In an era of the World Wide Web, with the immediacy of television that instantly brings us images of the news of the day complete with sound and motion, one might be tempted to believe the power and impact of the conventional photograph has become diluted, that the best days of still photography are behind us.
But to borrow a phrase, the death of the medium has been greatly exaggerated.
Indeed, it is the very nature of still photographs–of moments, hopefully the right moments–captured and frozen forever for us to linger over, that continues to stir our emotions, capture our imaginations as much as they did in the earliest days of the medium.
During the past 12 months, Pat Christman and John Cross have made thousands of images of the people, places and events in south-central Minnesota. They have recorded some of the best of times and some of the worst, some of our most important residents and many more average folks, as The Free Press has brought the news of the day to readers.
Given time, all photographs, even the most rudimentary family snapshots, gain added significance as a visual record of the way things were at that
split second, the closest we can get to retrieving our past.
Over the long haul, the significance of these moments captured during the past year will only be determined by the passage of time.
But as 2008 looms, they remain favorites of our photographers.
And worth a second look.
Click here listen to John Cross and Pat Christman talk about their favorite photographs from 2007.
Local News
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Favorite photographs of 2007
- Local News
-
-
Suffering in Silence, Part 1: Mental illnesses set the perceived world off kilter
'I'm attracted to anxiety, like a magnet'
-
Robbery suspect abandons plea deal
'Man in Black' spree involved 13 bank robberies
-
Locally-made 'Memorial Day' wins honors
Much of film shot in and around Le Center, Mankato quarry
-
Mankato man, 19, thrown from vehicle
A 19-year-old Mankato man was seriously injured when his Chevy Blazer left Highway 66 early Saturday morning and he was ejected from the vehicle.
-
80 breeds free to see at annual dog show
The Nicollet County Fairgrounds in St. Peter went to the dogs in the most literal sense as the site for the Key City Kennel Club’s All Breed Dog Show that began on Friday.
-
Krohn column: Beauty of history seen on byway
Last week, during a tour of the Lower Sioux Agency and battle sites including Birch Coulee and Fort Ridgely, it was easy to understand why the Dakota loved the valley.
-
Wendell Sande retiring: North Mankato has big shoes to fill
After Thursday, Wendell Sande will be trading in “City Administrator Sande” for a moniker that was never used even once at more than 500 city council meetings. For Maya and Kieren Sande, his 4-year-old and 2-year-old granddaughters, the big guy with the mustache and the penchant for building things is “Poppy.”
-
Ojanpa: Olson is a Stark reminder
But Olson isn’t the first MSU shining star to “defect” to Winona State. In 1983 Tom Stark did likewise, heading into much more duress than Olson faces and, ultimately, having his mission ended in a heartbeat.
-
Memorial Day observances planned
Veterans groups, posts and auxiliaries invite the public to participate in Memorial Day observances planned throughout the area Monday.
-
Accident: Lee Boulevard and Lookout Drive hill
At least one vehicle flipped over. Details forthcoming
- More Local News Headlines
-

