Some of the Web's best sites consist of variations on one simple idea. In the case of Dear Photograph, that idea is taking a snapshot — usually one featuring one or more people and dating from the film-photography era — and holding it up against the original setting so that past and present blend into a new work of art. The images contributed by the site's readers are wonderfully evocative. Looking at the family photos of strangers was never so transfixing.

-TIME Magazine

Dear Photograph,The original photo was taken back when we were in kindergarten or first grade. This cemetery down the street from my house is where I’d first learned how to ride a bike. 16 years old now, we are all still all very good friends, although nowadays we are learning how to drive a car.Emily

Dear Photograph,
The original photo was taken back when we were in kindergarten or first grade. This cemetery down the street from my house is where I’d first learned how to ride a bike. 16 years old now, we are all still all very good friends, although nowadays we are learning how to drive a car.
Emily

Dear Photograph, Lolo Carding, it’s been years since you left. It was difficult but we tried. Losing Lola was another challenge that we had to face. It was never the same. I hope you do guide each and every one and remind the unconditional love that I once knew. Let not trials separate our family for these will surely break your heart. Embrace us, that we might find our way home. I miss you I miss lola I miss family vacation “‘Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. -Stitch” -Chay

Dear Photograph,
Lolo Carding, it’s been years since you left. It was difficult but we tried. Losing Lola was another challenge that we had to face. It was never the same. I hope you do guide each and every one and remind the unconditional love that I once knew. Let not trials separate our family for these will surely break your heart. Embrace us, that we might find our way home.
I miss you
I miss lola
I miss family vacation
“‘Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. -Stitch”
-Chay

Dear Photograph, Ten years ago on this very day, May 18, 2003, I stood on the front lawn with my Nammy for a post college graduation photograph. She was everything to me; the light of this house, where she lived with me for 24 years of my life. My childhood home in the background was full of such warmth and love when she was alive. At 22 years old, on the day this photo was taken, I could have never imagined that less than 3 years later God would call her home at the age of 94. When I look at this photo today, I cannot believe how much has changed. I no longer live in my childhood home, I’ve been in love and lost love, the dreams and ideals of just graduating college have faded to a career and responsibilities. One thing has not changed, my love for my Nammy. If I think back to the day this photo was taken, I can still feel my Nammy’s arms around me and how proud she was of me. Nam, they say time heals the loss of a loved one. That is a total lie. I miss you more with each passing day you are gone. I know you are by my side everyday just as you were in this photo. I could not ask for a better Guardian Angel. I miss you Nam and hope ten years later you are just as proud of me. Love, Your Toni

Dear Photograph,
Ten years ago on this very day, May 18, 2003, I stood on the front lawn with my Nammy for a post college graduation photograph. She was everything to me; the light of this house, where she lived with me for 24 years of my life. My childhood home in the background was full of such warmth and love when she was alive. At 22 years old, on the day this photo was taken, I could have never imagined that less than 3 years later God would call her home at the age of 94. When I look at this photo today, I cannot believe how much has changed. I no longer live in my childhood home, I’ve been in love and lost love, the dreams and ideals of just graduating college have faded to a career and responsibilities. One thing has not changed, my love for my Nammy. If I think back to the day this photo was taken, I can still feel my Nammy’s arms around me and how proud she was of me. Nam, they say time heals the loss of a loved one. That is a total lie. I miss you more with each passing day you are gone. I know you are by my side everyday just as you were in this photo. I could not ask for a better Guardian Angel. I miss you Nam and hope ten years later you are just as proud of me.
Love, Your Toni

Dear Photograph, 7 years ago when the picture was taken, you were one of my best friends at a BBQ. We’ve been a couple for 5 1/2 years. We’ve been married for 1 year this month. I was with the wrong guy back then. Boy, am I glad you stuck around! Amanda

Dear Photograph,
7 years ago when the picture was taken, you were one of my best friends at a BBQ. We’ve been a couple for 5 1/2 years.
We’ve been married for 1 year this month. I was with the wrong guy back then. Boy, am I glad you stuck around!
Amanda

