I’m the same. I try to be present in the moment, where a lot of people live their lives through a viewfinder. Nice pictures. It’s been years since I’ve been to that part of the world.
I find sometimes having the camera enhances the moment. It helps me to focus on details and look at things from different angles, thinking about how/if something can make a good photo. I also like to put photos together into sets, so I will be thinking about things like how the detail on different old building compares, or finding all of the individual flowers in a garden as well as looking at the overall view. Then when I get back home and go through all the pictures to put together an album for the day it both helps to solidify all the memories and gives me a nice reminder to look back on.
I think the problem is that a lot of people take a photo instead of really looking, just as a way of ticking off a box of “I went here”. Or they are just focussing on taking pictures of themselves, and wherever they are is just a backdrop.
At least photos on a phone are less likely to be used to torture others later - the old slides and videos could be a nightmare for friends and family. For some reason people are generally incapable of culling their collection and only showing the good slides, and most people’s video skills are not that great.
I was at Port Arthur many years ago watching a couple with their video camera. The entire trip was just her videoing him standing in front of different buildings. I imaging their narration when they got home was along the lines of “this is Harold standing in front of an old house, and this is Harold in front of an old building. Was that the Model Prison Harold? I don’t know, it had some sort of name. I don’t know why they called it that, it doesn’t look like a model. There were signs up but I didn’t have time to read anything because I had to stand there with the video camera while Harold stood in front of the building”. The family probably still have nightmares.
I do that too. The Port Arthur experience was nearly 30 years ago though, so you generally didn’t want to use up your precious film for such things. It would have been possible with the video camera, although I suspect it would have been hand held and wobbly if she did that, adding a touch of nausea to the boredom for viewers.
“Too busy looking with my eyes”
I’m the same. I try to be present in the moment, where a lot of people live their lives through a viewfinder. Nice pictures. It’s been years since I’ve been to that part of the world.
I find sometimes having the camera enhances the moment. It helps me to focus on details and look at things from different angles, thinking about how/if something can make a good photo. I also like to put photos together into sets, so I will be thinking about things like how the detail on different old building compares, or finding all of the individual flowers in a garden as well as looking at the overall view. Then when I get back home and go through all the pictures to put together an album for the day it both helps to solidify all the memories and gives me a nice reminder to look back on.
I think the problem is that a lot of people take a photo instead of really looking, just as a way of ticking off a box of “I went here”. Or they are just focussing on taking pictures of themselves, and wherever they are is just a backdrop.
I admit I do try to make nice compositions when I take photos.
lol, it was hard to explain. I’m looking to experience, not looking to take great shots.
And most of what I see is so common and banal anyway taking a pic for other people to see rarely crosses my mind.
Second this. The experience is all imo. Photos can be used to share the moment, but aren’t in any way a substitute for it.
At least photos on a phone are less likely to be used to torture others later - the old slides and videos could be a nightmare for friends and family. For some reason people are generally incapable of culling their collection and only showing the good slides, and most people’s video skills are not that great.
I was at Port Arthur many years ago watching a couple with their video camera. The entire trip was just her videoing him standing in front of different buildings. I imaging their narration when they got home was along the lines of “this is Harold standing in front of an old house, and this is Harold in front of an old building. Was that the Model Prison Harold? I don’t know, it had some sort of name. I don’t know why they called it that, it doesn’t look like a model. There were signs up but I didn’t have time to read anything because I had to stand there with the video camera while Harold stood in front of the building”. The family probably still have nightmares.
If I take pictures of art I also take a picture of the written description , same with buildings if I can
I do that too. The Port Arthur experience was nearly 30 years ago though, so you generally didn’t want to use up your precious film for such things. It would have been possible with the video camera, although I suspect it would have been hand held and wobbly if she did that, adding a touch of nausea to the boredom for viewers.