It's happened several times in the last week alone. I've been with my family somewhere (say, the park with friends, a neighbor's birthday party or an office baby shower) and I've had our camera with us. And I've been taking pictures. A lot of pictures. I have always been a pretty active picture-taker, something I genuinely believe I inherited from my father or perhaps my maternal grandfather, or perhaps just everybody.
Anyway, on each of these occasions, I have been taking a bunch of photos of my kids, friends' kids, etc., and another parent has commented on my doing so.
"Why don't you just enjoy the moment?" said one father.
"You're sort of living this gathering through the camera lens, aren't you?" asked another.
"I'm not going to spend my daughter's entire party with a camera in my hand," declared another.
Yes, I take a lot of pictures. I think getting great shots (which, ahem, I do) requires a bunch of attempts. Fortunately we live in a digital age where we can actually afford to take ten shots for every keeper.
So, to these people, I say the following three things:
1. I like it. It's one of the many ways I enjoy spending time with my family. I certainly do not take our camera every time we go out. However, when I do take it, I make it a bit of a priority so that the next time I can leave it at home.
2. For me, it is a very engaging way to be with my kids. Living a moment or two through that lens is actually wonderful. It gives me a new perspective on them. Their faces. Their bodies. Their sweet, sweet selves. I would argue that I am very much enjoying the moment. Not only am I enjoying it, but I am preserving it to the best of my ability.
3. Each of you who makes a comment, without exception, loves my photos. You thank me for them. You enjoy them profusely. You compliment my having gotten just the right shot. You love them. So shut the fuck up.
6 comments:
This totally reminds me of how everyone used to yell at my mother when we were growing up for taking the video camera out at family gatherings. No one ever wanted to be on tape. But now those crappy old VHS tapes are all we have of live footage of my nana, and they're some of our most treasured belongings as a family. Thanks, Mom.
you are harboring too much pent up rage.
It's not so pent up, really. Plus, he's right. xo ALH
How do you know that "he" is a he, peen?
How do you know "he" is a he?
No, no, no -- I meant that the author of the blog is right. And who are you calling "peen"? ALH, aka A's WIFE
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