.: What's A Pocket-Bin?

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph my son and some of his friends at a school function with their principal.

Mr Grace has been in their lives since they started school at age 5, and he knows them by name. In return, they not only know him, but feel confident enough get up close for a group shot.

My son ~ Handsome dude on left

I love the informality of this photo and the confidence these boys have to be themselves around their principal. With the right amount of respect and honor, they know they can goof around and still enjoy his company.

If you look closely at the hashtags my son used when he shared this photo on Instagram, you’ll see he included phrases which probably don’t make sense... to you.

One of them caught my eye. #pocketbins. Let me explain...

In their earlier years, before these boys graduated to high school, Mr Grace held the top job in their primary school. (These days he’s the principal over P-12.) Back in the ‘olden days’ during school assemblies, he’d encourage the primary students to make sure their rubbish stayed in their ‘pocket bins’ until such time they could empty their pockets into the trash. (Or when mum did the washing)

It became his saying. Delivered every Monday morning with the raising of the flag and singing of Advance Australia Fair.

Fast forward almost a decade, and these kids remember the instruction of their principal with fondness. They tag him in photos by his first name, Ross... (cheeky) or in this case, Rossy... (Even cheekier)

They call him BigBoss, and top-off the tags with the school verse, Micah 6:8.

Because they haven’t forgotten the wisdom imparted with love and kindness. They would not clamour around a man they feared or did not respect. And with respect, comes life lessons that stick with kids on their way to adulthood.

I was impressed by the sentiment in this photo and its captions. It’s unforced. Not staged.

Rewind to the photos taken in the late 19th and early 20th century. Photographic limitations meant those who posed sat with fixed stares at the camera ~ wooden limbs or sombre expressions all we have to remember them by. Their strict lives recorded in sepia tones with dignified, measured smiles. If appropriate.

Photo Source ~ Pinterest

Victorian era children wouldn't dare throw their arms around their teachers with such familiarity. And who would blame them?

Photo Source ~ Pinterest

But would they mess around in photo booths with frames or props... like we might?

Photo Source ~ Pinterest

Apparently, yes. Although I'm not sure who's who in the photo above and why some are so glum while others look miffed. Maybe you can read it better than me.

And while it may not be complete, a photo offers significant snippets of who we are. Not the sum of us. But threads which make up our whole story. The splice of today and yesteryear, held in time for tomorrow.

I love this photo booth moment of a couple in the late Victorian era.