I love taking pictures. Photographs are a wonderful way to capture a moment. We can frame them to suit how we want to remember the occasion, and how we want others to view the subject as well. But photographs can also detract from being “in the moment.”
When I was younger, I traveled to the east coast with my family. We went out on a boat to do some whale-watching. I was incredibly excited to see the whales up close and I kept trying to take pictures of them. I became more and more distressed as my pictures would only catch a glimpse of a whale’s back or the ripples of the water as they splashed up; I wasn’t quick enough to “capture” them on film. It was at this point that my father told me to relax, to stop taking pictures, and to simply enjoy what nature had to offer.
I don’t have any good pictures of the whales. But I remember how majestic they were. This was an experience that required no photographs.
Nowadays, when I go to a venue to see a band put on a show, I’m always amazed at the number of people crowded around the stage carefully taking photograph after photograph of the band, trying to “capture” the music and the mood and the band members. They take a picture, examine the digital screen, frown, and then try to take another picture. Repeat a dozen or more times.
I wonder how much they are truly enjoying the music. I dance around on the floor and listen to the lyrics and the way that the instruments intertwine to create something uniquely beautiful. I do not take photographs. It’s a show; I can’t capture their sound and the feeling of exhilaration I get when I see a favorite band play live. There is no need to take photographs, and I don’t believe that I would be able to truly appreciate the music and the atmosphere if I were so busy trying to “take the perfect picture.”
My photography is usually very limited. When I’m taking pictures, that was my intent of the day or the moment. I dislike taking them socially… it’s something I always do alone. You can’t really pay attention to others while you’re focusing on capturing an image and a mood. Not in the manner of an exchange. I don’t understand how people can obsess about pictures at party or a social event for that reason.
Still, pictures are important to me. I like being able to convey something through an image. Being far from home, pictures are one of the ways I can convey some appreciation for my life out here. They’re how I can have a moment, but also share it.
Every once in a while I find myself focusing too much on catching the moment and not living it myself. When that happens, I usually stop taking pictures for a while… intentionally skip a few spots that would’ve made great shots, and keep them just for me. It’s that same reason I don’t mind if every picture doesn’t turn out. Some moments can be just my own, my little secret. Somethings are magical because you can share them. Other things are magic in their nature of being your secret, and solely your own.
Richard- I like this way of thinking. My own abilities of taking really good photographs are very poor, so for the most part I just try to pawn my camera off on someone else who will take better photos. But you’re right: sometimes it can be nicer to take pictures alone than at a social event. They often feel… forced… at social events.