The taking of photographs

I have been to concerts where many people are filming and effectively missing the live experience. When I was in the Louvre trying to see a special painting that I had always wanted to see in reality, I found myself behind a large group of phones. All I could see was a sea of light and a solid mass of people taking photographs. What on earth is it all about!

Years ago, before mobile phones with cameras, a family member pushed to the small space round the font to take photos of a baby's christening. It was not his baby. I thought at the time it was strange and rude, and felt it spoilt the moment of a religious ceremony.

On the topic of huge collections of photos, I have made small photobooks of certain people and memorable events. They are different from the Albums with miscellaneous topics year by year. Someone on here suggested one for my mother's 100th birthday which I now treasure and enjoyed choosing items for it while careful to avoid deceased family and friends.

What I find sad nowadays is that in years to come people won't have albums to reminisce over (or packets of photographs in my case !!). Who actually prints photos from their phone? I think the non stop taking of photos on phones is tedious and pointless. We went whale watching in Iceland a few years ago and the number of people using their phones to try and take photos of humpback whales was sad.

DS1 takes lots of photos, but only connected with the two loves of his life - food and his wife. When he comes here he’ll often put a memory stick into my tv and I have a film show - meals and DIL - wherever they’ve been. I love it. Mine are largely of plants. (DXH wouldn’t let me use either his camera or his drill but now I have my own drill and my mobile phone the world’s my oyster.)

If my late husband had not taken photos of our lives together and of the countries we visited, I would not now have albums full of wonderful memories. The tears that I have shed looking through those photo albums from the 1960's when we first met, first using my dad's Brownie 127 camera, then buying my husband a good quality second hand camera for his 21st birthday). Wherever we went he had that camera with him and now it is 2024, I still have his camera, well worn through daily use. I thank god for all those photos and thank him from the bottom of my heart for leaving me with wonderful memories now shown in black and white and colour.

I don't mind people taking photos or videos as long as it doesn't spoil anyone else's enjoyment. Trying to watch a live show or similar with loads of small screens lit up in front of me, completely distracts me from the performance. I find it very selfish.

My eldest daughter often makes me a photobook, which I really value as she and her family live in NZ. My eldest son and youngest daughter take the trouble to get a lot of photographs printed, framed and displayed at their homes - and often gift me photographs, which again are much appreciated. At Christmas my youngest son finally got on board and also gifted me a lovely framed photo of his son.

We have various family WhatsApp groups and I love seeing incidental photos of their activities, but they’re not overly ‘snap happy’.

Meant to say those who aren't filming are being supposed to be having the better experience.

I find a lot of other people's behaviour 'bewildering', that is I don't understand it or think it daft. I also think a lot of what people (including me) do is potentially 'pointless'. Maybe that's just life. I expect a lot of important discoveries have been made by apparently pointless activities – fiddling about with bits of fur and leather and grasses and rushes and bones, for example, and discovering knitting, weaving, papyrus, carving, sewing, etc, etc, etc.

Playing, faffing about, trying new things (such as filming with a computer that fits in your pocket) is what learning is all about.

It may be true that people who film a concert, say, rather than immersing themselves in it by not filming, are having a better experience, but I doubt this has been proved.

You mention the digital age.
I spend a happy hour or two, going through photos on my phone, which I have rejected for one reason or another, and I like to crop and enlarge, or flip. Just experiment with really.
I couldnt have done that quite so easily years ago.
It is surprising what the results are.
Some I print off and put up at home - not on fb, but could do, if I thought someone would find it interesting!

At my DGC school concert we were told not to take photos and that there would be an official video.
I was relieved. Years ago, when my DC were performing, other parents would be holding up video cameras which was distracting.

So yes I agree, I prefer to enjoy the experience but I guess the digital age is here to stay.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to film fireworks at all. They all look the same on film. It's only when you see them live they have any impact.

Baggs

Is "total concentration" necessary to watch fireworks at a distance?

Difficult question Baggs. 🤔

On a slightly different tack ,I can never understand when artists are presented with a live model, they take photographs and then paint or draw from them. The model in some cases could go home after five minutes.

Many people have noticed this modern habit of constantly filming or photographing an event more or less instead of "just experiencing it".I think that I am right in recalling that one quite famous rockband begged people not to spend the entire concert filming them rather to enjoy the concert in the moment. I think that it is probably a generational thing? I sometimes wish I had taken a few more photographs ? I mean though , literally "a few" more.I watched, on the news, a bunch of people at Kings Cross St Pancras during a performance by , I think , Alicia Keys ? They were , mostly, actually filming it.
Endless photos; endless filming. Doesn't do any harm it is true. I find it bewildering and pointless.

Well, it's just something you are entitled to have an opinion about - same as any other subject on here really. Personally, it baffles me why anyone wants to take photos of themselves - and I'm one of those who would far rather live in the moment than take photos of it, especially at things such as concerts.

So, no, I have no objection whatever to this being discussed. What I have said is part of the discussion is it not?

Sorry to be confusing. What I’m trying to express is puzzlement at why anyone would mind about what other people are doing if whatever it is is harmless. In a live and let live frame of mind.
Daffodils in jugs make me sneeze so sadly I have to leave them outside 🙂

Chestnut My son in law 40,000 in his cloud.

On holiday in the Balearics, I enjoyed a meal with the family in a smart restaurant known for it’s beautiful sunset views.
As we made our way to the spot to have a look and take a photo, I was forcibly pushed and elbowed out of the way by lots of young dressed to the nines women surging forward for their photos.
Apparently it’s a well known spot for your “Insta” snap😁
(Every post is a boast..)

M0nica Cut the clutter and just keep what really matters.

I have computer folders with all sorts of photos including pictures of nostalgic items that I've thrown out, donated or sold. It's much easier to dispose of things you've loved if you take a photo. And the great thing about digital photos is that they don't take up any space.

i take photos, download them amd then de;ete most, so that I just keep enought photos to be able to revisit regularly.

I also delete all out of date photos - items sold on ebay, sent to a workman or whatever.

Cut the clutter and just keep what really matters.

Baggs

But, as I said before, they and their activity were not doing any harm so...... Shrugtastic.

I’m confused. Are you only allowing chat topics which ‘matter’, or concern people causing harm? What about Jugs of Daffodils, Tablecloths, or Paper Dolls?

As Namsnanny says, I was just noticing how we live now.

When do people look at all the photos they take? It is not unusual for a friend to take 100 pictures when out for the day, often the same thing from a different angle.