On putting down the camera
‘If a tree falls in a forest and there is no-one around to hear it, does it make a sound?’ This is an old philosophical question regarding the nature of reality – if things aren’t witnessed do they actually happen? I was reminded of it when thinking about today’s writing prompt, which was a selection of photos designed to stimulate some reflections. I love looking at my own photographs from my travels and I am so grateful to have them as a visual reminder of my experiences.
However, if I had no photos of my travels, or lost them all in some disaster, would my experiences be devalued in any way? In our very connected world, do we prove the worth of our life and experiences by posting them on-line? Is our experience worth more when it’s shared on social media? Have we lost the ability to rely on our brains to remember things? In terms of the trees – if we don’t take photos and share them does that mean our experience doesn’t really happen? Isn’t as valuable?
I know I am participating in this by having a blog and using Facebook and other social media, and these are great tools for communicating and sharing your photos with people who are genuinely interested in what you are up to. (It’s also great for reassuring people that you are not dead in a ditch somewhere.) However I feel it’s way too easy to spend your time fiddling with a camera to take the perfect shot and not actually see what is happening in front of you! The photo-taking behaviour of some people that I witnessed in some beautiful places around the world shocked me and made me despair. People elbowing others out of the way to take a selfie, preening and posing and then walking away without even looking at what they came to see! I was embarrassed for some of them.
I met some lovely people around the world, but James in Sydney was one of the best. His motto was ‘be in the moment’. He woke me up to the idea of putting down the camera once in a while and using your senses to really experience where you are and so imprint it in your brain and heart. No one else needs to know you were there. We think we will forget things if we don’t take a picture – but we won’t. If we really look, really pay attention and be in the moment we will remember. I’m counting on it.
I used to be guilty of taking TONS of pictures. Partly because I was a perfectionist and partly because I was so excited to be traveling on my own for the first time. I didn’t want to forget anything! But you’re right, it’s hard to enjoy the experience if in that moment you’re focused on taking pictures. People also like it better when you tell them all about it, because pictures can’t convey everything 🙂
Thanks Nathalie! There has to be a balance with photos I think. But the selfies are the worst!
A very good reminder!
I’m a new fan of your writing primarily and your blog. I agree that we tend to get so absorbed in recording, for any variety of reasons, that we might be missing some of the best moments of a journey. And don’t get me started on how the electronic age has made us astoundingly lazy and too often unimaginative creatures. For that very conviction there are very few photographs of me with my family and those that were taken are not very flattering. However, because of the discipline of taking every breath as though it is my last, I have a rich cache of memories that will never be lost (from anyone that matters to me), fade or disappear before their time. I genuinely like your blog and hope to happen by it often.
Many thanks Roo for reading! A tour guide I had in Peru told me that the best memories are in your head and in your heart and I totally agree. Photos obviously have their place but we need to be able to live in the real world and just think about how it’s going to look in the fake on-line world!
Have only realised you’re still writing your blog Julie.
Hi Mar – the posts are intermittent but making an effort again!