I wrote this little piece in response to someone who kept saying I was "missing" the moment for photographing it and was reminded of it when reading this publication. Thought you might like to read it (maybe substituting the orange for the eclipse! lol)
"This tool helps me conceptualize my life. It’s nostalgic, creative, romantic and timeless. Even though I use every other single medium possible, photography is what I document my world with. I will always be a photographer. Even when I don’t have a camera with me I’m looking for pictures. Just the other day my mom caught me in the kitchen staring at an orange and knew that I was somehow clicking the shutter in my mind. And it’s such a big part of who I am that even without a camera in hand I'm taking a photo, and as well as I feel pride when someone likes a photo I’ve taken I also feel judged or embarrassed when someone gives me the “put away your camera and enjoy the moment” speech as if the viewfinder wouldn’t help me see that which I should focus on. I’ve left photography so many times but I always pick it up again because taking pictures sometimes frustrates me, but overall taking pictures makes me happy. Writing “taking pictures” feels cliché because cameras and selfies and mirrors are cliché, but so is hating on photo selfies, and camera lens shaped coffee mugs, the aperture tattoo and people taking pictures. I invite you to find out what makes you happy, shut up that mean little voice and go photograph that orange!"
In al seriousness I totally get it, I debated photographing or not the eclipse and I ended up doing a 50/50. Since I saw an almost 4 minute totality I actually set up my camera in a way that all I needed to do was press the shutter button a few times (I did bracketing) and spent the rest on the time hugging my husband and crying about the majesty of it all. It's true that the photos ended up looking different than what my eyes saw, but I'm happy I was able to take my own little souvenir from my first ever eclipse experience.
Anyway, sorry for the long comment. Really enjoyed this piece!
I tried to walk the fine line between creating something around the eclipse and still being present during totality. In hindsight I would have done things *slightly* differently, but that's another story (we just published a post about this and gave you a mention Andy). Nice to see an example here (Dave Jordano's photo) of what I have named The Context. Currently my favorite kind of eclipse shot.
I enjoyed the variety of comments. Although I’m not surprised that some photographers decided to leave their cameras at home, I am surprised at how strongly some felt that they could not experience the eclipse if they took photos. I don’t think technology interfered with my experience; I think it improved it.
After I set up my camera for the eclipse, all I had to do was occasionally touch the screen on my camera to capture an image. I spent most of my time watching the eclipse, looking at all the activity, and talking to other eclipse watchers. Socializing with others added to my experience.
The next day I looked at my photos and admired Bailey’s beads and the solar prominences that I couldn’t see well during the event. Then I put my memories and photos together and wrote a summary of my experience to help fix the memory in my mind. I guess we all have different ways of getting our best experience.
Increasingly I prioritize the moment over making a photograph. I remember purposefully choosing to share tea and cookie with a good friend in Japan rather than making photographs at dusk in a beautiful garden. That memory of our time together is as special and memorable as any photography I made while there.
Photographs help us remember. I think that even framing a shot in my head when I don't have my camera along can help cement that memory. But when does enough become too much? I'm not sure, but I don't think I (usually) go there. I have, but I think I'm past that. Partly because I know so many shots are not worth taking, so I don't bother. And because I know I only need a couple of shots for memory augmentation. But either way, I think I do pretty well at experiencing the moment. So my answer is, resist the urge, but don't completely turn your back on it. Keep shooting, but try to be judicious.
The quote about Photographs not Taken really has stirred something in me, Andy. I began to think about a scene I pass by several times per week that I have yet to photograph. How would I describe it? Certainly not mechanically, but with emotions and what appeals to me compositionally. In these instances I relate to Edward Weston, “Composition is the strongest way of seeing.”
It’s the photos that I want to make when I’ve left my phone, aka camera, at home thinking that this time I will walk and won’t take photos, but then I have to and I borrow my husbands phone even though I know I’ll have to nag him to get him to send them on to me. Those are the photos that bug me!
My goal for my first (and possibly only) total solar eclipse was to experience it. Photographing it was secondary. I told myself beforehand that if the camera interfered one iota with my experience, I would drop it (not literally, but you get the idea). Fortunately, it did not. I got some shots that I am happy with and, at the same time, was mesmerized like everyone else. The entire day is a wonderful memory. The photos will be there to trigger that memory, but if I didn’t have them, that would not take away anything from the event itself.
i resist. im a pussycat. studied photo (sva degree and all that) and i cant even pick up a camera now - “that’s why they sell postcards” i say … Your question, your work, very refreshing. thank you!! tomorrow i may take another look, :)
If there was a chance that i could watch an eclipse, i'd prefer that sb else take photos of me and the eclipse than i do it myself because i wanna put this experience in my memory by looking at its photo. I think i'm more of an archivist than an experiencer. There are times when i wanna experience sth without taking any photos, but this rarely happens. Anyway, the reason i'm more of an archivist is because i wanna remember memories of events by looking at their photos.
I often have this same sentiment. I make far less photographs than I used to, but there's also this implied value judgment about the notion of experience that I'm not sure is always so useful.
Just like with making painting, planting a garden, or writing a novel - making a photograph is an experience in and of itself and the question to me really is about one of attention. It's a different experience than sitting under the sun sans camera - but it's not necessarily better or worse.
You choose to attend to one thing or another, and necessarily leave any other experience by the wayside. This is the constant negotiation of life. Trying to attend to two things diminishes both of them simultaneously - but it doesn't mean that the thing skipped doesn't have its own value.
I remember that book too, that sure was a different time in photo land.
