Did You Catch It On Camera?

How do you take pictures? What do your pictures make you feel?

As I sit stuck in quarantine I find myself scrolling through pictures of past travels. Most of my international adventure happens in the summer, and I have felt a little lifeless as I sit in Asheville making the most of stillness around me. It has been challenging and rewarding and a daily practice I look forward to. But I miss seeing the world.

This is where the pictures I take come in. Social media has made everyone a photographer. And it is incredible that we have the space to document our life and vibrant memories. But I wonder when people look at their pictures, what do they see? What do they feel and what do they hear?

Let’s look at an example:

When you look at this picture, you see flora and fauna from the Duke Botanical Gardens. But for me? I feel the cool crisp air hitting my legs (I was stupidly wearing a mini skirt). I feel the humidity in the air, making my sweater stick to me. I smell a powerful floral perfume in the air. I’m laughing at something funny my friend said as I take the picture. I go back in time.

The pictures I take encourage me to stay still, reflect, and imagine.

Do your pictures make you do that? Or are they empty archives that only serve the purpose of envy or aesthetic? If you answered no to the first question or yes to the second, I urge you to stop taking pictures for a while. I want you to learn to live presently. So presently that while living, the only time you pick up your camera is when you realize that the moment you’re in is about to slip away.

Capture it with intention and compassion. Right now, there aren’t that many things to take pictures of. But even still, if you do find something to capture, I hope that in the future you are able to take something that will help your future self remember where you are now.