Inspir.es

Jason Kottke posted this question to Tyler Cowen:

Is taking a photo or video of an event for later viewing worth it, even if it means more or less missing the event in realtime? What’s better, a lifetime of mediated viewing of my son’s first steps or a one-time in-person viewing?

Cowen’s answer:

If you take photos you will remember the event more vividly, if only because you have to stop and notice it. The fact that your memories will in part be “false” or constructed is besides the point; they’ll probably be false anyway. In other words, there’s no such thing as the “one-time in-person viewing,” it is all mediated viewing, one way or the other….

I used to believe that taking photographs somehow dimished the experience - that it was better to live life than to document it. Now that I’ve taken to photography as recreation a bit more (although I’m still decidedly horrible) I’m finding that photography often enhances an event for me. It allows me to use “art” to frame experiences, both literally and figuratively.

My recollection of past events is subpar - but it’ll be difficult to forget moments like this once they are documented and shared.