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, When my family moved to Canada in 1997, my younger brother and I continued our education at this elementary school. We took this photo when we first registered. I still remember the first day of school like it was yesterday. 16 years later, my younger brother will be finishing his post-secondary education and graduating this June. Together, we will both have a BBA degree under our belts. Kelly

Dear Photograph,
When my family moved to Canada in 1997, my younger brother and I continued our education at this elementary school. We took this photo when we first registered. I still remember the first day of school like it was yesterday. 16 years later, my younger brother will be finishing his post-secondary education and graduating this June. Together, we will both have a BBA degree under our belts.
Kelly

Dear Photograph, This was taken in our back field on the day of my parents’ wedding in 1981. They were married by a Buddhist monk and their friends all brought food for the potluck feast afterwards. Even though the beautiful old oak on the left is no longer living (it wasn’t my zip line that killed it I swear) mum and dad are still as giddy as ever. llewllewtoo

Dear Photograph,
This was taken in our back field on the day of my parents’ wedding in 1981. They were married by a Buddhist monk and their friends all brought food for the potluck feast afterwards. Even though the beautiful old oak on the left is no longer living (it wasn’t my zip line that killed it I swear) mum and dad are still as giddy as ever.
llewllewtoo

Dear Photograph,My brother and I were lucky enough to not only live in the same home for most of our lives but to also have this gigantic backyard at our disposal. My brother used to attack me with tickle bombs and make us forts out of the couch cushions. Now, I’m 19 and he’s 26 and Grandpa’s garden is no longer there, but one thing stays the same: the beautiful magenta flowers still bloom on the hillside at the end of March every year.Marjorie

Dear Photograph,
My brother and I were lucky enough to not only live in the same home for most of our lives but to also have this gigantic backyard at our disposal. My brother used to attack me with tickle bombs and make us forts out of the couch cushions. Now, I’m 19 and he’s 26 and Grandpa’s garden is no longer there, but one thing stays the same: the beautiful magenta flowers still bloom on the hillside at the end of March every year.
Marjorie

Dear PhotographA bit less than 4 years ago, I showed up at the doors of Leonard Hall wearing extra large plaid shorts. On Monday, I defended my undergraduate thesis and on Tuesday I wrote my last exam. I’ll leave Queen’s University at the end of the month with a shorter bucket list and the knowledge that nothing I ever do will be as fun as what I’ve done here.Sam

Dear Photograph
A bit less than 4 years ago, I showed up at the doors of Leonard Hall wearing extra large plaid shorts. On Monday, I defended my undergraduate thesis and on Tuesday I wrote my last exam. I’ll leave Queen’s University at the end of the month with a shorter bucket list and the knowledge that nothing I ever do will be as fun as what I’ve done here.
Sam

Dear Photograph,Boxing was always apart of my life. My Dad started training me as soon as I could walk. My Mom and everyone else always said he was crazy for as hard as he made me work out when I was just a toddler (I thought he was a lunatic too). But hey, look at me now. I am an undefeated professional boxer with a record of 13-0, and at the time I turned pro I was the youngest pro boxer in america (17 years old). Now I live by myself in the same apartment I grew up in…the same apartment I began boxing in.Dusty

Dear Photograph,
Boxing was always apart of my life. My Dad started training me as soon as I could walk. My Mom and everyone else always said he was crazy for as hard as he made me work out when I was just a toddler (I thought he was a lunatic too). But hey, look at me now. I am an undefeated professional boxer with a record of 13-0, and at the time I turned pro I was the youngest pro boxer in america (17 years old). Now I live by myself in the same apartment I grew up in…the same apartment I began boxing in.
Dusty

Dear Photograph,My sweet and loyal friend Kmila, partner on countless adventures, sad and happy moments. just a slight tail movement and that awesome gaze used to say everything.. I deeply miss you. I honor your memory today. -  Fernando

Dear Photograph,
My sweet and loyal friend Kmila, partner on countless adventures, sad and happy moments. just a slight tail movement and that awesome gaze used to say everything.. I deeply miss you. I honor your memory today. -

 Fernando
Dear photograph,Nearing adulthood, I still cherish this place obsessively. For some, it is just tourism; for me, it is my home. Though we are unalike, many of us can come together and pretend to be friends, pretend to love one another, pretend we are safe. Here I may pretend I am a resident of Main Street, yet for others: an explorer of a new adventure, live alongside their favourite ‘toons, live in a fantasy with a storybook ending, see and create the face of tomorrow, and be the best damn cowboy you’ll ever be. I’ll never forget my first trip, and though we have had so much happen since then, we are blessed to return (so often in so little time!) I couldn’t be anymore grateful for the joy this place has brought to my family and for the inspiration it has given me. I’ll be back soon enough; keep the mickey waffles hot for me. Love, Becky

Dear photograph,
Nearing adulthood, I still cherish this place obsessively. For some, it is just tourism; for me, it is my home. Though we are unalike, many of us can come together and pretend to be friends, pretend to love one another, pretend we are safe. Here I may pretend I am a resident of Main Street, yet for others: an explorer of a new adventure, live alongside their favourite ‘toons, live in a fantasy with a storybook ending, see and create the face of tomorrow, and be the best damn cowboy you’ll ever be. I’ll never forget my first trip, and though we have had so much happen since then, we are blessed to return (so often in so little time!) I couldn’t be anymore grateful for the joy this place has brought to my family and for the inspiration it has given me. I’ll be back soon enough; keep the mickey waffles hot for me. Love, 
Becky

