the fall of 1999, Benita Keller captured a photo of Amy Harbin wearing vintage-style clothing inside of Keller’s apartment in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. ‘I love vintage clothing and I was working on a project of vintage wedding dresses. I had just moved into this beautiful and historical (during the Civil War my apartment was a hospital) apartment with huge windows and no furniture except this lone chair and a few plants,' Keller wrote. 'It was the perfect light for this photo of Amy in this wonderful vintage wedding dress with so many beautiful buttons.' 

During the fall of 1999, Benita Keller captured a photo of Amy Harbin wearing vintage-style clothing inside of Keller’s apartment in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

‘I love vintage clothing and I was working on a project of vintage wedding dresses. I had just moved into this beautiful and historical (during the Civil War my apartment was a hospital) apartment with huge windows and no furniture except this lone chair and a few plants,' Keller wrote. 

'It was the perfect light for this photo of Amy in this wonderful vintage wedding dress with so many beautiful buttons. The photo was taken with my 1972 Bronica Medium Format Camera with 120 black and white Kodak film.'

Keller said that seeing the photo brings back memories of when she started a new life.

‘Living for the first time in a town and not in the country, the freedom of working on my photography with little other distractions, making new friends, a light sense of being,' she added. 

'Feeling which have not as much to do with the photo itself, but the moments surrounding the making of it.'

LA JOLLA SHORES BEACH, CA. 2002: SHEA HOLDING HIS SURF BOARD AFTER FINISHING A HEAT IN PHOTO OF 'GOOD TIMES ON THE ROAD, SURFING, TAKING PHOTOS AND SCHOOL'

In 2002, Ryan Cardone captured an image of his good friend Shea standing on La Jolla Shores Beach in California with his surf board after finishing a heat in a surfing contest. Cardone said seeing the photo ‘makes him feel good.’ ‘This was a fun time in my life. Shea and I competed in surf contests and would travel up and down the California coast. Also I was also going to Brooks Institute of Photography at the same time. I was collecting old cameras and would randomly use them. I can't remember what camera I used to shoot this photo though,' Cardone shared 

In 2002, Ryan Cardone captured an image of his good friend Shea standing on La Jolla Shores Beach in California with his surf board after finishing a heat in a surfing contest.

Cardone said seeing the photo ‘makes him feel good.’

‘This was a fun time in my life. Shea and I competed in surf contests and would travel up and down the California coast. Also I was also going to Brooks Institute of Photography at the same time. 

'I was collecting old cameras and would randomly use them. I can't remember what camera I used to shoot this photo though.'

He added that he had no clue as to what he was going to see on the developed roll of film.

‘I was thinking something beach/surf related as that is my love but it really could have been anything,’ he said.

Cordone shared that seeing the photo brings back so many great memories.

‘We surfed in so many contests. At least once a month but usually more. One weekend we would be in Santa Cruz the next weekend we would be in Mission Beach, San Diego,' he said. 'Good times on the road, surfing, taking photos and school.' 

FLORIDA BEACH. MID-1990s: 'CLASSIC VOYEURISM ON THE BEACH'

A photo captured by Michael S. Beradi in the mid-1990s shows people enjoying the sun on a Florida beach. Beradi’s son, Marc explained that the image shows ‘classic voyeurism on a beach’ and that he wasn’t present when it was taken but ‘envisions it as if (he) was there.’ ‘I love the composition of the photo. It’s something my father never put much thought into and I was always to critical of,’ Marc said 

A photo captured by Michael S. Beradi in the mid-1990s shows people enjoying the sun on a Florida beach.

Beradi’s son, Marc explained that the image shows ‘classic voyeurism on a beach’ and that he wasn’t present when it was taken but ‘envisions it as if (he) was there.’

‘I love the composition of the photo. It’s something my father never put much thought into and I was always to critical of,’ Marc said.

He added that this was what he expected to see on the roll of film, as his father ‘loved the most’ to lounge on a beach.

Marc also shared that the image brings back ‘far too many’ memories of their family vacations in the 80s, which most were taken on the beaches of New Jersey.

LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA. DECEMBER 2016:'THIS PHOTO TOOK ME BACK TO ONE OF THE FIRST DATES OR ACTIVITIES MY HUSBAND AND I DID BEFORE WE WERE OFFICIALLY A COUPLE.'

Jennifer Mortensen snapped a photo of her husband sitting on the snow in Lake Arrowhead, California in December 2016. ‘I remember we were on a solo hike that morning around the open grounds near the cabin we rented with friends for New Years. We were both so excited by the amount of snow, which we were not expecting but had kept are fingers crossed the night before to have.’ Mortensen shared that seeing the old photo made her ‘smile right away, chuckle and feel happy.’ 

Jennifer Mortensen snapped a photo of her husband sitting on the snow in Lake Arrowhead, California in December 2016 after making a snow angel.

‘I remember we were on a solo hike that morning around the open grounds near the cabin we rented with friends for New Years. We were both so excited by the amount of snow, which we were not expecting but had kept are fingers crossed the night before to have.’

Mortensen shared that seeing the old photo made her ‘smile right away, chuckle and feel happy.’

‘I love this man; he’s my goofy best friend and lover – seeing that face will always make me feel good.’ She revealed that she didn’t remember taking this ‘particular photo that day.’

‘I am not sure what I expected to see but am definitely happy to have it to add to our visual memories,’ she added. 

'This photo took me back to one of the first dates or activities my husband and I did before we were officially a couple. 

'It was some 8 years ago and I had planned a play day in the snow - I am sure I talked him into snow angels then too. But I remembered mostly the fun we had then and all the laughing that took place that day that has continued throughout our relationship.'  

KAYENTA, ARIZONA/NAVAJO NATION. OCTOBER 2014: 'I RECOGNIZED THE YOUNG NAVAJO GIRLS' CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ASSUREDNESS IN HER SLY SMILE'

Rikki Reich captured an image of a young Navajo girl slyly grinning while riding a horse in the Monument Valley High School Homecoming Parade down main Street in Kayenta, Arizona in October 2014. Reich said that the photo makes brings about feelings of ‘home, confidence and riding on the backside of a horse’ and reminds her of her first ride when she was six years old on a horse named Toy.

Rikki Reich captured an image of a young Navajo girl slyly grinning while riding a horse in the Monument Valley High School Homecoming Parade down main Street in Kayenta, Arizona in October 2014.

Reich said that the photo makes brings about feelings of ‘home, confidence and riding on the backside of a horse’ and reminds her of her first ride when she was six years old on a horse named Toy.

‘And he was the meanest Shetland pony there ever was,’ she shared. ‘The first time I rode him, he took off running. He ran for the tree with long dangling branches and tried to knock me off his back. He did not.’

She added that she had her own horses until she was aged 16 and that they taught her how to be ‘tough and always in control.’

‘I got bucked, thrown and dragged behind her once. My foot caught in the stirrup, my head inches away from her hooves as she galloped away dragging me behind her,’ she recalled.

‘One time my horse was crossing the Colorado River and he decided he wanted to go for a swim with me on his back. There is a oneness that happens between horse and rider. It’s deeply spiritual… mystical even. They have been my greatest teachers.

‘I recognized the young Navajo girls’ confidence and self-assuredness in her sly smile and one-handed grasp of the reins.’