Memories are made of this... / by richard bentley

I’ve started this little tradition on my birthday. I drive deep into the desert with my family. It's peaceful. It's an escape from the crazy world for a while. I take my camera and capture memories - taking the most important pictures I can take: the ones of my family. I bought my 4 1/2 year old daughter an instant camera when she was 3 as I was always in love with our family's instant camera as a kid, as is she... I remember moving home 2 years ago and my wife was distraught as she couldn't find the only family album she has (luckily it turned up). Cameras, lenses: they are metal, plastic and glass, but the images we create of our families are precious; a gateway to our past and signposts to faltering memories.