Some days aren't photo-worthy. Some days are so amazing that I don't think to stop and take a photo. Some days the lighting is terrible. Some days the pictures don't come out good no matter how many different angles I snap.
That being said, using my camera every day has helped further understand and appreciate the difference between capturing the moments and creating them, and this project was all about capturing the moments as they were, not staging the scene or arranging the photo before I actually press the shutter button. It's been interesting to look back on the tag in my Tumblr and just see the memory of the moment instead of all it took to "get the shot."
Over a decade ago, during my senior year of high school (!!!), I wrote an essay titled "The Digital Age of Photography: Friend or Foe?" in which I argued how digital photography can be manipulated to the point where the integrity of the moment is compromised, making it an enemy of artists who've mastered the art of analog. Maybe I was on to something?
I took my camera to Dallas for my birthday thinking I was going to get all of these lovely shots of everything that we did. I did not turn on my camera ONCE. I was too engulfed in my family and creating memories with them that I didn't even have time or think about turning it on. And you know what? I'm fine with that. I calmed the photographer in me (LOL!) and just stored what I saw and felt in my memory. And that's totally fine too.
ReplyDeleteI thought after seeing your post on the project that I would also participate too. And while I thought I failed miserably, I didn't. I didn't necessary take photos every day, but my family and I created some pretty awesome moments & memories. That counts for something right? LOL!
YES, the definitely counts.
DeleteThere have been so many times when I brought my camera somewhere and never turned it on. Sometimes I regret it, but I usually don’t!