Inspiration

How To Take Photos Without Missing The Moment

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Having a camera in your pocket can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you can record special moments to remember later or show to your children and grandchildren. You can catch funny fails, and even play your part in recording history when present at a major event.

 

On the other hand, it constantly takes you out of the moment. Instead of watching your child grow up, you’re making sure to get the right angle on his first steps. Instead of watching Kendrick Lamar killing it in concert, you’re focusing on keeping your screen steady.

 

While photographs and videos might let you to keep records of a moment, they simply do not allow you to actually experience that moment to the full.

 

In today’s age, we rarely get to live in the moment. We’re constantly planning for the future or dwelling on the past. When times are tough, we distract ourselves with rectangular screens, purposefully taking ourselves out of the moment.

 

And this has led to anxiety and depression rates on the rise. On the flipside, Western psychology has finally caught on that mindfulness – learning to live in the moment – is good for mental health. It is used to treat depression, anxiety, BPD, and much more. In other words, to maintain your mental health, living in the moment is an important practice.

 

…but you love taking photographs

 

Seeing it in this context, taking photos and recording videos looks like a damaging habit. Trying to hold onto memories is the definition of not living in the moment. And this is something we’re well aware of. No one should be surprised to learn that when taking a photo, you’re actually letting the moment pass you by.

 

So does that mean photography is bad?

 

Taking photos… mindfully

 

The truth is that taking photos can take you out of the moment, but can also be part of a balanced mindful lifestyle. Constantly taking selfies, for example, is probably not healthy as it forces you to focus on everything wrong with your face. On the other hand, setting time aside for taking photos can balance you.

 

Instead of simply snapping away at everything you see, take a few moments out of what you’re doing to capture your image. This way, the time you spend taking photos is mindful time – you’re focused on the process of taking the photo. The rest of your time is unimpeded by the anxiety of missing out on a Pulitzer Prize winning image.

 

It also means that when you store your photos (and you should look at reviews of photo storage services), you won’t have an unmanageable load of images that you’ll never be able to sift through. Instead, you’ll have a collection that means something to you. Every pic will have a story behind it.

 

And most importantly, it will actually be connected to a memory you truly experienced.

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