On the moment I press the shutter

Four years ago now, I wrote something on the then Hoffentlich voicing why I enjoy photography so much. It has long since been deleted, or lost in my poorly cateogorised archive of written thoughts. Since the introduction of Instagram, I felt like I gradually forgot the true meaning behind taking a photo and instead fell into a recurrent habit of thought: To take 'pretty photos', instead of a photo that tells a story of a thousand words.

Of course, 'pretty photo' is at the top of the list of 'good photo requirement', but this time round, I've been reminded of the initial 'why', encouraged to take a step back to reconsider the true significance of the existence of my dslr.

Before we press that shutter, many things run through our minds:

Who. What. When. Where. Why. How.

Aperture. Exposure. Light. Composition. Thought.

In my old photos, I could look at one and feel pangs.

Because those were the photos I took with my heart. I could look at a photo and replay the scene. Who was there. What was happening. Where it was. How this photo came about. Everything.

I can still do that with mine these days. But I get so lost in the heat of the moment, trying to note down everything, but then realising I got nothing at all. Having too many subjects. Too crowded a throught. This need to capture all that I see that is beautiful, the urge to press the shutter again and again, but then having walked away realising how little i got to see of the real thing. Ending up with way too many photos of the same thing. None outstanding. All slightly similar. This reluctance to delete one even though it looks exactly the same as the last, if not for a millimetre difference, but the perfectionist in me will try her best to pick out one, get too indecisive, then end up keeping both, run out of memory, force myself to finally delete one, two, no three. Or realising that none were good enough because none were taken with the deliberation, accuracy and heart behind the photo.

There are many types of photos - Documentary. Thoughtful. 'I was here. Yay.'

I don't condemn any. But I'm glad I've reawoken these thoughts.

Bringing back a meaning into the photo. Bringing back the moments I wanted to capture that says it all. Exploring this creative expression.

In the world of SD cards, USBs and infinite memory, many moments can be captured.

But which one will it be, to say it all again and again, in the many years to come?