Ever wished you had seen it yourself and not through your viewfinder?

Have you ever regretted that you saw something through your camera's viewfinder instead of seeing the same with your own eyes? The paradox is that you have the pictures to share with others but did you actually experience it yourself?

I spent a month in Southern Africa in amazing places like Kruger, Etosha and Okavango delta but I had a Canon PowerShot S3 (should have bough any Canon DSLR instead) that has an electronic viewfinder. Did I actually see the animals when most of the time I was just looking at the fuzzy viewfinder?

Last winter I was in the local zoo here in Helsinki and noticed that snow leopards were unsually active. After a very short wait one of them started to run and made a huge jump towards me and another man who happened to be there. The man was very thrilled but thanks to the viewfinder blackouts, I had to check from my photos what had actually happened: http://ppusa.wordpress​.com …/the-flying-snow-leopard/

Another time I was in the canyon that leads to Petra, one of the most amazing cultural heritage sites on earth. I was trying to take a photo of the moving horse carts that some tourists use to get to the site when people around me started to shout "Oh my God, did you see that?" I didn't so I had to check my photos and saw that an elderly woman in the horse cart looked like she is going to die because of a heart attack. Naturally this is not something I would want to see but the event clearly had a big effect on the people who did see her. On our way back we fortunately saw the same lady walking back on her own looking completely healthy.

So have you ever wished that you would have actually seen your photo subject with your own eyes?

Yes, I do often feel that I have missed out a little by watching an event through the viewfinder.

However, I also know that if I had just watched the event, without the camera in the way, I would be cursing and saying "damn, that would have made a great shot".

Can't have it both ways and the photograph lasts longer

I agree with you sandpiper that when something special happens, I would also hate myself if I wouldn't have been able to take a photo of it.

But at times it would be better to forget the camera. Like on safari when the light not so good (and that might be the only time during the whole trip when an animal does something really special...).

I did feel this way when I did vacations with the family and had the video camera with me but have never felt like this with my DSLR.

What you describe is why some people prefer viewfinder cameras overs SLR cameras.

Yes, twice actually. Once while taking a picture of the "first lady in drag racing" Shirley Muldowney flying down the strip. Just as my shutter went off there was an explosion and I could hear tiny pieces of metal falling around me. She blew her engine. In the resulting photo you could see the fireball just forming and the manifolds coming off her engine. And the other was when the space shuttle "Challenger" exploded. I hit my shutter just as it happened.

ppusa wrote in post #7957627
So have you ever wished that you would have actually seen your photo subject with your own eyes?

Never. Not even once. I cannot think of a single photograph I have where I would have even remotely perfered to have seen it rather than take the picture.

But I can tell you *LOTS AND LOTS* of times I wished I had my camera instead of just my eyes.

Rad

All the time, it kills me and inspires me to shoot more.

krb wrote in post #7958106
What you describe is why some people prefer viewfinder cameras overs SLR cameras.

What's the advantage of a viewfinder camera?

ppusa wrote in post #7960665
What's the advantage of a viewfinder camera?

No viewfinder blackout as an SLR has when the mirror flips up.

Rad

dugcross wrote in post #7958222
And the other was when the space shuttle "Challenger" exploded. I hit my shutter just as it happened.

Historical significance can also make things even more frustrating.

There must be lots of photojournalists who have witnessed many important events without actually living them through because they were so occupied trying to get the perfect shot.

ppusa wrote in post #7960665
What's the advantage of a viewfinder camera?

You're not looking through the lens. That means you can hold it in front of your eye and view the scene without the "tunnel vision" effect and there's no mirror so there's no blackout when the camera is taking a picture.

dugcross wrote in post #7958222
Yes, twice actually. Once while taking a picture of the "first lady in drag racing" Shirley Muldowney flying down the strip. Just as my shutter went off there was an explosion and I could hear tiny pieces of metal falling around me. She blew her engine. In the resulting photo you could see the fireball just forming and the manifolds coming off her engine. And the other was when the space shuttle "Challenger" exploded. I hit my shutter just as it happened.

You serious? Have you got a picture of this?

Second time I've made this suggestion this morning - try shooting with both eyes open.

ppusa wrote in post #7957627
Have you ever regretted that you saw something through your camera's viewfinder instead of seeing the same with your own eyes? The paradox is that you have the pictures to share with others but did you actually experience it yourself?
So have you ever wished that you would have actually seen your photo subject with your own eyes?

Hope this isn't too harsh, but if you feel that taking pictures is interfering with the way you experience life, then it's time to sell the equipment. For a photographer, the picture is the experience.