National Public Radio here in the states is doing an interesting series this week on photography and memory. Wish I could find the full text, but this could be a seven minute listen HERE if you desire. Some points I found interesting:
Actor George Clooney said it was harder to connect with his fans cause he'd reach out to shake a hand and they were too busy recording the interaction to remember to shake is hand back. He said people are "experiencing less and recording more".
A study gave some people some cameras and took them to a museum. They were asked to look at some of the subjects in the museum and photograph others. Then later were given a memory test about the subjects and could remember significantly fewer details about the ones that they photographed. But a similar study asked the photographers to zoom in, or focus on specific piece of a subject and they were able to remember more about it.
Slightly off topic but tangentially connected to this, is something I have been thinking about recently in connection to wedding photography and the feeling I have been getting lately that often the photographing, or video recording of the wedding, is taking precedence over the actual act of getting married.
It sometimes seems as if the whole ceremony is simply a set, designed to produce attractive pictures, rather than the pictures being simply a record of a meaningful event.
Yes, I know I've had to stop myself trying to video or capture on camera some of my favourite music concerts and performers, and concentrate on the actual music. We can definitely get caught up in capturing the moment rather than being part of the moment. However, sometimes having a camera around your neck makes you see things you would otherwise miss. Moderation in all things!
How very true....forgotten how many times I have waited patiently & with excitement for some event & then when the great moment arrives, what do I do slap a camera up to my eye & completely miss almost every detail!
I do/ view photography a little differently.
I don't try to capture an event. I have always thought that interfered with the enjoyment.
Photography for me, when I chose to do it, is the event. I go out to photograph. The getting into the right side/ artist in me is why I do photography.
So for those capturing their child's birthday, I say put down the camera, or get someone else to do the photographs.
I believe this entirely! I know practically nothing about my kids' soccer games cause I'm too busy trying to get the perfect shot and my daughter will say, did you see that girl trip me? And I'm like, no - sorry :( I'm taking less pics now though - just first half and enjoying the second half in the stands
I definitely find that sometimes when I'm too busy taking photographs I miss most of the event. Especially for things like parties or sports or concerts. On the other hand, like @jamibann says, sometimes wanting to get a photograph helps me experience things I would have just driven right past or missed entirely before, like a beautiful sunset or the fog on a field in the morning. So, a little bit of both.
I'm taking photos to remember the events I visited. Like documenting the event. I tend to sort my photos by date/event to look at them later and memorize everything. Sometimes I even find details in my pictures that I wasn't aware of in the moment I took the picture. Maybe I'm a bit unusual...
This is always a dilemma for me when away on holidays, I want to see and remember as much as possible but I also want photos of every new thing and experience. I do think you are missing out on the big picture with a camera stuck up to your eye.
@kjarn I'm with you on wanting to record our trips, I find the images refresh my memory some years down the track. I also write a daily blogg which makes for an interesting read. I have to agree that the view-finder restricts the larger picture. I've recently taken to stitching panoramas to make the image more inclusive and closer to how I remember the scene that inspired me.
I do think we have to lower the lens sometimes and enjoy the view a different way - if we balance it properly we should be able to do both - I do sometimes get lost in the taking
This subject reminds me of a poignant video I saw about how social media has changed our lives - and not in a good way. Take time to watch this video clear through to the end, it has quite a message - one we all need to hear.
@jamibann@polarvrtx@tigerdreamer And I often find that when photography is the event (like the second experiment up there of focusing on part of the art work) where I have to set up and think about the framing and the lighting and the whole shebang, those are the photos and moments that I remember way more than just snapping a passing moment.
I have to admit to deliberately putting my camera down sometimes, to just enjoy the moment. I remember going the the Lake District to an amazing view and just being over awed by it, it was a full 10 mins before I picked up my camera.
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It sometimes seems as if the whole ceremony is simply a set, designed to produce attractive pictures, rather than the pictures being simply a record of a meaningful event.
I don't try to capture an event. I have always thought that interfered with the enjoyment.
Photography for me, when I chose to do it, is the event. I go out to photograph. The getting into the right side/ artist in me is why I do photography.
So for those capturing their child's birthday, I say put down the camera, or get someone else to do the photographs.
Look Up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
Guilty of the soccer and gymnastics snaps.