So much of this resonates. A few years back we were in Vienna and we visited the Belvedere where Gustav Klimt's 'The Kiss' is displayed. It was impossible to get near to it because of all the people taking photos of it or selfies with it. It was bewildering and somewhat ruined the experience for me.
I do like to photograph interesting things that I see, but I very much try to be in the moment and not let the urge to photograph override the experience. It's hard! I try to mentally ask myself if I will look at that photo again or show it/share it with someone. If the answer is a clear no then there is no point.
I'm glad you've got your photography mojo back, because it can bring so much joy to capture images through a lens and you're very talented at it!
It's funny actually as I started writing this post months ago, but it never felt quite right, so I shelved it. However, after we spoke on Zoom, I returned to it and felt able to finish it. I actually have you to thank for helping me get it over the line!
This resonates. It's almost as if we don't trust ourselves to recall a beautiful image, and so the camera phone is, as you say, very much an extension of the hand. I admit I take photos of my dog (not to the same extent as the women in your piece) but I have stopped myself from taking photos at gigs. It is hard though, as most of us are addicted to some extent. I sometimes wish the cameraphone had never been invented. Bring back the days of the Nokia brick!
Ah my first phone was a Nokia! I’ve heard of people using dumb phones, inc revamped Nokia ones that have minimal software like access to apps. Although it would have to have Snake for me to be tempted to get one 😂
I read today that Lily Allen has taken to using a kids' phone called Pinwheel. Apparently it has no browsing capability and no social media, but you can still use Spotify and Uber. I would love to think that sometime in the future we revert back to the old models (I still miss the satisfying sound of the flip phone).
Haven’t heard of the Pinwheel, I’ll take a look at that. Flip phones were the best - compact, and practical. I have seen that Samsung have release a flip phone, but to accommodate the smartphone tech, it’s still pretty chunky.
Hear, hear! This is one of the reasons why I like being a Gen-Xer and hanging out with my friends because NO ONE will take out their phone. There have been countless times where even during a reunion, we forget to take a photo. So, I have to tell myself over and over again to remember to take a photo before meeting up. It's crazy.
But I get you. I was doing #365daysofgratitude on IG for years, so I felt the need to find those good pics, and when I stopped, I stopped taking photos, and I still haven't recovered. Hahahhaa. But I'm reminded that documenting life is okay, and I need to take more pictures again. But! Not in a cray-cray way because, yeah, it's too much. Sounds like we both needed a break and we're returning to some balance!
Same! I can be out with my mates for drinks or dinner (I am classified as a geriatric millennial, which I find hilarious!) and we barely look at our phones. And then we are all like, oh we didn’t take a photo of the ‘moment’ afterwards. In retrospect, it seems like a good thing.
And I also agree with you it’s about balance. We have this tech so yes, let’s use it to document what’s going, but not much so that it consumes us.
Couldn’t agree more! I just went to a school jog-a-thon for my youngest on Friday, and this exact topic came up. As all the kids lined up at the start, parents held up their phones, zooming in on their children to capture the exact moment they started running, and continued to film and snap photos as the kids ran laps. One mother commented, as she stuffed her phone in her bag, “Good thing I got more photos - now I’ll do nothing with them!” These kids have had cameras/phones on their faces their whole lives, and it really does beg the question: Are we missing out on the special moments by trying to capture them all? Great post, Sarah!
Thanks Maria - and your comment about kids having had cameras/phones in their faces their whole lives is so true! It does beg the question about how the kids feel about their parents (or whoever it is) taking pictures and filming them? Do they like it? Or are they used to it?
I am so glad that the things hadn't been invited for sports events when I was at school haha!
I did struggle a bit about the tone with this post as I didn't want to come across as judgemental and like an old fuddy-duddy! I grew up in the 90s so no camera phones, and certainly no social media (unless you count Friends Reunited or MSN Messenger). And I am definitely not opposed to camera phones/social media, but if we are so busy clicking, we do miss magical moments like you say.
Someone attending a gig asked me beforehand if I'd like them to film any particular songs. I thanked them and suggested they just enjoy the show in the moment. :)
That's great! I do hope that you enjoyed the show, although I am curious to know whether the person who offered their 'services' watched it primarily via their phone.
It's weird in gigs when there is a sea of hands stuck up in the air whether that is to film the act/s, or to act as lights. Bring back the days when we used actual lighters haha! Ok, so they were a fire hazard...
