Watching life through the Viewfinder?

[suecassidy]

Watching the news the other night and I saw a celebrity blurb and it showed her getting out of her car, and walking through the gauntlet of awaiting fans to get into the building. One fan had her camera up to her eye and was clearly trying to get a photo of the celeb. Celeb shakes hands to people coming finally to this one fan with the camera glued to her eyeball. They shook hands and the shutterbug didn't even bring the camera down during the handshake, she just kept on snapping like a fool. HUH? So now this star struck person, rather than taking the opportunity to actually see this person in real life, and make eye contact and all of that, only really got to see her through a view finder. She could pick up any magazine and see BETTER photos than what she probably took, but photos is what she ended up walking away with.

It reminded me of how mindful I need to be of not overdoing it with my camera. I'd hate for my important little and big life moments to only be seen through the viewfinder. My friend who is a photographer said one of the biggest regrets he had with his firstborn son was being so caught up with photographing the event, that he didn't really "see" it or experience it the way he should have. Anybody else have a similar epiphany?

[Photoform]

Im certainly not at that point, but I wouldnt doubt for a second many people have that problem.

It's to be expected; we don't live in a culture that emphasizes "being" nearly as much as "having".

[DStanic]

Yes absolutely!

My wife made a point of this, as I'd get carried away on vacations etc. I'm more careful to enjoy the experience now, rather then play with my camera gear- and as doing that also has increase the quality of the photos I take (rather then just the quantity).

when I've shot weddings I get in the "zone" and the event goes by very quickly. If it's a gig and people I don't really know then that doesn't matter- it's just a job, but if it was someone I was close to that was getting married I would bring minimal gear/P&S or nothing at all.

[shomat]

I do think if one embarks any sort of trip or experience with the primary intended purpose being the photos, they will indeed miss out. On the other hand traveling and exploring in order to seek a greater understanding of the world and its people with your photos as a byproduct 1) makes for a better experience in the present, and 2) results in better photos by giving them a much deeper meaning.

Furthermore I think all photographers go through phases. The amateur experimenting with their new high-end camera shoots anything and everything, not wanting to miss a thing and in effect, misses a great deal (of both photos and valuable experiences in the present).

As time moves on photographers give more thought to why they go to the trouble of making these images, and hopefully learns to edit themselves. With more experience and a high-level view of photography, one begins to make images with deeper purpose and strike a better balance.

My own preference is to not take pictures in order to remember how things looked. I would easily get caught up in trying to collect a large volume of images and that would cause me to waste time and miss out on a lot. Instead I keep working on learning how to use my mind's eye, to see photos at all times and, when I happen to have a camera, shoot them. And in effect, I see, experience and remember much more than the average traveler who doesn't even have a camera.

[Wilt]

I do think if one embarks any sort of trip or experience with the primary intended purpose being the photos, they will indeed miss out. On the other hand traveling and exploring in order to seek a greater understanding of the world and its people with your photos as a byproduct 1) makes for a better experience in the present, and 2) results in better photos by giving them a much deeper meaning..

...like going to Disneyland (without kids) and lugging a big dSLR outfit around, rather than enjoying the rides and the company of the person you are there with.

[Dunedan]

I'd rather be shooting something interesting than some stuck up celeb.

I've run into celebrities before, some are cool, some not. I may say hello but then go on about my business.

I don't get the whole star struck thing - I mean they are just humans. I usually only say something to someone if I enjoyed a particular role they played and to let them know that I thought they did a good job, etc.

[Wilt]

I'd rather be shooting something interesting than some stuck up celeb.

I've run into celebrities before, some are cool, some not. I may say hello but then go on about my business.

I don't get the whole star struck thing - I mean they are just humans. I usually only say something to someone if I enjoyed a particular role they played and to let them know that I thought they did a good job, etc.

Do you feel the same about sports figures, too? If not, you're operating to a double standard.

Personally, I don't go ga-ga for anyone unless their notariety is due to humanitarian accomplishments. Everyone else is simply lucky to have the gift of being beautiful or a good actor or to have sports talent or to be born smart. Generosity isn't a gift from God or Allah or Buddah or whomever you worship, it is an attribute that is acquired, and one of the few things to be worthy of admiration in someone.

[Dunedan]

Sports figures are just humans too. They happen to be exceptionally good at something physical rather than mental or other things.

I mean I have my favorite players and wouldn't turn down an autograph on caught home run ball or something, but to me that's more for the memory of a cool moment in time rather than just an autograph for the sake of one.

But then sports can be a bit different as if you are a big fan (as I am) then you often feel an attachment to the team and players, and you feel that when they win that it's something shared in a way.

[shomat]

...like going to Disneyland (without kids) and lugging a big dSLR outfit around, rather than enjoying the rides and the company of the person you are there with.

Uh, what?

[mikekelley]

...like going to Disneyland (without kids) and lugging a big dSLR outfit around, rather than enjoying the rides and the company of the person you are there with.
Or going to disneyland at all for that matter

I mean christ, if I'm going to disney the last thing I want to do is lug around a camera to make my experience more miserable than it has to be.

[shomat]

Good thing I never went to Disneyland.

[birdfromboat]

in most family albums there are more pictures of the dog than of the member of the family that takes the pictures, usually dad. I have 10k shots, only a few where I sat up a tripod and a timer to get myself in the frame, most of those for class assignments. I am the family photographer. I have watched most of it waiting for a good shot, but not that much of it actually looking through the viewfinder.

[Karl Johnston]

With me its the exact opposite - I need to do more shooting of life..so I can record it, rather than let it fleet right by.

Balance is improtant.