Recently, I have been taking so many less photos than I used to. Not in a fancy photography way, but just photos of me doing a fun thing. I don't stop and take a selfie with a friend every time we hang out or when I see something really cool. In some ways, I love it because it forces me to use my eyeballs and brain, not the camera lens, but it also gets tricky.
My friend Lizzie and I made this lack-of-photo observation together and got talking. We discussed how we are living in the moment more and truly just enjoying the now. And because we've been just enjoying the moment, we don't take many photos. Sure, I have photos of when I'm bored, or a cool sunset. But never of any of the fun friend hang outs or things of that nature. It's great to not feel the need to stop the momentum and take a photo (which often inhibits any conversation). It's also cool that I don't feel the need to prove to people that "Hey, I have friends, I do stuff" because honestly, that was the reason I took many photos in the past (Yay Self-Improvement!). But with this new "enjoying the now" thing, I also kind of miss having the photos of fond memories. I am trying to use my brain to remember things, however it is still pleasant to be able to look back in my phone and be reminded of "aw that one hike" or "oh that awesome movie night." I am having trouble finding the balance between the two things.
Another challenge comes in with the fact that I leave Colorado in just a couple weeks and will not be back for at least a year. Once again, I will be leaving friends and leaving a lifestyle I've grown accustomed to. Time truly does go by quickly when you are enjoying yourself. The past few weeks have gone by so incredibly quickly as I know the next few will. Because I won't see these people for a very long time and so many "last moments" are occurring, I want to document them for myself so that I can look back at the pictures and conjure up the pleasant/nostalgic memories. And have photos of me with my good friends especially when I may not see them for years. But then again, I also want to enjoy the moments as they happen and don't want to ruin it by whipping out a camera and pausing for a photo. Hmm, what are your thoughts? How do you find the balance?
My friend Lizzie and I made this lack-of-photo observation together and got talking. We discussed how we are living in the moment more and truly just enjoying the now. And because we've been just enjoying the moment, we don't take many photos. Sure, I have photos of when I'm bored, or a cool sunset. But never of any of the fun friend hang outs or things of that nature. It's great to not feel the need to stop the momentum and take a photo (which often inhibits any conversation). It's also cool that I don't feel the need to prove to people that "Hey, I have friends, I do stuff" because honestly, that was the reason I took many photos in the past (Yay Self-Improvement!). But with this new "enjoying the now" thing, I also kind of miss having the photos of fond memories. I am trying to use my brain to remember things, however it is still pleasant to be able to look back in my phone and be reminded of "aw that one hike" or "oh that awesome movie night." I am having trouble finding the balance between the two things.
Another challenge comes in with the fact that I leave Colorado in just a couple weeks and will not be back for at least a year. Once again, I will be leaving friends and leaving a lifestyle I've grown accustomed to. Time truly does go by quickly when you are enjoying yourself. The past few weeks have gone by so incredibly quickly as I know the next few will. Because I won't see these people for a very long time and so many "last moments" are occurring, I want to document them for myself so that I can look back at the pictures and conjure up the pleasant/nostalgic memories. And have photos of me with my good friends especially when I may not see them for years. But then again, I also want to enjoy the moments as they happen and don't want to ruin it by whipping out a camera and pausing for a photo. Hmm, what are your thoughts? How do you find the balance?