Experience v. Capture.
Notice not one of the kids in this photo has their eyes on the President and his wife. Instead the focus is on the tiny LCD screen on the back of their camera capturing the image of the President and his wife that they are about to take. Are they missing out on anything? When all is said and done, what’s a lifecast worth on a deathbed? I thought about this this past weekend when I taking picture of Obama’s train going through Claymont. Would I experience more if I put down the camera and watched the train pass? Wouldn’t it be better if I waved back at the President instead of just taking a picture of him?
DD, I’ve thought about this as well. The quickest way to kill a moment is for someone to say, “Oh, this is so great! Let’s stop and take a group picture!”
Especially since they can all go home and find a better quality version of the same photo on the internet.
This is a whole ‘nother subject, never being in the moment for anything anymore.
We’ll have to make sure not to take any pictures at the Delaware Liberal events this weekend, right?
Hmm…I’d say take the second(s) to take the picture then put the damn thing away. For those with kids (like me), I can tell you of regrets of missed pic ops, especially with my second child. Too many times, in retrospect, I can recall him doing something that I absolutely enjoyed witnessing, as he learned the world around him. I can remember thinking, “I need to get the camera so I can have this years down the road. Nah, I’ll remember, I don’t want to miss it.” Well, I don’t exactly remember what it was I wanted to photograph, but I can remember those thoughts and I now realize my memory has too many freaking holes in it that I am all too aware are from those moments.
Take the damned picture quickly and take in the moment. You can do both.
No
Did any of you notice that Malia Obama was constantly taking pix – it looked like she taped her dad’s whole speech on her camera. She was doing it all during the concert on Sunday, too.
OK. I have a good story here. My wife and I were lucky enough to be in DC all weekend through the inaugural. Just by odd coincidence we saw the Obama motorcade pass Saturday night on Penn Av while we stood at the Metro stop at the Nat’l Archives. Dinner and drinks at The Capital Grille were top drawer, by the way!)
Fast forward to Monday afternoon. We are taking picture of the Watergate and same thing happens. DC police and Secret Service close the street (Virginia Av this time). It all happens quickly. Nobody can move. Nobody speaks. We knew straightaway it was the BHO motorcade again. We considered fumbling around for a camera or mobile phone to take video. You only get maybe 2 minutes before it comes.
We decided to stand and watch the Cadillac Beast with US Gov’t plate #44 come rolling through. Everyone gasped and cheered. Sirens blare. Awesome!
I am glad I didn’t ruining trying to take a terrible cell phone video. (I could see the Obama’s silhouette through he tinted glass – the ears gave it away.)
Smitty, remember that the picture has to be looked at as soon as it’s taken, in case you need to take another one. These kids are going to grow up and have a million pictures of moments they don’t actually remember, because they weren’t experiencing them at the time. Now in my day, we had a thing called film, and you had to take it to be developed before you could look at the pictures and wonder why you took them.
“We knew straightaway it was the BHO motorcade again.”
Why, was the bass thumpin?
Oh…. I get it, because he’s black. Holy fuck you’re clever.
DG, what a great story… and memory!
G Rex, I am glad that my side never stoops to stereotypes and cheap shots. It would be a shame.
Please, you’ve seen his iPod list – although his daughters were in the car so he probably had to listen to Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers instead of Jay Z.
Thanks Rex, I needed a chuckle today.
when I was at the O rally in Wilmington last year I found myself having to stop taking pictures to listen to the speech. If you are half way decent you can take a picture and be able to not have to look at the viewer the entire time.
Back to the topic, did anybody get video or pics of the UD marching band coming down Pennsylvania Ave? I had the telly on all day, but must have missed them.
I saw Delaware State, which followed the Tuskegee Airmen. But not UD
My wife said she saw UD on TV yesterday, during the live feed. I saw a clip on the news this morning. If I am mistaken, then I need to know why the hell I dreamed it!
R Smitty not only UD but Del State ,A.I. DUPONT BAND and last but not least an Elsmere fire truck