Dear Photograph, I would spend time listening to stories of her youth, the family diaspora from this house and moments of silence. such as this, hearing her supplicate. Dadima was unostentatious, patient and indomitable. She taught me to be all of these things. The house isn’t the same since she left. There is decay and emptiness. It is as if the house died with her. I am sorry I never made it back in time to keep my promise. I am sorry I never got to say goodbye. I am sorry you didn’t hear what you mean for me. When I finally came back all I could do was cry.  I sat in that chair and cried.  I stood in the veranda and cried.  I stood over her grave and cried. I miss you. Your grandson, M

Dear Photograph,
I would spend time listening to stories of her youth, the family diaspora from this house and moments of silence. such as this, hearing her supplicate.
Dadima was unostentatious, patient and indomitable. She taught me to be all of these things.
The house isn’t the same since she left. There is decay and emptiness. It is as if the house died with her.
I am sorry I never made it back in time to keep my promise.
I am sorry I never got to say goodbye.
I am sorry you didn’t hear what you mean for me.
When I finally came back all I could do was cry. 
I sat in that chair and cried. 
I stood in the veranda and cried. 
I stood over her grave and cried.
I miss you.
Your grandson,
M

Dear Photograph, I have waked the streets of my hometown searching for the architecture lost during the redevelopment of Birmingham during the 1960’s. I have found the ghosts of buildings that were demolished and streets that have disappeared. The photo above shows bomb damage in Birmingham after the Blitz in 1940 and two people helping with the cleanup. Putting the photo in the real context made me remember how lucky we all are todayTim

Dear Photograph,
I have waked the streets of my hometown searching for the architecture lost during the redevelopment of Birmingham during the 1960’s. I have found the ghosts of buildings that were demolished and streets that have disappeared. The photo above shows bomb damage in Birmingham after the Blitz in 1940 and two people helping with the cleanup. Putting the photo in the real context made me remember how lucky we all are today
Tim

Dear Photograph, For most of my childhood, my maternal grandparents lived only a few minutes away, and my sister and I spent countless days and nights with them. Family gatherings generally took place at their house - a constant throughout my childhood, and the place I felt the most safe. My grandfather passed away almost four years ago, after a long battle against a variety of diseases. He was on hospice care in his home, and it was a horrible last few months. After, I found it difficult to go back to the house that meant so much to me, even to visit my grandmother. The rooms that once filled with laughter seemed oddly still, and filled with unhappy memories. Watching my grandmother without her husband of 53 years was hard as well. In four years it hasn’t gotten any easier. But then, on Mother’s Day, as we gathered with my aunts and uncles and cousins in my grandparents’ home, I decided to use the box of photos on the living room table for a Dear Photograph project. This experience of creating a new picture by placing my grandfather back in the kitchen he loved, was the most therapeutic way of dealing with his death I’ve found so far.Eden

Dear Photograph,

For most of my childhood, my maternal grandparents lived only a few minutes away, and my sister and I spent countless days and nights with them. Family gatherings generally took place at their house - a constant throughout my childhood, and the place I felt the most safe. My grandfather passed away almost four years ago, after a long battle against a variety of diseases. He was on hospice care in his home, and it was a horrible last few months. After, I found it difficult to go back to the house that meant so much to me, even to visit my grandmother. The rooms that once filled with laughter seemed oddly still, and filled with unhappy memories. Watching my grandmother without her husband of 53 years was hard as well. In four years it hasn’t gotten any easier. But then, on Mother’s Day, as we gathered with my aunts and uncles and cousins in my grandparents’ home, I decided to use the box of photos on the living room table for a Dear Photograph project. This experience of creating a new picture by placing my grandfather back in the kitchen he loved, was the most therapeutic way of dealing with his death I’ve found so far.
Eden
Dear Photograph, Ce n’est pas courant qu’un français poste sur votre siteweb. Je le regarde souvent et les choses changes. Elles changent beaucoup trop. Cette carte postale appartenait à mon arrière grand père, aujourd’hui décédé. Je ne l’ai pas connu mais on m’a toujours dis que c’était un homme formidable avide de voyage. Il faisait une collection de carte postale. Ce n’est pas parce qu’on n’a pas rencontré les personnes d’avant que nous n’y pensons pas. Elles nous ont faites, elles ont fait le monde. Je t’aime papi. Marine.

