A funny thing happened to me this summer. I put down my camera. This was highly unusual and caused me stress and relief in equal measure. You see, I’m usually obsessive about capturing happy holiday moments on film. All of them.
It began some years ago on our annual Christmas vacation when I discovered my camera could take movies (shut up. I bet you don’t know all the things your camera can do either). Almost immediately after this exciting discovery, I made another: I was Baz Lurhman.
Granted, our budgets were disparate but what I lacked in funding, I made up for in enthusiasm. My cast were mostly compliant although occasionally – e.g.: when they refused to re-enact something I’d missed, like falling over or dropping their ice-cream – I had to send them to the naughty step until they agreed to perform spontaneously on-demand.
When that failed, I bribed them with TV.
Spare moments were spent hunched over my laptop working on my masterpiece and each year, it became more elaborate as I discovered new features on my editing software. Soon, I began lugging my computer out to dinner for movie viewings where friends would make polite noises while trying not to let the boredom show in their eyes.
I was encouraged.
Until suddenly this year, without warning, even to myself, I quit. Despite schlepping all my gear and all their associated bloody cords, I barely captured a moment of Summer Holiday ‘10/’11. No movie was made. Not even a measly slideshow exists to commemorate it.
Admittedly, putting down my camera initially made me panic at the lost…potential or something. Look! My daughter just made a cute face! The light is so beautiful! Three of our friends are standing together! Was that a dolphin? The dog looks adorably dishevelled! We’re eating pizza! Oh! Hare Krishnas are dancing at the markets!
Top Comments
This is something I'm extremely passionate about. I'm a professional photographer who specialises in photographing children and the number one question I get asked is whether I have a million photos of my own kids. I do, but I also have made a very conscious effort to put down the camera. The camera creates a distance and a barrier. I spend so many precious hours away from my children photographing other families engaging with their kids and I adore what I do, but when it comes to making memories with my own children, I want to BE there. I want them to remember me in the scene. I want their memories to be of more than their mum watching with a camera plastered to her face. Their memories count as much as mine, so why would I remove myself from them?
I'm the type of photographer that is more director than reporter. If I could be the fly on the wall type I might take more photos of them, but I'm not. I can tell you, there is nothing that ruins the moment more than 'can you just turn that way towards the light?' LOL My favourite camera is now my iphone and I can be quick and stealthy and still manage to get something quite decent! We especially love the video function :)
So for me, we do a proper shoot now and then, usually if I get in a creative rut and need to change things up a bit. They're getting less willing as they get older though, so it's getting harder! But the every day...I'm going to rely on memory, emotion, anecdotes and my iphone :)
birthday present :)
wow
I'm a scrapbooker so I do take photos....I also gather photos from family and friends to use and am happy for someone else to be the photographer most of the time. I do one album for each year and journal the story behind the photos - the who, where, why, etc. My family love looking back through the albums, it shows our history and our connections to each other as well as recording the stuff of our everyday lives. I've made 'this is your life' type scrapbooks for people for birthdays and am currently working on one each for nieces and nephews ready for their 18th birthdays...
Since my Dad bought a digital camera, Mum complains that he never prints them - they are all just stored on the computer, which I find fairly pointless.
I think the key is to find a balance between enjoying the moment and taking a photo that is meaningful as a reminder of that experience.
i do all the same as you.
The lag is now about two years for the photo albums, three for the videos, but the year-books are up-to-date. PLus I add on them the funny things they said, and a bit of family diary about what we all did.
They appreaciate it- once it's over, not when I'm making it, cos they want me to play w them.