Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

It is the experience for me. I feel totally naked when traveling without a camera. I have a sister-in-law that will only take a few photos using her cell phone when traveling because she says it takes away from the experience. I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go round!

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

For me, it doesn't steal the experience, taking a photo reinforces the experience.

rbest77701

I don't usually feel that way when I'm out photographing landscapes. I enjoy the beauty & try to capture what I'm seeing. But in the past, when I have been photographing or video taping my daughter at an equestrian event, I have felt like I missed the experience because I was too focused on getting the video or I was focused on one fence trying to get a great image of her and her horse jumping.

Photocraig

If you miss the moment it is a MISS! Confirmed by critiques in class and at top workshops. A good photograph is more than a pretty picture of a scene. Capturing the moment is telling the STORY that makes the photograph.

ChuckMc Loc: Prescott, AZ

I basically take two kinds/classes of photos: because it is a great shot; or because it is a snapshot for me to view later and relive the moment. I load selected pics of both into my computer as wallpaper and a new one pops up each minute on my two monitors. Love it.
I'd load a couple of them here, but don't see any way to do it, even though I see others do it often.
Chuck

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Those who claim the camera detracts from the experience are probably more than happy to look at the images captured by their camera toting friends.

ralf Loc: NJ

I listened to the TED talk. She has a good point. Some years ago when I visited the Grand Canyon, I had a similar revelation, which goes like this: The best camera in the world can capture, at most, about 1% of the total experience of being at the Grand Canyon. The wind, the sounds, the air, the smells, the crunch of sand underfoot, the creaking trees, the buzzing insects, are all inaccessible on film.

Therefore, you should: (1) take pictures, (2) sit back with the camera "off" and enjoy the 99% that you cannot digitize. If you concentrate too much on making a photographic record, you will miss the best part.

This is not a philosophy of photography, but of life.

robertperry Loc: Sacramento, Ca.

It depends on what you are photographing. I tend to look closely at the scenery, flowers, etc. taking in/studying the entire scene. On the other hand, trying to capture a dragster at 300 plus mph, you miss everything looking through a viewfinder. It's all over in less than 4 seconds. Sometimes I give the camera a rest and watch the 300mph action.

Glenn Harve

I was photographing a street gang, and they stole my camera.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Be thankful that is all they took!

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Ditto. Me too also.
Plus what Longshadow just said.
Who was I with? Why was I there? Then what happened?
That photo brings that up for me, way more than a mis remembered vision.

FunkyL Loc: MD

I made a conscious decision not to try to photograph the eclipse in August of 2017; I didn't have the experience or equipment to get a great shot. I'd never seen a total eclipse before, and chose to focus on soaking up the experience rather than trying to get a most likely mediocre photo. As it turned out, there were high clouds which would have made it impossible to get that technically perfect shot anyway, but at the last minute, during totality, I took a shot anyway. Later, another watcher saw my camera, and asked if I'd taken any photos. I admitted I had, but they were not very good... to which she replied "yes, but they're YOUR eclipse." I believe in this case I enjoyed the experience more than I would have if I'd spent my time trying to photograph it, but I still am glad to have my quick snapshot

My cloudy eclipse

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I made the conscious decision to photograph some of it then to stop and fully experience it. Like you I don't have an astro-rig. I knew I could get fabulous pics on line of that eclipse if I wanted. So rather than capture the eclipse itself, I concentrated on the people and the ambience leading up to the eclipse and the surroundings, the light before and during the eclipse. But I decided ahead, I would take those pics then quit and just watch. Which is what I did. Where I was at, near Rawlings WY, at the center of totality, it was Spectacular!! No single photo captures the beauty and the dynamics of the sun's corona , not even close. The Corona is huge, and it is moving and shimmering, you can see the magnetic field lines. I am so glad I watched and experienced it. 😁


There is actually a funny side story here. I was on a 2 week road trip with my friend. Since I had room in the car, I had my N80 and 3-4 lenses, and 20 rolls of film. I intended to primarily shoot film on the trip. The eclipse was on day 4 and DURING the eclipse, suddenly the N80 displayed ERR in the info display. It would not release the shutter. 😡 FORTUNATELY I also had my M43 kit with me, I always carry it on a trip. I quickly grabbed it. So I had 4 days of film and 17 more days of digital for that trip. LOL.
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You can see Venus in the download

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