why do we take photos?
I haven't taken a selfie in nearly a year. This is shocking to me because I have been, typically, someone whose camera roll is taken up almost entirely by various bursts of 70 or so selfies. But I haven't taken one at all recently.
I have no urge. I think the urge beforehand was to post for the praise of my friends and show that I am still attractive regardless of whatever current trend is happening. "Look at me! I'm still pretty!" my subconscious would say. But I don't have that anymore.
I'd take selfies when I went somewhere cool, when I did my makeup, when it was a nice day, when I had on a cute outfit. I still do all of those things, if not more so than I did then, but I have no urge to pull out my phone for a selfie.
I've never been a camera person. My camera roll has historically been bogged down by memes and selfies, but never photos of what is going on around me. I do not relate to people who go to concerts to record the entire show or take photos of a nice moment. My job even asks us to make sure we take photos of the things we're doing, but I never do. If anything, I tend to absentmindedly set my phone down and walk off, only to scramble to find it later on when I need the time or to look something up.
Because I do not post, I have no need for a photo. For me, a memory is good enough. I say that I live in the moment which is why I don't pull out my phone for a photo of anything, much to the chagrin of my peers who do not find photo-taking to be an action that takes you out of a moment. But I do find snapping a photo on your phone to be something that takes you out of the moment, honestly any camera with a screen preview takes you out of the moment.
Focusing the camera, making sure your framing is acceptable, capturing just enough details between your subject and the background, checking if those were even good photos, going back and retaking the shots, all of it takes you1 out of the the moment. But it's worthwhile when you're meaning to post it. I don't post, therefore it is not worthwhile.
Of course, I'm no photographer by any means so I don't know the artistic experience and fulfillment that comes with taking a good shot, but for myself, it has no value. The photos I do have from the past year tend to be quite utilitarian, a photo of something I need to remember for later, screenshots to send to somebody, inspiration for a project. Very little sentimental value.
But sometimes I wonder if it would be better for me to take photos. Wouldn't it be good to get some photos of the concerts I'm paying at least $80 to attend and not have it only be a memory to call back? Would it be nice to have some photos of my job to look back on once I ultimately quit? It would. But I'm not thinking of the future, wistful me because I don't have a present, wistful me to work with. As discussed in my last post, I have a compulsory need to get rid of my things, even things that should have some sentimental value. But here I am. Not taking photos.
Well, me. I hate the whole speaking-about-yourself-but-attributing-your-thoughts-and-actions-to-the-entire-world-as-if-your-choices-are-universal-truths. But it's a writing convention I reluctantly subscribe to.↩