Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

hedgehogreview.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 333 posts

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#101

Post by blooalien »

genewitch wrote: post #94
ivape wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you watch those episodes of Maury where they have a father-less baby up on stage, and they are trying to figure who the daddy is, you have to contend with the fact that there's an entire audience in-person and at-home that are just taking part in the sheer entertainment of what will ultimately be that child's most embarrassing and deep sorrow in life. Not only that, but we film the spectacle. This was a hit show…

I've read that idea before from some sci-fi author. However wasn't there a Robin Williams film where he did the viewing and editing of lifetime reels?

> ... "wasn't there a Robin Williams film where he did the viewing and editing of lifetime reels?"

Yes, yes there was. It was called "The Final Cut" from 2004. Just one more of many proofs of Robin Williams' stellar acting talent.

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#102

Post by dusted »

on the flipside, while I don't take pictures all the time, I do feel like I remember the situations in which I took pictures better.. There are two sides to this: The situation was out of the ordinary to begin with, which is why the picture was taken. But also, the act of taking the picture helps me commit it to memory, the same way writing something down means I am more likely to remember it, even if I never read the notes.

I'm not taking the picture to capture the immense beuaty of a landcape, or the magic of a sitaution, I'm not a good enough photographer, and if it's any place worth shooting, there will be much better pictures available of it online anways. I take pictures to document, not as proof, but as an anchor point, so I can remember who, and where. Having a picture of just the landscape does not matter, but having one with the people I'm with, in that landscape, matters.. I can remember travels from "oh, these people were definitely there, because I remember taking a picture of them"

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#103

Post by atoav »

As a life long photographer one of the most crucial skills to have in photography that are mostly independent from the tech is the knowledge and wisdom when to pull out the camera and when not.

A great photographer can pull out the camera at one anticipated moment, already have the moment and the picture in their heads, since they know their gear and then do it. This is of course the polar opposite of just shooting everything and hoping something will stick which is the approach many people seem to take today. Sometimes I wonder whether they even take the time to wade through the bullshit pictures after..

That being said, as a photographer I like smartphone cameras, since the best camera is the one you have around. But in most situations photographing without asking is disrespectful anyways, so it is reserved for the special occasion and then I try to crystalize the moment into few good photos instead of ruining it with running around and covering everything.

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#104

Post by 1659447091 »

vasco wrote: post #93

I've noticed the "live in the moment" crowd is funnily enough the one that least lives in the moment. They are the first to notice how many people around them are taking pictures or posing or looking "ridiculous", worrying how themselves would look if they did the same, sometimes wanting deep down to do the same but held back by their own perceived judgement of others potentially turning on them. I had a friend that…

> They are the first to notice how many people around them are taking pictures

True. I notice this a lot in museums, at historical sites, at the summit on mountain hikes, and indoor concerts. And no, I don't want to enjoy a concert through the iPads of the people in front of me and holding them up with no regard to the people behind them either

> worrying how themselves would look if they did the same, sometimes wanting deep down to do the same but held back by their own perceived judgement of others potentially turning on them.

...yea, lost me there. Going places because of an interest in the museums content or a locations outdoor experience and having other people around these same points of interest but facing you instead of the {thing} is highly noticeable, and from my lens, strange(as in difficult for me to relate) that the {thing}'s appeal appears to be only as a backdrop to the selfies. The ones that walk up, take the many selfies and move on to the next POI/selfie-spot. I am sure many people enjoy {thing} and then take a quick single selfie and move on to enjoy next {thing}, but I never make note because they didn't spend the entire moment standing in front of {thing} facing others and taking a roll of films worth of slightly different snapshots of themselves.

Have you considered that maybe your "live in the moment" crowd, is living in the moment by noticing others around them and making that observation is not in itself a judgment of anything. Unlike the iPad concert broadcasting crowd or the selfie-enthusiast/collector that runs up to {thing} and leans against the information plaques while having no awareness of the people standing near by reading it.

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#106

Post by vasco »

1659447091 wrote: post #104
vasco wrote: post #93

I've noticed the "live in the moment" crowd is funnily enough the one that least lives in the moment. They are the first to notice how many people around them are taking pictures or posing or looking "ridiculous", worrying how themselves would look if they did the same, sometimes wanting deep down to do the same but held back by their own perceived judgement of others potentially turning on them. I had a friend that…

> They are the first to notice how many people around them are taking pictures True. I notice this a lot in museums, at historical sites, at the summit on mountain hikes, and indoor concerts. And no, I don't want to enjoy a concert through the iPads of the people in front of me and holding them up with no regard to the people behind them either > worrying how themselves would look if they did the same, sometimes want…

You reminded me of the meme with a gnarly and violent and gory dark ages painting with the caption: No smartphone in sight, just people living in the moment.

If your moment is scoffing at others and being all fussed up about how others aren't in the moment... it's a strange way of going around is my point. Live and let live.

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#107

Post by scrollop »

ivape wrote: post #70
Spooky23 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My son and I went to Rome, and the ridiculous behaviors from people getting their must have shots is ridiculous. My favorite shots are selfies… one with the two of us on the tarmac in front of the plane on arrival, the other on a random street. I lost my wife to cancer, and regret that pre-kid, we took very few pictures relatively speaking, and I cherish the ones I have.

When you watch those episodes of Maury where they have a father-less baby up on stage, and they are trying to figure who the daddy is, you have to contend with the fact that there's an entire audience in-person and at-home that are just taking part in the sheer entertainment of what will ultimately be that child's most embarrassing and deep sorrow in life. Not only that, but we film the spectacle. This was a hit show…

Your idea for a story may be a glimpse of a memory:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-6-the-life-review/i...

This podcast somewhat changed my life.

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#109

Post by righthand »

vasco wrote: post #106
1659447091 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They are the first to notice how many people around them are taking pictures True. I notice this a lot in museums, at historical sites, at the summit on mountain hikes, and indoor concerts. And no, I don't want to enjoy a concert through the iPads of the people in front of me and holding them up with no regard to the people behind them either > worrying how themselves would look if they did the same, sometimes want…

You reminded me of the meme with a gnarly and violent and gory dark ages painting with the caption: No smartphone in sight, just people living in the moment. If your moment is scoffing at others and being all fussed up about how others aren't in the moment... it's a strange way of going around is my point. Live and let live.

Are the people taking excessive photos letting others live (in the moment)?

Re: On Not Carrying a Camera – Cultivating memories instead of snapshots

#110

Post by mocamoca »

planck_tonne wrote: post #11

There must be a balance. Recently I met some people that were constantly filming and taking pictures of everything. It was ridiculous IMO, for the same reasons OP mentions. This is not new. For me, it began with the rise of the smartphone. So I made it a point not to waste my time photographing things. 10 years later, I regret having essentially no pictures of anything. In particular, no "good" or "frameable" picture…

I use a film camera, which removes the possibility of infinite shots. It works for me! And since I must print the pictures, I make duplicates and share with friends and family.

You can give it a try: there are very easy cameras!

Post reply on HN