I’ve just returned from a family holiday to Oman, the highlight of which was 2 nights in the desert. We were initially concerned that deserts don't tend to have a lot going on, aside from sand. What would the kids do for two days? But we needn't have worried; there was a stunning beauty and stillness in the endless dunes and pastel colours launching into the horizon.
This is so thoughtful, this reminder of the difference between the enjoyment and retention of actual moments vs. attention for a set of contrived movements for an audience.
I am a filmmaker and a photographer... I can't document anything for shit.
I didn't start taking the photographs until way later in life and it took me years to get used to the "see moment, stop, compose moment, capture" versus "see moment, think it's pretty, move on, wish I had a photograph." And I still can't do it with animals and people.
And with video, oof. Every now and then I go on a trip or something and think, "Imma make the next Watchtower of Turkey!" and then I get maybe two minutes of some out-the-window footage and 15 seconds of a crowded street and I'm done. I tried making a video in Stockholm and across El Salvador and the results are embarrassing.
And my wife asks me to send pictures when I'm out with family or doing something she'd like to see but isn't around for, and I struggle to deliver.
In the end, for me, using a camera while being involved is like eating while walking. If I'm really hungry, if eating is the thing, I'd rather sit down to the meal. If walking is the thing, sure I can snack, but it's no meal.
What I have to do instead is specifically go out on a photo walk or choose to make a movie, which I roughly plan the shots out of in advance. Where the point is the imagery I'm capturing, not being there and definitely not participating.
I like your ten minutes for photos idea. Ironically that would help me take more while restricting most others to less.
A phenomenal piece of writing on a subject that's very close to my heart. Thanks for writing this.
This is so thoughtful, this reminder of the difference between the enjoyment and retention of actual moments vs. attention for a set of contrived movements for an audience.
I am a filmmaker and a photographer... I can't document anything for shit.
I didn't start taking the photographs until way later in life and it took me years to get used to the "see moment, stop, compose moment, capture" versus "see moment, think it's pretty, move on, wish I had a photograph." And I still can't do it with animals and people.
And with video, oof. Every now and then I go on a trip or something and think, "Imma make the next Watchtower of Turkey!" and then I get maybe two minutes of some out-the-window footage and 15 seconds of a crowded street and I'm done. I tried making a video in Stockholm and across El Salvador and the results are embarrassing.
And my wife asks me to send pictures when I'm out with family or doing something she'd like to see but isn't around for, and I struggle to deliver.
In the end, for me, using a camera while being involved is like eating while walking. If I'm really hungry, if eating is the thing, I'd rather sit down to the meal. If walking is the thing, sure I can snack, but it's no meal.
What I have to do instead is specifically go out on a photo walk or choose to make a movie, which I roughly plan the shots out of in advance. Where the point is the imagery I'm capturing, not being there and definitely not participating.
I like your ten minutes for photos idea. Ironically that would help me take more while restricting most others to less.