Why I Take So Many Pictures Analysis

Anytime one goes to an event, it is difficult to ignore the sea of people capturing every moment through their phones. Many people find this trend confusing or even irritating; however, there are numerous reasons for the emergence of such documentation. Out of those reasons, fear is the main reason people spend more time documenting their experiences than they spend being in the moment. Many people document their lives so extensively out of fear that people will not believe them when they talk about their experiences. There is a great deal of emphasis put on people to share their experiences with their community. Take for instance, when a person says he or she found five-hundred dollars on the ground, people are quick to ask for a photo as proof. It is human nature to be curious, and with sharing made so simple through technology, people are expected to provide proof to quench that
curiosity. For example, when a person meets a celebrity, he or she is encouraged to post a photo or video; otherwise people are unlikely to believe such an uncommon occurrence would happen to someone they know. Without the various social media updates, a person’s credibility is challenged. Another fear people have is that they will have no way to relive special experiences. Consequently, a way to combat this fear is by viewing photos and videos from such experiences. Looking at the documentation from meaningful moments in life can bring back all the feelings of those moments. For example, when someone is having a terrible day, looking at photos from a vacation can bring him or her back to that place and brighten his or her mood. It would be impossible to re-experience those instances if they hadn’t been recorded. In addition, a wedding can be one of the happiest days of a person’s life; by replaying footage of that day, they are transported back to those significant moments. While not every experience is as large as a wedding, all hold a significant spot in the documenter’s life. The final and most poignant fear people have is that they will forget the meaningful instances that happen in their lives.
People are so busy nowadays that it is difficult to keep track of all the moments that make life worthwhile. In an article entitled “Why I Take So Many Pictures” by Leslie Blanche, the author supports this theory saying, “My brain is too full of to-do lists and work tasks to hold all the precious moments with my family. And so, I refuse to put my camera down.” In addition to all the clutter a person’s brain has to hold on a daily basis, memory fades as people age and their minds can become unreliable. Therefore, it is reasonable to want to capture every moment, even the seemingly ordinary ones, on camera. For instance, many people document enjoyable times with friends; they are aware that in the future, it will be difficult to remember the jokes they laughed at, the parties they went to, or the places they went together. These are moments that are significant to people and bring joy, so naturally they would want to capture these special times and remember
them. It is clear that all the documenting people participate in is not just a shallow, annoying act; rather it is a way of soothing their fears. People take photos and videos so they can share proof of their experiences with their peers, relive vibrant moments, and remember sentimental instances in their lives. When describing her documentation of the miniscule moments and her fear of missing out, Blanche says, “Most of these pictures capture seemingly insignificant moments. However, isn’t that what life truly is? There are so many more ‘normal’ days than extraordinary ones.” Life is just the sum of all the moments in one’s life, so of course people want to capture as much of it as they can.