More of the Photo Story

Shadows Define Light

Photography is the perfect medium to show the contrast between dark and light, good and evil, sad and happy, and even to tell the story of relationships.

One summer I asked local photographer to take photos of me and my grandson. The result was an amazing, fun story of our relationship.

A Portrait of me in 2015
by Linda Larson

Our Story is Worth Everything! 

When world reknowned photographer Me Ra Koh sponsored by Sony told her story at RootsTech2023 as a keynote speaker, she showed the most exquisite photos that I've ever seen, she said "Shadows define light" and "Our story is Worth Everything!" and the "world is desparate for authenticity." It rang true! She and her team ask close relatives about the person who is to be photographed, then they arrange the session and tell that person how the others described them. And the resulting photos revealed a unique voice or rather captured the resilence, that continues to inspire for years. I have had photos taken that did that same thing for me and my grandson.

Here is my favorite photo of my grandson. An enlarged copy of this photo printed on canvas, hangs on my bedroom wall so that it is the first thing I see each morning. His smile absolutely delights me. 

But we were having so much fun that summer, that to capture it, the two of us dressed up like Ninja Turtles! My mother dressed up at Halloween, so did I. I dressed up to sell fireworks in a red devil outfit while in the Jr. Woman's Club. So this was just another part of my history that tells a story. 

Many people now know me as very serious. But I have a completely crazy side too!

Ninja Turtles

Hugs

Comparing In-person and Online Experiences at RootsTech

My In-Person Experience at Rootstech
 Several Years Ago in 2015

There is no comparison for Me
Physically I am no longer able to travel. I use a walker. My knees give out even using that walker. I've lost 80 lbs since the photo of 2015. The walker is smaller, I am smaller, my budget is smaller, and so the Online experience is FABULOUS!!!!!

FOR EXAMPLE:

While watching a Main Stage Performance, I cried, learned new things and began asking myself questions that I'd never thought of before today. Like, There is now a Foster Care app for finding family members (I used to befriend a fostered girl for several years, who eventually found her parents, married and now has children):

 or when world reknowned photographer Me Ra Koh sponsored by Sony told her story with the most exquisite photos that I've ever seen, said "Shadows define light" and "Our story is Worth Everything!" and the "world is desparate for authenticity, it rang true! She and her team ask close relatives about the person who is to be photographed, then they arrange the session and tell that person how the others described them. And the resulting photo revealed a unique voice or rather captured resilence, that continues to inspire. I have had photos taken that did that same thing for me and my grandson.

 

Day Two at RootsTech2023 Blew Away My Mind

 The Innovations and Technology Forum at RootsTech2023

The first mind-blowing visual was on the Main Stage when CEO of FamilySearch International, Steve Rockwood, began doing push-ups and had MC record this act for Marco Polo. Apparently Steve had been using this app with his familly for sometime to challenge other family members to stay fit. 

I too, have been using Marco Polo's free app to unite with 16 "Inklings" friends to spiritually unite. We discuss a different LDS Conference talk and a scripture each week. 

During the Innovations and Technology Forum, MARCO POLO was the first presentation. Not only was it delightfully presented by it's UkrainianCEO Vlada Bortnik, but the purpose and moral premises of the company swelled my heart with gratitude and joy with their integrity.

Other Presentations Incuded:

FamilySearch's Computer Generated Trees

Stories with their Story Assist App

Bank of Memories their Blackchained FamilyTree, FamilyFriend DOA, and Memo

Kursame by Warren Stein from Tel Aviv

GenXT with Stanislaw Nikolsky a DNA Confidential Computing app

Ericcson Updates by Oscar Johnson with EPHAS 5G emersive imagine

MAC Family Tree by Benjamin Gunter app for iUsers that interfaces with FamilySearch

MyHeritage by Maya Lerner and their AI Time Machine This is a fun opportunity to see yourself in various past historical times as well as present and future garb. Here are a few of my own from present day frontal and side portraits used by AI to historical and future:

Side View Dec 2022 for MyHeritage AI

Portrait Feb 2023

Western Era

1970's Flower child

Recent Royalty

Portrait of Lady in Gold

My favorite of Midieval Woman

The Futuristic Me

Adding Pieces to the Puzzle at RootsTech2023

Attending Virtually in the Comfort of My Living Room

I've looked at the schedule and found the sessions of RootsTech2023 that I am interested in placing them on a "playlist." Some are "live" and others are prerecorded. My selected sessions for today, can be rewatched for the next month if not a year. These are all AMAZING! Just what I need to improve my research skills. After over 30 years of doing and loving family history, I find that there's SO MUCH more to learn. The most amazing part of this experience are the downloadable Syllabuses!!!! These include digital links to other sources like archives, libraries, databases, wiki and books.

My list of sessions today include: How to Research in the FamilySearch Wiki, Finding the Living-Reverse Genealogy, 10 Things a Genealogist Should do before Leaving a Library or Archive, How to Use a Manuscript Collection (and where to find them), Main Stage Guest: Jordin Sparks and Keynote Speakers, Innovationand Technology Forum, What's New at Ancestry, My Heritage Photo Features New Releases and to top off the day Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction. 

ALL OF THESE ADD PIECES TO MY PUZZLE

RootsTech2023 and away we go!

Finding Christ's Help in Solving the Puzzle

The serious theme for RootsTech 2023 is "Uniting" people, traditions, stories, memories, technology, innovation, communities and families.

Faith, identity, place and grace-- our stories may be our own, as we connect and belong, shared stories can unite us all. Sister Susan L. Gong said, ""the stories we preserve (in any format) and share through generations can have a lasting impact on our hears and minds."

"I hope," she continues "that we will each make an effort to discover our own family stories, record them and to share them with our children and grandchildren. I hope that we will all gain greater understanding and appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith and sacrifice of those who have gone before... and I pray that we will live lives of goodness to honor their memories and show thanks for the gift of life they have given to us."  

The FUN theme of this week of "Uniting" includes sharing other activities that engage children, youth, young adults and even other luke-warm Latter-day Saint members who view this work, and I quote: it's like "watching paint dry,"

Let's put Jesus Christ back into the center of our focus and allow Him to help us. 

Let's Come Unto Christ

Try writing in a journal, scrapbook, or create any other record of your personal or family history in your favorite format (formats could be paper, digital, audio, etc.)

● Digitize family photos or otherwise preserve heirlooms/memorabilia to share with future generations

● Tell family stories

● Make a family recipe or keep a family tradition

● Learn about the places or time periods of your ancestors’ lives

● Add sources or memories to FamilySearch’s Tree

● Interview a relative

● Study family history-related doctrine or church history (family proclamation, temples, Elijah, etc.)

● Attend the temple

● Babysit for someone who is attending the temple

● Work on your own worthiness in order to attend the temple

As President Gordon B. Hinckley used to say, just "DO IT," and I say do it with a S.M.I.L.E.

SHARING

MEMORIES

IS 

LAUDABLY/LAUGHINGLY

EXCITING