ABSTRACT
Family photographs traditionally represent individuals who share ties of kinship or household. They are made as records to be viewed by those who are in the picture, by their relatives, friends and acquaintances and by the generations to follow. The circle of viewers for a family photograph can narrow or widen significantly over time, depending upon whether the photograph is tucked away in an album, drawer or attic, or finds its way into a public archive or exhibition space. Each family photograph specifies a densely coded point in the flow of time. Taken together and viewed with hindsight, family photographs tell stories of growth, diminution and change in the family configuration.
