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Five reasons to leave your camera at home
When packing for that dream trip, a camera is usually high on the list of essential items. Actually, it's not as important as some people think. Here are five reasons to leave your camera at home.One less thing to worry about
It puts a barrier between you and the people
Nothing makes you stand out more than pointing a camera at a complete stranger. An unsuspecting market stall owner or farmer or palace guard is busy trying to do his or her job, and suddenly some tourist comes along and sticks a big lens in their face. Not a good way to get the locals to warm up to you. In some places, posing for photos has become a business and you'll be promptly asked for cash after you take a shot, or be badgered by flocks of children asking for their photo to be taken. Some countries have strict rules about what you can photograph. I once got told off by a cop in Tehran because I took a photo of a statue. The statue was fine, but including the post office behind it was forbidden because it was a government building. With no camera in sight, you'll get a lot less harassment.
Really, does anyone care?
There's nothing quite as boring as looking at someone else's holiday snaps. Oh sure, your family and friends will make admiring noises and ask to see more, but that's because they like you. They'd like you more if you closed the photo album or computer and took them out for a drink.
It can interfere with the moment
When my wife and I attended an archaeology conference in Oxford, we and the other participants got invited to walk among the stones of Stonehenge at dawn. As the sun rose between two of the standing stones it cast an eerie glow through the mist. Everyone hurried to take a picture while I stood there in awe. The conditions were such that nobody got a perfect shot. I ended up with the best memory of the event, still vivid after seven years, because I was actually looking at the sunrise instead of trying to capture it. (Full disclosure: this was mostly due to the fact that my wife was holding our camera at that moment, otherwise it would be her bragging right now.)
Over at Postsecret, where people send in heartfelt messages and confessions on anonymous postcards, someone who says he plays Mickey Mouse at Disneyland tells parents not to rush over and take a picture of their kid cuddling him because the best part of his job is seeing the kid's face light up at meeting him. Taking a shot distracts both him and the kid from a magical moment. Who are we to disagree with Mickey Mouse?
You can get better pictures elsewhere
Chances are you're not a professional photographer. Even if you are, when you're on vacation you probably don't have the time or inclination to take professional quality photos anyway. The pros work under ideal conditions with expensive equipment, and often wait hours, days, or even weeks for the perfect shot. Benefit from and reward their labor by buying postcards and coffee table books full of amazing images of the places you've been. Or check out our Photo of the Day section.
So when you're packing for your next vacation, rethink what you're putting in your bags. Your trip might just be the better for it.
There's nothing quite as boring as looking at someone else's holiday snaps. Oh sure, your family and friends will make admiring noises and ask to see more, but that's because they like you. They'd like you more if you closed the photo album or computer and took them out for a drink.
It can interfere with the moment
When my wife and I attended an archaeology conference in Oxford, we and the other participants got invited to walk among the stones of Stonehenge at dawn. As the sun rose between two of the standing stones it cast an eerie glow through the mist. Everyone hurried to take a picture while I stood there in awe. The conditions were such that nobody got a perfect shot. I ended up with the best memory of the event, still vivid after seven years, because I was actually looking at the sunrise instead of trying to capture it. (Full disclosure: this was mostly due to the fact that my wife was holding our camera at that moment, otherwise it would be her bragging right now.)
Over at Postsecret, where people send in heartfelt messages and confessions on anonymous postcards, someone who says he plays Mickey Mouse at Disneyland tells parents not to rush over and take a picture of their kid cuddling him because the best part of his job is seeing the kid's face light up at meeting him. Taking a shot distracts both him and the kid from a magical moment. Who are we to disagree with Mickey Mouse?
You can get better pictures elsewhere
Chances are you're not a professional photographer. Even if you are, when you're on vacation you probably don't have the time or inclination to take professional quality photos anyway. The pros work under ideal conditions with expensive equipment, and often wait hours, days, or even weeks for the perfect shot. Benefit from and reward their labor by buying postcards and coffee table books full of amazing images of the places you've been. Or check out our Photo of the Day section.
So when you're packing for your next vacation, rethink what you're putting in your bags. Your trip might just be the better for it.
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 6)
Robert Feb 5th 2010 3:45PM
Wow! Whoda thought such a simple and reasonable suggestion would generate so much noisy opposition. As an avid photographer, first in film, now digital, I have boxes full of family photographs that I rarely, if ever look at. Why? I am too busy living in the here and now. As Sean observes, it is all too easy to miss out on a beautiful moment while taking a picture that doesn't really capture the moment and is glanced at only once, then briefly. The moment is gone never to be captured. When I was young my parents told me to take lots of pictures on a big trip I was taking because it was "the trip of a lifetime." Well, maybe their lifetime, but not mine. I have been on lots of big trips since then. On some I took lots of photos, only glanced at since the trip. On others I took few pictures and depend mostly on memories and stories to relive the experience.
Sure, take a camera on your next trip, but use it wisely and infrequently. Enjoy the moment! Carpe deim!
tj Feb 5th 2010 3:51PM
the dumbest article this decade, oh, we are going to tahiti and i 'll leave my camera at home....what a moron author!
Kay Miles Oct 21st 2011 3:23AM
My camera goes with me almost everywhere I go. I hate, for the most part, posed pictures and would not DREAM of asking someone to pose for a picture. Especially, a photo in front of: the Eiffel Tower, Mt, Rainier, the Golden Gate Bridge, that beautiful sunset on Maui, you name and I'll bet somebody, somewhere, has several such photos. It's a joke between my husband and me that many people have to have a photo of themselves in front of - whatever. Especially, those of a certain ethnicity In our travels we see a lot of their taking such phots. I agree with M.M. that a parent shouldn't rush his/her child topose with M.M. for a phot. Stand back instead and try to capture that look of delight and wonder as the child spies Mickey. That's a much better photo.
I had the great fortune many years ago of capturing an unusual and adorable picture of a young tiger cub being hugged by a pretty blonde caretaker and licking her thumb. The ocassion was a visit to a wild animal park in CA where four young tiger cubs were put in an outdoor enclosure to play and romp whle beng watched by several caretakers and lots of visitors. This one cartaker was lying on the ground (reaon not remembered) and this one little striped guty cam along and got on her behind and started kneading. And, of course cat claws being sharp, the gal sat up in a hurry grabbed the cub and hugged him to her, his back against her body. In my photo you can see his little pink tongue making contact with her thumb. If I hadn't been taking pictures of those adorable little big cats (I adore cats and babies)...
Michelle Feb 5th 2010 7:51PM
Have cammera will travel! I really enjoy looking at past adventures and My photos are very good!
Carl Feb 5th 2010 8:40PM
Sean needs to get a job reporting on subjects he has some familiarity with. Leaving home without your camera (if you're a photographer) is not one of them.
Hannah May 6th 2010 4:14AM
pro-sean on this one. I'm really excited to travel with no camera- just be in it. If there is a pic worth taking then I'm sure the tourist next to me with the iphone can tag it for me on fbook after we exchange email addresses. To each there own though. I love looking at pics that my friends with real skills post from their travels.