Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
Taking a photo is easier today than it has ever been, according to the UK Science and Media Museum.
As a college student, I am constantly viewing and taking photos. Photos are a way of preserving phases of my life.
However, there is a lot of literature about the negative effects of taking photos.
Articles from sources such as NPR and the BBC argue that taking photos distracts people from living in the moment. Many claim that too many photos lead to comparison, jealousy, self-obsession and inauthenticity.
I used to think it was superficial to obsess over capturing a moment, especially when the moments were often mundane.
I didn’t think it was necessary to remember going to the beach one afternoon or that I needed to preserve photos of my friends in classes I had every day.
However, my perspective changed when I met a friend who would take photos often but rarely posted them.
Being exposed to someone who enjoyed taking photos for themselves rather than for others on social media was refreshing. The purpose was to capture a moment and emotion to look back on.
I began to view photos in a new light. I started to take photos of myself, my loved ones and activities I was doing more often.
A photo is taken in one second. Rather than having a posed “photo shoot,” trying to capture the perfect shot, I was delighted with the convenience and quickness of capturing a memory.
If I pause and think, “I feel happy right now” or “I wish this moment wouldn’t end,” I will quickly take a photo.
With this method, photos become a gift that keeps on giving.
I feel joy within a moment because I know I am capturing a special memory. Similarly, I feel joy after a moment has passed when remembering the time captured in a photo.
While I used to think the pressure to take a photo was crippling, I have discovered it takes almost no time out of my day. In addition, no one is pressuring me to capture specific moments; I only do it when I want to.
Negative effects of photos occur when they become an object to gain status. Instead, photos should be symbols and representations that spark memories.
In a 2015 BBC article, Kimberley Wade recommends spending time interacting with photos: “Go through them, organise them, print them out, and take the time to reminisce with other people.”
To make interrupting activities with a photo worth it, people must go back and feel their effects. They must reflect with the people they love on the experiences that brought them together.
I personally experience this when scrolling through the camera roll on my phone. Seeing past versions of myself gives me a broader perspective; the struggles I have right now are only temporary.
When used in this way, photos are a tool for self-reflection. Similar to reading through an old diary, looking at old photos reminds people of their past selves, the progress made in their lives and the importance of treasuring the present.
That being said, using photos for self-reflection is potentially dangerous because they are often a highlight reel of people’s lives. This emphasizes the importance of taking photos of authentic moments that are truly meaningful.
However, moderate distortions of memory can be beneficial. Wade argues that, “We want to think we are stable people. We remember our relationships in a better light, we remember ourselves in a way that is more in line with who we want to be. Some distortion is good for our well-being.”
Using photos as a highlight reel can be positive. Thinking the past is better than it actually was gives people optimism for the future and gratitude for the past.
Preserving daily memories is a convenient way to experience significant self-reflection. Looking back on these reminders gives endurance to persevere through trials and appreciate beautiful moments that may otherwise be forgotten.
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Contact Caitlin Murray via email:
caitlin.murray@pepperdine.edu or by Instagram: @caitlin_murray36
