rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I am up-to-date.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

As others have said, this is a very interesting and thought-provoking question for many of us.

I can tell you that, for me, I really enjoy streaming a slideshow of random “my best” photos to a large screen tv and just letting it play and repeat. The memories that are rekindled are special and would not have been possible without my taking photos over the past years. They bring me joy and happiness as I grow older.

I have learned not to haul a dslr and lenses unless: I am traveling solely by car and I am going someplace where I expect some unique opportunities or subjects that an iPhone won’t record (wildlife).

I recently made the mistake of flying to Yosemite and Tahoe, carrying my canon 80d and several lenses. What a waste of limited energy! My iPhone would have taken 95% of those taken with the what seemed like 1,000 lbs of equipment. Never again.

My most important and memory-inducing photos have friends and family in them.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I have been scanning my grandfather's photos from the late 1800's and early 1900's and 90% are family photos and the rest are of the place of employment, the chapel or other similar photos.
I have my wife post them on the Rowena Holladay page and hundreds comment how much they appreciate the photos.
Ps, here is my grandfather having fun.
"Long-distance telephone"

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joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Excellent, whimsical shot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Awesomely shot finds 🌞🔟🌞🔟🌞

JBuckley

I've had a great life (75 years old), and my memory is starting to fade, (so I've been told) by kids.
I can see little videos of my growing up in my (minds camera collection), but they are only reinforced
or made special by the old black and white photos of my early years. I know people that an recall their
early years, (even as young as one or two years old), but I never had that ability.

The great thing is, my uncle was a camera buff back in the 30's and 40's. He developed his own photos
in his garage with contact prints. He and his father even made camera lens in their little shop, that were superior to what the space program had developed for their early orbiting satellites. (One of their lenses made it onto one of the programs space cameras).
Long story, longer, without those early photos that were taken, I would have no recollect of my early years.
I started taking photos with my own 35mm in 1963. Just when I think I "can remember" what happened, my memory is only of the photos that I took and the 8mm movies that I took of my family, (while) I never had the benefit of anyone taking photos of me when I became the "family camera man".
B & W photos are here for a long time, but not so, for color slides and color photography.

User ID

I hear ya ! Sometimes I sorta envy all the simpletons who really do believe that "the decisive moment" is the whole show :-(

Ive been shooting a bunch of stuff that will keep me busy during the winter slow-down.

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Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

I’m the flip side of this story. I’ve been into photography since about 1970. Always film up till about 2001-02 when I purchased a Fuji S2 for our portrait studio. My mom suffered from early onset of Alzheimer’s starting about in her late 40’s around 1981. She stopped speaking by about late 82. I’d love to have videos or even audio recordings of her talking. Just normal conversation. I’m sure there are many others in the same place. But I do see your point of parents or others that are never actually there in the moment.

LeeinNC Loc: Morganton, NC

About three years ago, I was riding through town and spotted a commotion happening on the town square. I'm glad I had my camera.

Canisdirus

I shoot landscape and wildlife.

Zero interest in shooting people or the artificial world.

So I often do not have my camera...even on vacations.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

Recently I experienced exactly what you described. I went to my window as I often do overlooking a set of feeders to check on what might be visiting and there was a beautiful Bullocks Oriole, male, in full brilliant colors! He had just landed above my grape jelly feeder and the lighting was of an incredible level just before full dark, it really enhanced the fire in his orange and yellow colors changing as he moved about. I thought about using my camera but knew I would miss so much of the show setting it up so I just relaxed and let myself be transfixed by the beauty of it all!

I soaked it in and tried hard to fix all the details in my memory to enjoy in the future and thoroughly enjoyed every second of the encounter. It was very relaxing and profitable to bringing peace and joy to my thoughts. It felt good to slow down and just let it be what it was and become a part of it so to speak.

Here is a pic but not of that encounter…just for reference.

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User ID

This stuff is almost universally covered using phone cameras. A more "camera-like" camera actually invites further troubles. Fortunately, you got away with it. And, that is a very good catch which got printed to a really nice size.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I was out sitting on our deck once, holding my camera and a zoom telephoto lens, when a Baltimore Oriole flew into sight. We had no feeder to attract him, but he came anyway, so I photographed him. Now, I’m not sure where I put that photo, but I expect to find it somewhere, sometime. I had never seen one before, or since - I’m glad I took that picture that time - now if I could just find that photo. From the details that I can remember, it must have been April 2019 ….

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

You have the image in your mind, all that counts.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Here it is!!!

One in the hand is worth many in the mind - it is great to relive that moment with the actual photo!!!.