A Moment not in the Moment

I take a lot of photographs while travelling, capture in pixels the people, places and things I see all around the world. Often, I’m so intent on photographing, I neglect just being in the moment, in the place, with or among the people I’m photographing.

There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that.

However, a photograph only ever represents an interpretation of a moment, place, person or thing, never the whole of a possible experience of them.  Sometimes, reviewing my catalog of photographs, I’ll realize my entire experience of a moment or place was wrapped up in photographing it, rather than experiencing the person, place or thing being photographed. In order to photograph a moment, I forgot to be in that moment.

This typically happens as a result of feeling pressed for time and then prioritizing taking one or more decent photographs of wherever I am over taking the time to actually be there. But, to be honest with myself, sometimes I’m so wrapped up in framing I just plain forget to be.

There’s an irony here. The best photographs of people, places and things are, more often than not, taken by a photographer who is as invested in the moment as in photographing it. That is, a moment shot in the moment.

So, seeking a deeper relationship with, and commitment to, the moments I spend with people, places and things usually provides a deeper vision of how to photograph them. But, even more important than that, seeking a greater connection through being in the moment provides a deeper experience of life itself.

I suppose I shouldn’t have to remind myself of that. But I do. And this reminder is necessary even when I’m not all caught up in framing a photograph, or even have a camera in hand.

So I stop. Take a breath.

Then another.