I didn't go to the show, but I was thinking the same way as you. All those hands filming the concert as a document of proof or something. Just as with the art gallery snaps.
When I travel by train, all eyes are now down on phones. I keep my phone away and look out the window. There's a wonderful meditation right there—a peaceful solitude within the crowd, just watching the world whizz by.
I love train and bus journeys when you can watch the world go by. I hadn’t thought about the solitude before that comes with travelling like that, but you’re exactly right, it is meditative.
I had the same realization back when I was backpacking the world. I stopped taking a lot of pics and wanted to see the trips through my eyes instead. (That sounds weird but I'm hoping you know what i mean). I have also fallen back into Like with taking photos. Do I regret the few years of less photos? Only sometimes and in those moments I reach back into my mental archives and relive what I saw. In the moment of the trips with less photos, no regrets. I thoroughly enjoyed not having my phone in hand and my eyes behind a lens.
Hi Patricia, completely agree with you about enjoying more time spent without my phone in my hand (and my camera). I do like the immediacy of having my camera phone, but I find that my brain doesn't process the information/scene in the same way when I take a photo and then just move on. And from what little I have read, there is some research that supports this.
To answer your question about whether I miss the years of taking less photos. Yes, for sure. But the period did also coincide with the pandemic, so I think that I was pretty fed up with everything and certainly lacking in any creative energy haha!
Your backpacking trip sounds fun! Whereabouts in the world did you go? And was that the same time as your time in Vietnam?
My backpacking was years long. I worked in Alaska in the summer and traveled during the winter. My trip to Viet Nam was part of one winter's travels. That winter I also went to Indonesia and Singapore. It's interesting how the pandemic effected everyone differently. I was more creative during that timeperiod. I had reached the fed up-ness right before the pandemic started.
It's great to hear how you felt more creative during the pandemic, and I think you're right, people during that time had such a range of experiences. It certainly helped me with coming to the decision that I wanted to take a break from/leave teaching! I'd love to visit Alaska, actually I would just like to explore the US states - each state feels like a different country in itself.
So much of this resonates. A few years back we were in Vienna and we visited the Belvedere where Gustav Klimt's 'The Kiss' is displayed. It was impossible to get near to it because of all the people taking photos of it or selfies with it. It was bewildering and somewhat ruined the experience for me.
I do like to photograph interesting things that I see, but I very much try to be in the moment and not let the urge to photograph override the experience. It's hard! I try to mentally ask myself if I will look at that photo again or show it/share it with someone. If the answer is a clear no then there is no point.
I'm glad you've got your photography mojo back, because it can bring so much joy to capture images through a lens and you're very talented at it!
Thanks Hannah :)
It's funny actually as I started writing this post months ago, but it never felt quite right, so I shelved it. However, after we spoke on Zoom, I returned to it and felt able to finish it. I actually have you to thank for helping me get it over the line!
Oh wow, that's lovely to hear. I'm so glad you wrote it, it's a great piece of writing ✨
This resonates. It's almost as if we don't trust ourselves to recall a beautiful image, and so the camera phone is, as you say, very much an extension of the hand. I admit I take photos of my dog (not to the same extent as the women in your piece) but I have stopped myself from taking photos at gigs. It is hard though, as most of us are addicted to some extent. I sometimes wish the cameraphone had never been invented. Bring back the days of the Nokia brick!
Ah my first phone was a Nokia! I’ve heard of people using dumb phones, inc revamped Nokia ones that have minimal software like access to apps. Although it would have to have Snake for me to be tempted to get one 😂
I read today that Lily Allen has taken to using a kids' phone called Pinwheel. Apparently it has no browsing capability and no social media, but you can still use Spotify and Uber. I would love to think that sometime in the future we revert back to the old models (I still miss the satisfying sound of the flip phone).
Haven’t heard of the Pinwheel, I’ll take a look at that. Flip phones were the best - compact, and practical. I have seen that Samsung have release a flip phone, but to accommodate the smartphone tech, it’s still pretty chunky.
Hear, hear! This is one of the reasons why I like being a Gen-Xer and hanging out with my friends because NO ONE will take out their phone. There have been countless times where even during a reunion, we forget to take a photo. So, I have to tell myself over and over again to remember to take a photo before meeting up. It's crazy.
