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Smart Cameras And Smarts

The implication — anyone who uses a camera cannot be that smart.

By May 10, 2008 at 2:20 PM

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Travelers are obsessed with taking photographs. We pack cameras first when we prepare to travel. One assumption behind this is that there are interesting things to see when we travel and we ought to capture them to treasure them. Another way to think of it is that whatever we see must be interesting, because we come upon it during our travels. That includes people too. That is the dilemma of photography when you travel.

When you return, your friends and family want to see your pictures. Now those on Facebook and You Tube demand the same, or at least so you think. You may realize that what you are looking at is not all that interesting, but since there is a photograph of it, you do your best to think along. It is possible the best moments just went by as the camera was deep inside your luggage or what was happening was more exciting than the usual act of taking pictures.

It seems as common to have your pictures taken while you are traveling, as taking pictures of those you visit. Both activities are deeply bothersome but understandable. Why would you want to have your own picture in a place that looks far more wonderful than you do? You don't look all that different when you are standing in front of one of the wonders of the world, do you? When you return, your friends are sick of seeing you everywhere in pictures and relatively little of what you went to see. May be they may not quite say it, but is it possible they feel sorry that you missed the real stuff while you were there and instead took your own pictures.

Taking pictures of the natives or the locals is part of travel. In fact, the assumption behind travel is that the world is posing for you when you visit. You are obsessed with clicking. Remember some cameras are called "point-and-shoot" for this reason alone. You need not give a chance to those you are photographing to pose or to say no. A photograph can transform an ordinary individual, local or visiting, from an innocent bystander to a permanent monument in your collection. There are times you see resentment in their eyes and at times, you see them intimidated, cornered, or both. Some sporty figures will go along because they are too nice; they don't quite want to make fun of you to your face.

All things considered, travel is defined by cameras.

Cameras make a mockery out of the purpose of seeing the world. They stop us from thinking why we are there. One of the earliest Sears catalogs in the early 1900s carried an advertisement for point and shoot cameras. In one swoop it insulted all women's intelligence and defined anyone who ever uses a camera. "We have a camera so simple," it said, "that a housewife can use it."

The implication - anyone who uses a camera cannot be that smart.

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