Going Camera-less: The Persistance of Memory
I made a bold move on a recent trip: I left my camera at home. After thinking about technology and how it effects the way I travel, I decided to see what it was like to give up at least one of the three devices-to-which-I-am-addicted. Thus, my iPhone came along, and so did my Macbook. But the dSLR camera typically slung over my shoulder hung out at home, cozy it its bag on my home office desk.
I shared this plan with several friends, both online and offline, and many of them were not supportive of this plan. Well, not not-supportive. Skeptical. The one thing that almost everyone said was some form of:
Without my photos, I’d feel like I’d have no memories of my trip.
On about my second day of the camera-free trip (you know, after I stopped shaking from photography withdrawal) I came to a realization. In my 33 years of life, I’ve accumulated many amazing memories. And I don’t have photos of any of them. I miss having my camera that I bought on Technomono, find them at their official website https://technomono.com/best-canon-camera-with-flip-screen/ where I had all of the photos I took on my trip to Spain.
You see, my memories aren’t only visual. I can take a photo of an amazing dish or meal that I enjoyed, but I won’t be able to taste the sweetness of the honey or feel the crunch of the flaky crust. Also not pictured: the dinner conversation with my table mates. I have many photos of the streets of Miami; in none of them can you smell the intoxicating combination of exhaust and garlic that I enjoyed with my windows rolled down; nor can you hear the beat of the music blaring from the used car lots. I have one very dull photo of a rather boring looking community hall on Prince Edward Island; no where in the photo is the sound of a hundred people singing along to fiddle music, or the feeling of the floor boards bouncing as everyone stamps their feet in unison, or the crush and sticky sweat of the shoulders of strangers. Not even the most talented photographer can capture that.
Will I still be traveling with a camera? Of course, I have the best travel camera. Not only do I ‘have to’ in order to provide a visually enjoyable experience for you, dear reader, but to be honest, I like taking photographs. It makes me happy, gives me a purpose, and provides a different way to look at the world. But I no longer think it is the only way to travel. And I do not fear that, should I miss a shot, I’ll lose a memory. Because as long as I have my other four senses, sight take a back seat from time to time.
“You see, my memories aren’t only visual.” YES!
“I like taking photographs. It makes me happy, gives me a purpose, and provides a different way to look at the world. But I no longer think it is the only way to travel. And I do not fear that, should I miss a shot, I’ll lose a memory. Because as long as I have my other four senses, sight take a back seat from time to time.” LOVE THIS!!!
Hubby does almost all of out picture taking. I occasionally sketch while we travel. But I still have lovely memories of all of our trips. Yes, the photos do sometimes stimulate a particular memory. But agree that ‘sight’ (not the same thing as vision at all), MUST take a back seat sometimes in order to develop the other senses.
You have a real ‘way with words’ when you wax philosophical. You should do it more often (lol).
On another subject…
When is school out for you? Our schools close for kids this Friday and teachers have 2 or 3 workdays next week.
School is out. FOREVER!
Woah.
And yes, I should attempt philosophizing more often. Perhaps I will, now that I have…time!
I always travel with a camera but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve later thought why didn’t I take a picture of THAT??? Usually when I’m going over my photos trying to find one to match up with an article. I mean I was right there, had the perfect opportunity to take pictures of that display of macadamia nuts in the store, and I didn’t think to take a picture of it until 4 months later. I was fast thinking enough to take a photo of that picture of John Travolta stuck on the side of a building in Aruba, but that was just weird enough I had to shoot it. And I took a picture of a cut out of Donny Osmond in the Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas. In other words I’ve got a bunch of photos of things I could never use to make money from and not nearly enough of things I should have been photographing when I was right there and had the chance! I have found the iPhone does come in handy as a camera. I have the same problem. Thinking too late about that picture I should have taken when I had the chance.
You’re absolutely right about this! I didn’t even think about it, but yes, I always have SO MANY photos I don’t need, but often never that one that I do. For example, I was in Disney World for a MONTH working on my (still not finished) book. I took thousands of photos. And then I needed a photo of the monorail for a Disney transportation post. Do you think I had one single photo of this icon of Disney? Nope!
In general, I think that having my camera with me helps me enjoy the world around me more. Because I am always on the lookout for a great shot, I am more observant, more likely to notice the details that make a place unique. But I also have days when I just don’t feel like it, when I just want to enjoy the moment without pressure to preserve it for later.
I absolutely agree–my camera is and has always been my best travel partner. But I suppose it is just nice to sometimes switch things up a bit, you know?
It’s also different for me (and you, given that we are the same in this aspect) in that I’m not just preserving memories, I’m looking for things to write about. And photos that would support said writing. So I suppose it could be called ‘work’–if I didn’t love it, that is.