It immerses me in the experience.
Thoughtful indeed. But some would say the experience of photographing is creating a piece of art that transcends the solitary act of merely experiencing.
No, it make me feel better because I will have a record of the experience.
A record used later to refresh my mind.
Long ago my wife and I were sitting next to the road enjoying the view of the Tetons across Jenny Lake (Grand Teton National Park). A station wagon pulled up (I said long ago). It was full of a family with several kids. The Dad hopped out with his Brownie and started to walk around the car. Several doors popped open and little heads popped out. The Dad shouted, “Get back in the car. You can look at the pictures back home!”
He snapped his picture, got back in the car, and drove off.
We told the story dozens of times.
Fotoartist wrote:
Thoughtful indeed. But some would say the experience of photographing is creating a piece of art that transcends the solitary act of merely experiencing.
"Photographing the moment," for me, often enhances the experience because it forces me to become more observant in composing a photo (or series of photos), in terms of light and interesting or distracting elements.
Mike Padgett wrote:
"Photographing the moment," for me, often enhances the experience because it forces me to become more observant in composing a photo (or series of photos), in terms of light and interesting or distracting elements.
I see more through the lens than I would have.
It depends on how you do it. If you spend all the time photographing and no time being there then yes you missed the experience. However if you capture a scene, while also being there, experiencing the scene, then you can relive that moment in years following whenever you look at your album.
My lenses allow me to see much more than my naked eye.
This past summer on a road trip to Glacier we stopped somewhere along the way to look at a vista. There were 3 young boys, maybe earlier 20's. One of them was remarking how beautiful the scene was and one of the other ones remarked, "I forgot to bring my phone." The third one said," Yeah, that's right, if you don't take a picture, it never happened".
It can be a dilemma. Last Saturday morning, a young hawk sat on the fence in our back yard eating some sort of rodent. I had an impulse to run for my camera but, instead, my wife and I just watched until it finished and flew off. Trade off: an average photo vs a great experience (IMO).
This points up a difference between professional photographers and amature ones. A professional has an extra motivation to capture an image that will sell; a professional tends to be shooting for others, not for personal enjoyment. In contrast, an amature is shooting for enjoyment, either present enjoyment or to preserve the present moment for future enjoyment.
Usually only if the moment steals photography
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.