“I don’t need to take pictures…I prefer to live in the moment…”
Years ago, I was sitting in a cafe with a group of friends when the topic of traveling with a camera came up. We talked about whether it was worth bringing a dedicated camera on a trip, versus just using a cell phone, when one friend mentioned that he preferred not to take any pictures, and would rather just “live in the moment”, and not be distracted by taking pictures. This wasn’t the first time I heard someone use this phrase while talking about photography, and it also wasn’t the last. Don’t spend your time looking through a lens, the argument insists, instead focus on the moment and live your life in the now. I hear this phrase most used against amateur travel photography. I would assume the image of a tourist with a camera around their neck comes to mind, snapping photos of everything they see around them. This caricature is likely an oversimplification representing the vast number of different motives that can drive different photographers. And of course, a live in the now philosophy is nothing new, and it certainly isn’t limited to discussing matters of photography and art. It can be considered solid advice to focus on your life and the moments you find yourself in, but what about in the context of photography and photo documentation? Whenever I would hear someone bring this up, my initial reaction, without having previously formulated a clear response, was to say something along the lines of “maybe there is something abstract missing in the photographer’s mind…maybe there is something just wrong with us in some way that creates this desire for documentation, a sense that something isn’t complete without it.” That answer may have some truth to it, but after thinking about that time in the cafe I realized that a concise answer does exist.
Every photographer has a different motivation driving their urge to take pictures. Some may do it for artistic reasons, others for work, but I suspect that most would fall under the category of documentation. This could be photos taken on vacation, snap shots of miscellaneous moments in life, or photos taken by serious photojournalist. The desire to document life with pictures, either for personal or historical reasons, is perhaps more prevalent and accessible than ever before. The ease that social media gives to photo sharing, combined with the ubiquity of digital cameras, means that more photos are taken by more people every day. The perceptions of photography have changed with its increasing role in our daily life. Photography, especially if done by the average person, is often discredited as an extension of social media. But does the motivation and experience level of the photographer even matter? Does where those photos end up, posted online or stored away on a computer hard drive, matter to the value of the work? Should everyone focus on living their life and enjoying the experiences they encounter instead of worrying with trying to document those experiences? If photo documentation had some sort of intrinsic value, a positive or unique attribute that was separate from the experience you were having while taking pictures, then this argument would be false. Or if the act of doing photography could enhance an experience, then again, photography would have its own value. There just needs to be something to gain from this type of photography.
From my own personal point of view, I find a distinct difference between the experiences I have while traveling in a new place, and the experience I have viewing the photos or reliving the memory of that place. Imagine you are exploring a city you’ve never been to, you are taking in the sights and sounds, and getting a sense of how this place differs from wherever you are form. Many aspects of the city catch your attention as you explore, and in the moment, everything seems to stand out. Now imagine you are revisiting those memories in your mind years later, maybe for the hundredth time, some elements or specific moments you experienced will stand out more than others. Sometimes moments might seem inconsequential while experiencing them but become persistent in your memory in retrospect. Experiences will be lost as you fail to recollect them enough times, they become overshadowed by other moments. When I look back at the photos, I’ve taken over the years, particularly those taken in a place that was new to me at the time, I can relive those experiences through the eyes of a different version of myself. One that is a bit older and might view aspects of the world differently. I can consider what I saw and how it affected me in a way that combines the experience itself, which had already changed me, and everything I learned and experienced after it.
Whenever I take the time to scroll though photographs, I took when I spent a month hiking along the Appalachian Trail when I was in my early twenties, I get to relive that experience, but in a more introspective way. It’s not the same as when I was there, and it never will be, but I can consider each memory, and spend time analyzing how those memories affected who I am today. I can even re-imagine those memories if I wanted to let my imagination run away from me. Learning to appreciate how those memories affected me took years to realize, and the photos help me to build that understanding. Sometimes to realize changes in ourselves, we must consider the paths we took. It’s necessary to keep pushing forward, to grow and adapt as a person, but moments of self-reflection can enhance our growth. Recalling memories creates its own experience that is worth living. Photography can help those memories live on in your mind. Each photograph I take forms a stronger memory in my mind, even if I never look at that photo again. The act of noticing something worth photographing is enough to burn it forever in my mind. I can look at any photo I ever took and know exactly where I took it and what camera I used. Conversely, I can imagine any memory of my life and remember the photos I took when I was there. Reliving moments of your life brings its own value that is a part of, but separate to, what you experienced in the moment. Photography can simply provide a bridge between your past and your present. I can’t imagine a life spent without personal photographs to reflect upon and enjoy.
Providing value in retrospection isn’t the only personal benefit gained from photography. When exploring a novel, or even a familiar, space with a camera in hand, I become hyper aware of my surroundings. I’m actively looking for unique moments, colors, lighting, and people when I’m trying to take photographs. It’s very easy to move through the world and overlook the small details, the things you don’t notice or take for granted. Photography gives focus. It hones your senses of perception, especially with greater practice. When I traveled to the Philippines, I noticed how much more colorful everything was, the storefronts, the homes, the clothing, were much more vibrant than the more muted tones I was accustomed to in Manhattan. It was enough of a difference to make me adjust my camera settings to better suit the color palette. I became more aware of this subtle difference throughout my time there. This detail, although possibly exaggerated in my mind by my work in New York, is something I easily could have missed if I wasn’t viewing those towns I visited through the eyes of a photographer. This is just one example, but I experience this effect every time I venture out into the world to with a camera in my hands, even if I’m just walking around a neighborhood in New York, I’ve visited dozens of times. By having a strong motivating goal, to record a place in way that would be interesting to people other than myself, I become far less likely to be distracted by the act of photography. Instead, I am focused by it, and feel a stronger connection to the moments I capture and the places I’m in.
Perhaps what’s “missing” in the mind of a photographer is faith in their memory, or a sense of completion from experiences. Photos provide a memory that can’t be forgotten. That’s one possible reason we seek to create these permanent memories, fear of their loss. Photography in this case would be something you do for your future self. Photography can create a strong connection with our memories and experiences. It enhances awareness of the world. It can help those inclined to take pictures better understand ourselves. Photography isn’t necessary to enhance your understanding of the world; it could be any form of art or something else entirely. There are no obligations anyone should feel towards photography or any art. It must come to you in its own way at its own time. Each photographer will have their own motives and outlets, but its incorrect to assume it must be a distraction in life. Maybe photographers just crave creation and the pathway for introspection that comes from it. Whatever my reasons might be, I have never felt any less “in the moment” from creating my photographs. I feel the exact opposite of that statement would be true. Maybe someday I’ll look back at it all and feel differently, however. Perhaps I’ll still long for a sense of completion.