I was giving Zac crap the other day because on his recent hunting trip to South Dakota, he took a whopping 3 photos. THREE! I mean, I will be the first to admit that I generally take way too many photos, but only three... Really?
Zac made a couple valid points -- he wants to "live in the moment" and "never pass up a memory because he was too busy trying to capture it."
But for me, a photo IS a memory that I will never regret the time I spent to document it. Our memories matter, and unfortunately my brain does a terrible job at remembering things.
When I look back at all the photos I've taken, they allow me to feel (smell & taste, too!) exactly how I felt in that very moment. And what better way to relive a memory!
Two examples below:
Two examples below:
I waited for a red light, and ran out in the middle of a busy street in Paris to snap this photo. Some might argue that I went a little too far, just for a photo. But I had to get to this very spot, because from other angles, there would have been street lights smack dab in the middle of the photo (and I don't Photoshop, so what's a girl to do?!)
But this was the first time I got to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, and it might be the only time in my life I get to see it in person. It was completely magical & breath-taking -- and this photo doesn't do it an ounce of justice -- but seeing it brings me right back to that very moment. There was a crisp, spring breeze in the air. I was wearing my new, rather ugly, $15 Euro coat that I bought at a flea market in Italy because I failed to pack enough warm clothes for the trip. My heart was racing -- at both the fact that I was standing in the middle of the street, and because I was standing in front of the Eiffel Tower... the same place where Zac bought me an Eiffel Tower key chain when he went to Paris in the summer of 2004 (that I still have, 14 years later). Now that I have this photo, I can enjoy this moment -- this feeling -- over and over again.
And one of my most favorite photos ever, from my iPhone:
This was the first time Zac felt baby Ellis move. I was 19 weeks pregnant. This photo is busy and grainy and the lines are bad, but it's perfect in my eyes. The argument here could be, "Let Zac enjoy the moment in peace; get that phone out of his face!" But guys... look at this tangible, precious memory I have! It seriously makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside... Zac's subtle expression... his big hand on my bare belly... my belly with a real, thriving BABY inside. Gaahh! I could just melt. I'm so glad I captured this moment forever.
Some of us though, have a steel trap of a memory and we don't need all the photos... and that's cool too. Trust me, for as many photos as I do take, there are thousands of memories that I have that I didn't document (or share).
Some of us though, have a steel trap of a memory and we don't need all the photos... and that's cool too. Trust me, for as many photos as I do take, there are thousands of memories that I have that I didn't document (or share).
In this digital age, I think it's so easy to get wrapped up in our phones, and we always walk a fine line of shoving our phones in our families/friend's faces too much. I have lots of thoughts about over-documenting and under-documentiing, and over-sharing, but I will save those for another blog post :) I can honestly say though, that I've never regretted taking a photo. Now I just need to get better at getting them off of my phone and computer, and into my hands.
Tell me, what's your favorite way to relive a memory?