I don’t normally reblog, but when I do, it’s from Instagram. Have fun this weekend with the Weekend Hashtag Project! #WHPdearphotographinstagram: This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPdearphotograph Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday. This week we’ve been inspired by Dear Photograph (@dearphotograph) and, as a result, we’re asking you to take an old film photograph or vintage postcard, hold it up against the original setting and then take a picture of it for #WHPdearphotograph. Some tips to get you started: tap to focus on the photograph in the foreground before taking the picture, share a story or memory about the old film photograph or antique postcard in your caption and, most importantly, be patient! It may take some time to line up the photo—try moving your hand closer or further away from the object you’re shooting. PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPdearphotograph to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!
I don’t normally reblog, but when I do, it’s from Instagram. Have fun this weekend with the Weekend Hashtag Project! #WHPdearphotographinstagram: This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPdearphotograph Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday. This week we’ve been inspired by Dear Photograph (@dearphotograph) and, as a result, we’re asking you to take an old film photograph or vintage postcard, hold it up against the original setting and then take a picture of it for #WHPdearphotograph. Some tips to get you started: tap to focus on the photograph in the foreground before taking the picture, share a story or memory about the old film photograph or antique postcard in your caption and, most importantly, be patient! It may take some time to line up the photo—try moving your hand closer or further away from the object you’re shooting. PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPdearphotograph to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!
I don’t normally reblog, but when I do, it’s from Instagram. Have fun this weekend with the Weekend Hashtag Project! #WHPdearphotographinstagram: This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPdearphotograph Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday. This week we’ve been inspired by Dear Photograph (@dearphotograph) and, as a result, we’re asking you to take an old film photograph or vintage postcard, hold it up against the original setting and then take a picture of it for #WHPdearphotograph. Some tips to get you started: tap to focus on the photograph in the foreground before taking the picture, share a story or memory about the old film photograph or antique postcard in your caption and, most importantly, be patient! It may take some time to line up the photo—try moving your hand closer or further away from the object you’re shooting. PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPdearphotograph to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!
I don’t normally reblog, but when I do, it’s from Instagram. Have fun this weekend with the Weekend Hashtag Project! #WHPdearphotographinstagram: This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPdearphotograph Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday. This week we’ve been inspired by Dear Photograph (@dearphotograph) and, as a result, we’re asking you to take an old film photograph or vintage postcard, hold it up against the original setting and then take a picture of it for #WHPdearphotograph. Some tips to get you started: tap to focus on the photograph in the foreground before taking the picture, share a story or memory about the old film photograph or antique postcard in your caption and, most importantly, be patient! It may take some time to line up the photo—try moving your hand closer or further away from the object you’re shooting. PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPdearphotograph to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!
I don’t normally reblog, but when I do, it’s from Instagram. Have fun this weekend with the Weekend Hashtag Project! #WHPdearphotographinstagram: This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPdearphotograph Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday. This week we’ve been inspired by Dear Photograph (@dearphotograph) and, as a result, we’re asking you to take an old film photograph or vintage postcard, hold it up against the original setting and then take a picture of it for #WHPdearphotograph. Some tips to get you started: tap to focus on the photograph in the foreground before taking the picture, share a story or memory about the old film photograph or antique postcard in your caption and, most importantly, be patient! It may take some time to line up the photo—try moving your hand closer or further away from the object you’re shooting. PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPdearphotograph to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!

I don’t normally reblog, but when I do, it’s from Instagram. Have fun this weekend with the Weekend Hashtag Project! #WHPdearphotograph
instagram:

This Weekend’s Hashtag Project: #WHPdearphotograph

Weekend Hashtag Project is a series featuring designated themes & hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. For a chance to be featured on the Instagram blog, follow @instagram and look for a photo announcing the weekend’s project every Friday.

This week we’ve been inspired by Dear Photograph (@dearphotograph) and, as a result, we’re asking you to take an old film photograph or vintage postcard, hold it up against the original setting and then take a picture of it for #WHPdearphotograph. Some tips to get you started: tap to focus on the photograph in the foreground before taking the picture, share a story or memory about the old film photograph or antique postcard in your caption and, most importantly, be patient! It may take some time to line up the photo—try moving your hand closer or further away from the object you’re shooting.

PROJECT RULES: Please only add the hashtag #WHPdearphotograph to photos taken over this weekend and only submit your own photographs to the project. Any image taken then tagged over the weekend is eligible to be featured right here Monday morning!

Dear Photograph,This photo captures my mom and dad shortly before their guests started arriving for my dad’s 90th birthday party celebration. If he were alive today he would be celebrating his 100th birthday! Happily, just a couple of weeks ago my mom celebrated her 84th birthday.Amy

Dear Photograph,
This photo captures my mom and dad shortly before their guests started arriving for my dad’s 90th birthday party celebration. If he were alive today he would be celebrating his 100th birthday! Happily, just a couple of weeks ago my mom celebrated her 84th birthday.
Amy

Dear Photograph,My Oma was brave, humble and artistic.She taught me to be all of these things.  We loved being with her and she always took us on adventures…going to cabin #8 was one of our favorites. My husband and I return there every summer and it’s where I feel the closest to her. Every time, I bring this photograph and place it on the mantle. I take her with me always.Carly

Dear Photograph,
My Oma was brave, humble and artistic.She taught me to be all of these things.  We loved being with her and she always took us on adventures…going to cabin #8 was one of our favorites. My husband and I return there every summer and it’s where I feel the closest to her. Every time, I bring this photograph and place it on the mantle. I take her with me always.
Carly

Dear Photograph,This was me in 1981 when i was one year old. I managed to steel myself an apple and procced to munch my way through it. The photo was taken in my mum and dads house where they were still alive and I now have a picture of my son in the same place commiting the same crime.Ashley

Dear Photograph,
This was me in 1981 when i was one year old. I managed to steel myself an apple and procced to munch my way through it. The photo was taken in my mum and dads house where they were still alive and I now have a picture of my son in the same place commiting the same crime.
Ashley