As I looked back at some of those photographs, I realized that I saw a lot less on the trip than I photographed. This got me thinking, "Did my desire.. no no.. my need, to click so many pics actually destroy my trip?" I may hate admitting it to myself, but that just might be the case. And so this blog... yes, photographs do tend to destroy a lot of the fun.
Take your own last new year party for example. How many pics were clicked in those 4-5 hours on either side of 0000 hrs.? I would say enough!! Usually 0000 hrs is the time you kiss your wife a very happy new year and hug your friends. Now, its a moment that JUST HAS TO BE photographed. Why? Will you even see those photographs after February? I doubt.
Take the last team dinner/reunion that you had. Its a time to talk to people. A time to enjoy and remember old times. So, did you carry old pics to the dinner to help the talk and remember old times? I don't think so. What you did do was take your digital camera and click another 200 photos of stupid poses by people, food, and random decorative items in the restaurant which is your attempt at creative photography. You put them on Facebook, get a 100 comments, and then its just one more of your albums.
And what did you do to get all those pics? You asked people to get together in those uncomfortable group pics where no one knows exactly which of the gazillion cameras should they look into, using funny hats, balloons, cocktail glasses, wine glasses, shoes, bottles, candles, flowers, or anything else that will make us look like fools which we just do not want to. And not to forget, the most displeasing of them all, food photographs!! I mean, do you have to really stop a person from eating his beautiful plate of food just because you want to take a photograph of it? From all food lovers to all photographers, don't make us wait for our food!! Please don't!!
At the end of the day, I feel that we are so focussed on creating good "Facebook" or "perfect picture" moments that we forget to enjoy all the wonderful moments just happen. Click photos, lots of them, to remember the wonderful moments. Don't plan moments to take those photos.
wow! nice one :)
ReplyDeleteNice thoughts Ankan... I agree with you... In fact,we were not able to visit one famous temple in Sonar Fort (Jaiselmer) because we all friends were busy clicking the photos... and by the time we reached temple, it was closed...
ReplyDeletePhotgraphs are nice momentos but clicking photos for Orkut, Facebook or to show your creativity is useless and waste of time.
My first reaction is similar to Imperfectionist's. But then I know that the Obstinate Thinker revels in clicking 100s of pics in parties and on trips and placing them on FB. He also loves to look at slideshows of old pics on his TV.
ReplyDeleteSo the Minto is that clicking pics now is a gud thing, esp if in future u r goin to find time to see them and miss the present that just passed.
Nice food for thought for a photo maniac like me!!
ReplyDeleteGood realization Ankan :)
ReplyDelete"Excess of everything is bad" may be apt here. For obvious reasons you need pics, but becoming obsessive about clicking every moment can surely be avoided.
Hey Buddy...nice post...and i feel the same way.... i just wish i had a PA to just click my photos and process them so that i can just enjoy my travel..... it has become a self inflicted pain....
ReplyDelete