“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” –Marc Riboud
First off, let me say that I know this sounds like it came from Fast and the Furious, but I promise it did not. As you can see I gave credit to Marc Riboud.
As a photographer I believe that I do live life every hundredth of a second. Why? Because that is about how long it takes to snap the shutter of my camera. At the snap of the shutter I have saved that very short moment for the rest of my life.
I must admit that when taking photos of my family in moments that are "just happening" I never want to forget them. There are some things that I have learned are perfect as they are, with their imperfections. Sometimes the imperfection is what makes the moment something that is memorable. I personally think that there are a number of people that do not look at it that way. There are people that want the photographer to change everything about them. Make them skinnier, give them a thinner face, add more make up, bring out areas that they think are important. I personally think that doing things like this can take away from the actual beauty of the person. But then again that is my personal opinion. I also believe that in making these kinds of edits takes away from the moment . When you look back on that photo that has been over edited, where you were made to be skinner, have more make up, or made to look like a Barbie Doll it becomes a fake moment in time. You know that you did not look like that. You know that it is altered and that no one else remembers the moment with you looking this way. In that hundredth of a second with the editing that you have requested you have taken away from its reality and the magic of the moment.
I recommend that you live in the moment, as it is. Sure fix a few blemishes that will be gone in a few days, but don't change yourself into the "ideal you". One, there is no reason, and two it takes away from the moment, and over all the memory. In that hundredth of a second enjoy the moment. If you change the moment, when you look at that photo you cannot relive the moment as it was. You lose the feelings, the excitement, the amazement, whatever the feeling is that is associated with that moment is gone. It is all gone because it is not real.
A hundredth of a second may not be alot of time, but it is something that will hold meaning and value for years to come. It may not seem that way now, or in some case ever for you.. but for those who see that moment years after you are gone, it could be special for them.
It amazes me what a hundredth of a second can hold, be it meaning, be it the emotional value or anything else that can be applied to the photo. It also is amazing to capture that moment. Why? Because I know that moment will never happen again. Once the moment is gone it will never come back. There is no way to get it back even if you attempt it. For example, you cannot re create that first kiss after the vows have been said, you can not recreate the very moment that a child is born. These are moments that are captured in a hundredth of a second, and are gone just as quickly, however they are two of the most important moments in life.
So as a photographer I live one hundredth of a second at a time, however, in some ways, don't we all?
Just something to think about......
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