"Live the moment, sans photos" reads the heading of an article in today's newspaper.I was intrigued by the introduction which asked people to give up the obsession with the camera- recording and sharing every moment,as studies proved that it was harming memory.
Dr.Linda Henkel from Fairfield University has published a related article in Psychological Science regarding this.According to researchers, recording moments rather than experiencing them, saw people eventually less likely to recall them.
Today we rely heavily on the 'extended memory' of computers and the internet to hold our memories.People are always ready to grab their phones or cameras mindlessly,ending up with thousands of pictures that they share on their social network or shared spaces.When people rely on technology to 'remember' for them it has a negative impact on how well they actually remember them,the article went on to say.
I've felt this too often in weddings and on holidays.Rather than enjoy the festivities and atmosphere,people (mostly family members) behind cameras are clicking away trying to capture every moment in the quest of a great photo.They are actually helping out the other set of people who enjoy the festivities or holiday with their senses,capturing color,fragrance,light,conversation and a thousand little details unhindered by the devices.Looking at a picture for these people can bring back sweet memories.Whereas those wielding heavy cameras miss out on the nuances of the captured frame.
In family functions wouldn't it be better for a paid photographer to slog his way around ?His involvement and interest in the family is missing anyway and if he is a professional ,he would do a good job anyway.That would give the family the luxury of 'uploading' pictures they captured with their senses and retrieve them at will to relish the happy moments.Looking at photos will then strengthen those memories.Pictures obviously have true meaning when you have experienced those moments.For example :
If you sat beside a bubbling river for thirty minutes a single snapshot can help you capture the moment.For thirty minutes you have heard the music of the water on the rocks,been brushed by the cold spray,seen the dappled sunlight on the waters,felt the sun on your skin,seen floating clouds and flying birds,held smooth pebbles ....... Believe me even 300 pictures won't help you remember all this if you were clicking away like a maniac.
Having said that,I still remain grateful to all those marvelous cameramen whose pictures of wildlife,nature ,the world around and beyond us, let us for a moment to be transported to a place far away.We probably derive a fraction of what a person who was present there experienced,but still it is a gift.
My laptop's hard disk just crashed last week and thankfully a last minute backup salvaged pictures that were valuable.Not too many to hinder the joyful experience of those moments,those pictures can trigger the senses again.
So stop and think before you shoot.Remember some moments can be savored and stored for eternity without a device!It is not your job to chronicle every moment of your life through pictures-Just be present with your senses.(For the compulsive shooters -practice restraint).
Dr.Linda Henkel from Fairfield University has published a related article in Psychological Science regarding this.According to researchers, recording moments rather than experiencing them, saw people eventually less likely to recall them.
Today we rely heavily on the 'extended memory' of computers and the internet to hold our memories.People are always ready to grab their phones or cameras mindlessly,ending up with thousands of pictures that they share on their social network or shared spaces.When people rely on technology to 'remember' for them it has a negative impact on how well they actually remember them,the article went on to say.
I've felt this too often in weddings and on holidays.Rather than enjoy the festivities and atmosphere,people (mostly family members) behind cameras are clicking away trying to capture every moment in the quest of a great photo.They are actually helping out the other set of people who enjoy the festivities or holiday with their senses,capturing color,fragrance,light,conversation and a thousand little details unhindered by the devices.Looking at a picture for these people can bring back sweet memories.Whereas those wielding heavy cameras miss out on the nuances of the captured frame.
In family functions wouldn't it be better for a paid photographer to slog his way around ?His involvement and interest in the family is missing anyway and if he is a professional ,he would do a good job anyway.That would give the family the luxury of 'uploading' pictures they captured with their senses and retrieve them at will to relish the happy moments.Looking at photos will then strengthen those memories.Pictures obviously have true meaning when you have experienced those moments.For example :
If you sat beside a bubbling river for thirty minutes a single snapshot can help you capture the moment.For thirty minutes you have heard the music of the water on the rocks,been brushed by the cold spray,seen the dappled sunlight on the waters,felt the sun on your skin,seen floating clouds and flying birds,held smooth pebbles ....... Believe me even 300 pictures won't help you remember all this if you were clicking away like a maniac.
Having said that,I still remain grateful to all those marvelous cameramen whose pictures of wildlife,nature ,the world around and beyond us, let us for a moment to be transported to a place far away.We probably derive a fraction of what a person who was present there experienced,but still it is a gift.
My laptop's hard disk just crashed last week and thankfully a last minute backup salvaged pictures that were valuable.Not too many to hinder the joyful experience of those moments,those pictures can trigger the senses again.
So stop and think before you shoot.Remember some moments can be savored and stored for eternity without a device!It is not your job to chronicle every moment of your life through pictures-Just be present with your senses.(For the compulsive shooters -practice restraint).
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