Digitised
for prosperity a snapshot of time has been frozen in history, viewed days,
months, years after the fact. We live in the digital era, photos are taken
by the hundreds in a day; the happy snapper has so many settings and options to
get just the right shot. The benefits of digital photography are boundless, but
I wonder: have we lost something in the name of progress?
Photography
is an art-form that has traversed changing times, wars, depressions and
revolutions and still it fascinates the lives of people it touches. I am one of
those people. I love that with the press of a button a split second in time is
held in place for me. Not only can I do this once, but time and time again!
With no regard to limits I can click away to my hearts content easily snapping
20 shots on an average day, just as easily 100 on an outing. Held back only by
the size of my memory card (which is hardly an issue) and the quality of my
batteries.
My
problem arises when I get home and so many of my shots are awful. Yes with practice
my good/bad shot ratios are getting better but have we been desensitised by our
digital aids?
No
longer do I take time to arrange, align and plan a shot. No longer do I even
have need for a viewfinder! The majority of my shots are point and shoot. Point
in the vague direction of what I want and hope it works, and if not? Well it
hasn’t cost me and I can easily erase and try again. Gone
are the days where each picture counts, has a price to it. Gone are the days of
waiting to get the perfect shot. Now we just take as many as we can and hope
it’s in there. Taking no note of costs or effects, we take quantity over
quality.
I’ve
been fortunate enough to see some of the slides my Grandad took while he was in
Korea.
Every one of them is of high quality, of the highest calibre and each tells a
story. How many of your photos tick all three of those boxes? I know the vast
majority of mine don’t.
Work
smart not hard is [one of] my motto[s]; in alignment with that I am all for digital
photography and the other digital advances we have made in the last decade or
two. My fear is that in all our technological advances, as we have ‘simplified’
life, we have taken out the finesse and elegance of our activities. Its certainly changed my style of photography from when each film and development cost.
Life
on a ranch; you work hard, sleep little for a few days, and then you may have
just as many days with only a light load. Time when you can really get into the
things you enjoy. Since time is precious and you know you may not get back to
it tomorrow, it is far more worthy to take the time and do it well. Take your
time, slow down to stop and smell the roses. Most importantly take the opportunity
to add a little finesse; a little elegance, something special to your day.
Life
is too short to race through. One day you’re a fashion student, content to live
in the city – the next you’re a cowgirl rounding cattle with the best of them
(well maybe I’m not quite on par with the best of them yet but you get the
picture).
Memories
hold fast when they aren’t a blur, remember to slow down as the chances arise-
make clear and crisp memories ;)