But I get you. I was doing #365daysofgratitude on IG for years, so I felt the need to find those good pics, and when I stopped, I stopped taking photos, and I still haven't recovered. Hahahhaa. But I'm reminded that documenting life is okay, and I need to take more pictures again. But! Not in a cray-cray way because, yeah, it's too much. Sounds like we both needed a break and we're returning to some balance!
Same! I can be out with my mates for drinks or dinner (I am classified as a geriatric millennial, which I find hilarious!) and we barely look at our phones. And then we are all like, oh we didn’t take a photo of the ‘moment’ afterwards. In retrospect, it seems like a good thing.
And I also agree with you it’s about balance. We have this tech so yes, let’s use it to document what’s going, but not much so that it consumes us.
geriatric millennial? hahahhaa
Couldn’t agree more! I just went to a school jog-a-thon for my youngest on Friday, and this exact topic came up. As all the kids lined up at the start, parents held up their phones, zooming in on their children to capture the exact moment they started running, and continued to film and snap photos as the kids ran laps. One mother commented, as she stuffed her phone in her bag, “Good thing I got more photos - now I’ll do nothing with them!” These kids have had cameras/phones on their faces their whole lives, and it really does beg the question: Are we missing out on the special moments by trying to capture them all? Great post, Sarah!
Thanks Maria - and your comment about kids having had cameras/phones in their faces their whole lives is so true! It does beg the question about how the kids feel about their parents (or whoever it is) taking pictures and filming them? Do they like it? Or are they used to it?
I am so glad that the things hadn't been invited for sports events when I was at school haha!
Loved this post Sarah. We miss so many magical moments because we are busy clicking.
Thanks Shital.
I did struggle a bit about the tone with this post as I didn't want to come across as judgemental and like an old fuddy-duddy! I grew up in the 90s so no camera phones, and certainly no social media (unless you count Friends Reunited or MSN Messenger). And I am definitely not opposed to camera phones/social media, but if we are so busy clicking, we do miss magical moments like you say.
Glad you enjoyed the piece :)
Someone attending a gig asked me beforehand if I'd like them to film any particular songs. I thanked them and suggested they just enjoy the show in the moment. :)
That's great! I do hope that you enjoyed the show, although I am curious to know whether the person who offered their 'services' watched it primarily via their phone.
It's weird in gigs when there is a sea of hands stuck up in the air whether that is to film the act/s, or to act as lights. Bring back the days when we used actual lighters haha! Ok, so they were a fire hazard...
Hehe, you can't win!
I didn't go to the show, but I was thinking the same way as you. All those hands filming the concert as a document of proof or something. Just as with the art gallery snaps.
When I travel by train, all eyes are now down on phones. I keep my phone away and look out the window. There's a wonderful meditation right there—a peaceful solitude within the crowd, just watching the world whizz by.
I love train and bus journeys when you can watch the world go by. I hadn’t thought about the solitude before that comes with travelling like that, but you’re exactly right, it is meditative.
I had the same realization back when I was backpacking the world. I stopped taking a lot of pics and wanted to see the trips through my eyes instead. (That sounds weird but I'm hoping you know what i mean). I have also fallen back into Like with taking photos. Do I regret the few years of less photos? Only sometimes and in those moments I reach back into my mental archives and relive what I saw. In the moment of the trips with less photos, no regrets. I thoroughly enjoyed not having my phone in hand and my eyes behind a lens.
Hi Patricia, completely agree with you about enjoying more time spent without my phone in my hand (and my camera). I do like the immediacy of having my camera phone, but I find that my brain doesn't process the information/scene in the same way when I take a photo and then just move on. And from what little I have read, there is some research that supports this.
To answer your question about whether I miss the years of taking less photos. Yes, for sure. But the period did also coincide with the pandemic, so I think that I was pretty fed up with everything and certainly lacking in any creative energy haha!
Your backpacking trip sounds fun! Whereabouts in the world did you go? And was that the same time as your time in Vietnam?
My backpacking was years long. I worked in Alaska in the summer and traveled during the winter. My trip to Viet Nam was part of one winter's travels. That winter I also went to Indonesia and Singapore. It's interesting how the pandemic effected everyone differently. I was more creative during that timeperiod. I had reached the fed up-ness right before the pandemic started.
It's great to hear how you felt more creative during the pandemic, and I think you're right, people during that time had such a range of experiences. It certainly helped me with coming to the decision that I wanted to take a break from/leave teaching! I'd love to visit Alaska, actually I would just like to explore the US states - each state feels like a different country in itself.