A photograph records a certain person on a certain day, at a certain time, in a certain place.
A few years later, or a few decades, it faithfully conveys to the viewer the moment in which it was taken, exactly as it was. The more casual, the more unplanned the photo, the more vividly it shows the situation at that moment, raw and unvarnished, even with the passing of time.
Why is this? To my mind, photographs have an innate capacity to be open in all directions.
But the more dominant the thought processes of the person using a photograph, or the person who took it, or the power of their purpose or intention, the more likely that capacity will only unfurl in a limited direction.
So when looking at a photo, I try to truly open my eyes and take in the world in a fashion more free, and unfettered.