I wrote this little piece in response to someone who kept saying I was "missing" the moment for photographing it and was reminded of it when reading this publication. Thought you might like to read it (maybe substituting the orange for the eclipse! lol)
"This tool helps me conceptualize my life. It’s nostalgic, creative, romantic and timeless. Even though I use every other single medium possible, photography is what I document my world with. I will always be a photographer. Even when I don’t have a camera with me I’m looking for pictures. Just the other day my mom caught me in the kitchen staring at an orange and knew that I was somehow clicking the shutter in my mind. And it’s such a big part of who I am that even without a camera in hand I'm taking a photo, and as well as I feel pride when someone likes a photo I’ve taken I also feel judged or embarrassed when someone gives me the “put away your camera and enjoy the moment” speech as if the viewfinder wouldn’t help me see that which I should focus on. I’ve left photography so many times but I always pick it up again because taking pictures sometimes frustrates me, but overall taking pictures makes me happy. Writing “taking pictures” feels cliché because cameras and selfies and mirrors are cliché, but so is hating on photo selfies, and camera lens shaped coffee mugs, the aperture tattoo and people taking pictures. I invite you to find out what makes you happy, shut up that mean little voice and go photograph that orange!"
In al seriousness I totally get it, I debated photographing or not the eclipse and I ended up doing a 50/50. Since I saw an almost 4 minute totality I actually set up my camera in a way that all I needed to do was press the shutter button a few times (I did bracketing) and spent the rest on the time hugging my husband and crying about the majesty of it all. It's true that the photos ended up looking different than what my eyes saw, but I'm happy I was able to take my own little souvenir from my first ever eclipse experience.
Anyway, sorry for the long comment. Really enjoyed this piece!
-Bego
This is something I think about a lot. I enjoyed this piece quite a bit.
I tried to walk the fine line between creating something around the eclipse and still being present during totality. In hindsight I would have done things *slightly* differently, but that's another story (we just published a post about this and gave you a mention Andy). Nice to see an example here (Dave Jordano's photo) of what I have named The Context. Currently my favorite kind of eclipse shot.
-Tom
I enjoyed the variety of comments. Although I’m not surprised that some photographers decided to leave their cameras at home, I am surprised at how strongly some felt that they could not experience the eclipse if they took photos. I don’t think technology interfered with my experience; I think it improved it.
After I set up my camera for the eclipse, all I had to do was occasionally touch the screen on my camera to capture an image. I spent most of my time watching the eclipse, looking at all the activity, and talking to other eclipse watchers. Socializing with others added to my experience.
The next day I looked at my photos and admired Bailey’s beads and the solar prominences that I couldn’t see well during the event. Then I put my memories and photos together and wrote a summary of my experience to help fix the memory in my mind. I guess we all have different ways of getting our best experience.
Increasingly I prioritize the moment over making a photograph. I remember purposefully choosing to share tea and cookie with a good friend in Japan rather than making photographs at dusk in a beautiful garden. That memory of our time together is as special and memorable as any photography I made while there.
Photographs help us remember. I think that even framing a shot in my head when I don't have my camera along can help cement that memory. But when does enough become too much? I'm not sure, but I don't think I (usually) go there. I have, but I think I'm past that. Partly because I know so many shots are not worth taking, so I don't bother. And because I know I only need a couple of shots for memory augmentation. But either way, I think I do pretty well at experiencing the moment. So my answer is, resist the urge, but don't completely turn your back on it. Keep shooting, but try to be judicious.
The quote about Photographs not Taken really has stirred something in me, Andy. I began to think about a scene I pass by several times per week that I have yet to photograph. How would I describe it? Certainly not mechanically, but with emotions and what appeals to me compositionally. In these instances I relate to Edward Weston, “Composition is the strongest way of seeing.”
Beautiful images! I think about the idea of being present often, really enjoyed this piece. :)
It’s the photos that I want to make when I’ve left my phone, aka camera, at home thinking that this time I will walk and won’t take photos, but then I have to and I borrow my husbands phone even though I know I’ll have to nag him to get him to send them on to me. Those are the photos that bug me!
The one of cataract Falls is out of this world stunning! Thank you so much for sharing so many incredible photos!♥️
My goal for my first (and possibly only) total solar eclipse was to experience it. Photographing it was secondary. I told myself beforehand that if the camera interfered one iota with my experience, I would drop it (not literally, but you get the idea). Fortunately, it did not. I got some shots that I am happy with and, at the same time, was mesmerized like everyone else. The entire day is a wonderful memory. The photos will be there to trigger that memory, but if I didn’t have them, that would not take away anything from the event itself.
i resist. im a pussycat. studied photo (sva degree and all that) and i cant even pick up a camera now - “that’s why they sell postcards” i say … Your question, your work, very refreshing. thank you!! tomorrow i may take another look, :)
If there was a chance that i could watch an eclipse, i'd prefer that sb else take photos of me and the eclipse than i do it myself because i wanna put this experience in my memory by looking at its photo. I think i'm more of an archivist than an experiencer. There are times when i wanna experience sth without taking any photos, but this rarely happens. Anyway, the reason i'm more of an archivist is because i wanna remember memories of events by looking at their photos.
I often have this same sentiment. I make far less photographs than I used to, but there's also this implied value judgment about the notion of experience that I'm not sure is always so useful.
Just like with making painting, planting a garden, or writing a novel - making a photograph is an experience in and of itself and the question to me really is about one of attention. It's a different experience than sitting under the sun sans camera - but it's not necessarily better or worse.
You choose to attend to one thing or another, and necessarily leave any other experience by the wayside. This is the constant negotiation of life. Trying to attend to two things diminishes both of them simultaneously - but it doesn't mean that the thing skipped doesn't have its own value.
I remember that book too, that sure was a different time in photo land.
I find the most fascinating photographs of the eclipse to be those of the people looking at the eclipse. Great piece Andy.
What a cool sounding book!