Dear Photograph,

Ce n’est pas courant qu’un français poste sur votre siteweb. Je le regarde souvent et les choses changes. Elles changent beaucoup trop. Cette carte postale appartenait à mon arrière grand père, aujourd’hui décédé. Je ne l’ai pas connu mais on m’a toujours dis que c’était un homme formidable avide de voyage. Il faisait une collection de carte postale.

Ce n’est pas parce qu’on n’a pas rencontré les personnes d’avant que nous n’y pensons pas. Elles nous ont faites, elles ont fait le monde.

Je t’aime papi.

Marine.

Dear Photograph, On a carefree summer’s day on Cape Cod, my grandmother poses with my mother and uncle by her side. 60 years later, four generations of our family gathered this weekend for her 90th birthday. Through World War II, six children, many grandchildren & great grandchildren, her beauty never faded. My mother and grandmother continue to be an inspiration for me every day, and I’m blessed to have known a life with them. Happy Birthday Grammie, and Happy Mother’s Day mom! Love, Andrea

Dear Photograph,
On a carefree summer’s day on Cape Cod, my grandmother poses with my mother and uncle by her side. 60 years later, four generations of our family gathered this weekend for her 90th birthday. Through World War II, six children, many grandchildren & great grandchildren, her beauty never faded. My mother and grandmother continue to be an inspiration for me every day, and I’m blessed to have known a life with them. Happy Birthday Grammie, and Happy Mother’s Day mom!
Love,
Andrea

Dear Photograph,There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about all of the amazing moments I have spent with my siblings at my grandparents house. They have inspired us, motivated us and continue to keep us strong throughout life. It still blows my mind everyday that we never had a clue that my brother would have gone to Afghanistan in 2010 and In the same year I would have been a victim of domestic violence. Although that year had torn our hearts apart we are still the strong family that is held together by love and support. Those moments spent on the back porch at my grandparents house will forever be locked into mine and my siblings hearts forever. Sarah

Dear Photograph,
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about all of the amazing moments I have spent with my siblings at my grandparents house. They have inspired us, motivated us and continue to keep us strong throughout life. It still blows my mind everyday that we never had a clue that my brother would have gone to Afghanistan in 2010 and In the same year I would have been a victim of domestic violence. Although that year had torn our hearts apart we are still the strong family that is held together by love and support. Those moments spent on the back porch at my grandparents house will forever be locked into mine and my siblings hearts forever. 
Sarah

Dear Photograph,I traveled with you  2,807 miles to a street in Philadelphia where we took an imaginative leap back 52 years, 2 months and 3 days to my 4th birthday with my friend, Jenny. Having been away a long time, I didn’t recognize much, but the determined girl peddling the fire truck is still me.  Ring the bell, she’s on a mission!Cindy

Dear Photograph,
I traveled with you  2,807 miles to a street in Philadelphia where we took an imaginative leap back 52 years, 2 months and 3 days to my 4th birthday with my friend, Jenny. Having been away a long time, I didn’t recognize much, but the determined girl peddling the fire truck is still me.  Ring the bell, she’s on a mission!
Cindy

Dear Photograph, A lot has changed since I last stood in this spot. You unfortunately left us 7 months ago and my life changed forever! This trip hasn’t been the same with one of the gang missing but looking back at this photo and being back in this place has bought a smile and a few tears to my face! Thanks for the fun times Grandad, they’ll be treasured forever and always. Love your granddaughter, Jade (Blondie) x

Dear Photograph, 
A lot has changed since I last stood in this spot. You unfortunately left us 7 months ago and my life changed forever! This trip hasn’t been the same with one of the gang missing but looking back at this photo and being back in this place has bought a smile and a few tears to my face! Thanks for the fun times Grandad, they’ll be treasured forever and always. 
Love your granddaughter, Jade (Blondie) x