Preserving a happy memory: Who wouldn’t want to do that? If we could remember every moment that brought us joy, our lives might be extremely different than they are in reality.
Taking pictures helps us preserve memories and be able to recall certain moments that we may have forgotten over time. Going to a concert, spending time with family and friends or going on a life changing vacation are all experiences that someone might hold on to, but taking snapshots along the way can ensure preservation over time.
“I take pictures to preserve a memory or feeling so that when I do go back and look at the photos, it tends to take me back to a time of remembrance,” senior Bailey Frein said.
Frein has a digital camera, which she uses to post pictures on Instagram. She uses her camera to take pictures with friends so that not only Frein but those she cares about most can remember the moments too. By doing this, she is able to connect more with her friends and have an outlet to show life through her eyes.
Pictures have a way of solidifying personal experiences and stories from our point of view. They provide a platform for the individual human experience and perception of life.
Freshman Caden Kaiser has a sports photography and videography Instagram account. He posts football and basketball pictures, as well as edited videos of Kaneland’s varsity basketball team. He uses social media to advertise his work and pursue his passion.
“Social media plays a big role in what I do,” Kaiser said. “I’m able to share my art with people and players I have [photographed]. It’s [also] great because I am able to get feedback on my work from people who have more experience than me.”
Social media has created a need for us to update other people about our lives while also learning everything we can about theirs.
Since its rapid growth, many have relied on socia media as a way to share the details of our lives with anyone who may be in our audience.
“Since social media has grown, we find ourselves, especially teenagers, always having to post an event or incident online to show others,” Frein said.
The desire to not only show your friends what you’re up to in every waking moment but also share the amazing things you’re experiencing can be thrilling and entertaining. However, it’s also important to be living in each amazing moment.
With how social media and photographing our lives work hand-in-hand, taking pictures is almost like using a time machine. You’ll always have reminders of the experiences that have influenced your life the most, while also providing a sense of nostalgia.
We tend to whip out a phone, old school digital camera or expensive film camera and capture the moment in an instant. This tendency, however, can take away from the actual experience if you let it.
“There are a lot of special moments in our life where we need to perceive what is in front of us instead of reaching for our phone or camera to capture the occasion,” Frein said. “I also like to take time to comprehend and grasp what is going on at that point in time and not do so electronically.”
Sometimes it’s better to just experience the moment than capture it and possibly look back at it later. The need to take pictures can distract us from what’s really going on at the moment. If we are constantly on our phones or using our cameras, that might take away from the experience itself.
“I go to concerts [with my teenage daughters], and I see people just filming the whole thing instead of just being in the moment,” photography teacher Heather Englehart said. “They’re just so concerned about capturing something just to say that they were there.”
The teenage tendency to capture everything on film has grown, and more than likely, it will not stop. With the growth of technology, social media and more access to awesome experiences, the need to capture everything will persist. This continuous growth has positives and negatives in people’s lives, but for some it’s a way to hold on to the most precious moments.
“Just [do] it for yourself. [Ask yourself], ‘Do I really need to pull my camera out right now, or can I just be here?’” Englehart said.
