How I Learned That Snapping the 'Perfect Vacation Pic' is Overrated
Photos have become my favorite souvenir because they, theoretically, capture vacation memories for long after the trip is over. Rather than bringing home a suitcase full of stuff we don’t need, photographs take up no space, last a long time, and allow me to relive our latest vacation over and over, sharing those moments with friends and family back home. But my favorite souvenir has a downside- I’ve been so intend on capturing our trips on film that I’ve often missed out on just experiencing the destination and making meaningful vacation memories. (Read: How to Plan an Unforgettable Vacation)
Taking Tons of Pictures But Making Few Vacation Memories
During our trip to Ireland, Mike and I and spent a few days on the Atlantic coast in a little town called Dingle. One day, we took a short walk from our hotel and found a spot right outside of the bay where we could sit on the rocks watching the wild waves crash against the boulders. I had been trying to capture a photo of the two of us to put on our annual Christmas card, and I thought- this is it!- the perfect photo to embody our trip to the Emerald Isle.
While I ended up getting a decent picture (though nothing that came close to capturing what it looked like in real life), I ended up spending almost our entire time on those rocks messing with camera settings angles. I ended up missing out on experiencing smell of the sea air, the thunderous crash of the waves, and the smile on Mike’s face as he took in that awesome scene.
Mike and I on Dingle Bay in Ireland. I spend 30 minutes trying to get this shot, and it doesn’t even do the scene justice.Why I’m Taking My Less Vacation Photos, More Vacation Memories Challenge
I’ll get to spend more time truly experiencing my surroundings
Photography takes skill, concentration, and patience, all of which can distract you from taking in the sights around you. By stepping out from behind the camera, you can truly experience what a photo can’t capture- the sounds, the smells, the feeling of the elements around you.
On a recent trip to the Washington coast, my camera battery died after shooting for 20 minutes straight, and I had no choice but to put the camera down. Suddenly the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore seemed louder, and the smell of the ocean seemed crisper. I closed my eyes and let the first sun we’d seen all day hit my face. Though I wasn’t capturing a photo of the experience, I was collecting a memory that no camera could do justice.
I might avoid putting myself in harms way
Photography shouldn’t be an extreme sport for most travelers, but I can’t tell you how many times Mike and I have seen tourists put themselves into danger in order to get a photo. We’ve seen people almost walk into traffic, trip over rocks, dangle off of ledges, teeter on precarious cliff edges, almost get taken out to sea by roaring waves, and get WAY too close to wild animals, all in the name of photography.
I myself once gave myself a wicked thigh bruise by tripping over a small iceburg while walking backward trying to snap a shot of the sunset on Diamond Beach in Iceland.
While you think capturing an awesome photo is worth it, think twice before putting your self in harms way.
I’ll avoid getting in the way of fellow tourists.
If you’ve traveled much in the last five years, you’ve probably noticed some annoying trends when it comes to traveler’s photography behaviors. The selfie stick have turned popular sights into a sea of phones floating 3 feet above everyone’s heads. Serious Instagrammers set up makeshift photo shoots in the middle of busy public squares complete with tripods, lighting kits, and changing tents. The worst though, is when people create traffic jams in busy walkways by stopping randomly to take what seems like 100 selfies, while blissfully unaware they are impeding the flow of traffic.
Once Mike and I were walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, and we couldn’t go five feet without someone stopping dead in their tracks to snap a selfie, oblivious that they were standing right in the middle of the path. One woman stopped so abruptly that we actually crashed into her! No one was hurt, but we got so frustrated, that we made it our mission to get off that bridge ASAP.
While you might not mean to inconvenience others, be aware of your surroundings and be thoughtful of your fellow tourists. Snap a picture or two, then step aside so others can enjoy the view.
Will You Take the Less Vacation Photos, More Vacation Memories Challenge?
While I’m probably not going to completely avoid using a camera on our next trip, I am challenging myself to use it less. I’d challenge my fellow travelers to do the same. If you decide to take this ‘Less Vacation Photos, More Vacation Memories’ challenge, report back and let us know how it impacted your trip!
