A recent hike left me with a lot of pictures, but hardly anything to say. Here's how photography has started to reshape our outdoor experiences for the worse:
Hi Cole, our minds eye gives us the best views and memories….plus no worries of iCloud account is full need to upgrade. Of course pictures capture special events, family, friends, scenery for others to enjoy as well….but try not to lose the actual moment.
Ugh. I feel this too deeply. I LOVE talking pictures and always take too many. But I love the way they help me tell a story and keep a visual of the memory. Figuring out the balance is tough. One thing I did realize this year, however: no one on my social media page really cares too see ALL of my vacation photos. That epiphany made it much easier to take Facebook off of my phone.
I agree about overkill! I normally don't take photos on runs, only a few on special hikes. The photos (with my lack of skill, anyway) never do the landscape justice.
I can so identify with your article! I have one single photo album from the first 18 years of my life. Then another 4 from college (4 years). And another 9 from grad school (5 years)...and that just the trips I took, not everyday life stuff. After that, I gave up because there were just SO MANY PICTURES! Once I got a digital camera, they started to multiply exponentially. Then I got a smartphone, and they multiplied even more to the point of overwhelm. Then I started writing on Substack, and I've started viewing life through the lens of being able to use a photo for my newsletter rather than just capturing meaningful moments. Maybe it's time to start getting back to the more simple way of taking photos.
Although, I do have to say, as a reader, looking at your photos is one of my favorite parts of reading your newsletter. You are also great at writing, but the photos get me every time.
This comment/question is nearly five months further down on the calendar, your “relaunch” comment sparked curiosity sufficient to launch an initial look for me. That being said, on the last photo posted up there, was it just a ridge-line capture, or inspired by something else?
Photographic Overkill: why Sometimes it's Better to Put the Camera down
Hi Cole, our minds eye gives us the best views and memories….plus no worries of iCloud account is full need to upgrade. Of course pictures capture special events, family, friends, scenery for others to enjoy as well….but try not to lose the actual moment.
Ugh. I feel this too deeply. I LOVE talking pictures and always take too many. But I love the way they help me tell a story and keep a visual of the memory. Figuring out the balance is tough. One thing I did realize this year, however: no one on my social media page really cares too see ALL of my vacation photos. That epiphany made it much easier to take Facebook off of my phone.
I agree about overkill! I normally don't take photos on runs, only a few on special hikes. The photos (with my lack of skill, anyway) never do the landscape justice.
I can so identify with your article! I have one single photo album from the first 18 years of my life. Then another 4 from college (4 years). And another 9 from grad school (5 years)...and that just the trips I took, not everyday life stuff. After that, I gave up because there were just SO MANY PICTURES! Once I got a digital camera, they started to multiply exponentially. Then I got a smartphone, and they multiplied even more to the point of overwhelm. Then I started writing on Substack, and I've started viewing life through the lens of being able to use a photo for my newsletter rather than just capturing meaningful moments. Maybe it's time to start getting back to the more simple way of taking photos.
Although, I do have to say, as a reader, looking at your photos is one of my favorite parts of reading your newsletter. You are also great at writing, but the photos get me every time.
This comment/question is nearly five months further down on the calendar, your “relaunch” comment sparked curiosity sufficient to launch an initial look for me. That being said, on the last photo posted up there, was it just a ridge-line capture, or inspired by something else?
Thought provoking, however I do believe magic can happen before and after the shot. More is not always better, but more can be good, not always bad.