Let’s talk about camera ettiquette, shall we?
Last night we watched the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps perform in our town. For the last half, the Silent Drill Platoon performed and I heard the constant beep-click-shuffle-beep-click-shuffle of a high-end digital camera behind me. Nice equipment. Not a nice noise during a demonstration about precision and discipline, where the actions are slightly punctuated only by the percussion of gloved hands against bayoneted rifles.
The woman behind us was taking continuous pictures, so that her camera was constantly beeping and making noises. The man next to her apparently really couldn’t put up with her and politely asked her to cut back a little. She refused and seemed indignant. I don’t know why she was taking pictures, and I can imagine all sorts of valid reasons. But the fact is, her reply wasn’t that she was with National Geographic or that her son was the fourth tuba on the right. I think she got caught up in what we all can… getting a photo instead of getting the experience.
I try to remember to be present when I travel. When I’m excited about a shot and try to get a better angle, I try to remember to check behind me for people who are watching the same view I am. When I get the chance to take photos in a museum, I’m aware of my flash settings and the sound of my digital camera.
Try to remember that if you tell the story with words and one blurry picture, your friends will still believe you were there! There are so many favorite places on our travels I don’t have pictures of. I still remember them.
Twice in Mexico, I was on walks with my camera and spotted really interesting shots. But my hands froze as I started to click the shutter button because they were shots of kids I don’t know. I realized that, to me, kids aren’t attractions to be photographed. At Chichen Itza, several other tourists would buy trinkets from the kids who hang out on the paths, and then make them pose for pictures. There’s just something odd to me about taking home these pictures, no matter how artistic they might end up. It’s partly the issue of being a privileged traveller in a place with economic problems, and taking advantage of the humanity of the people who live around these great sites. I decided that’s just a line I draw. I’m not a National Geographic photographer, either, and never will be.
Now that we all get to be avid photographers with access to really sophisticated equipment doesn’t mean we have to use it, especially when it limits our own enjoyment and those around us.
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