Taking pictures on vacation

[Stazy]

Am I the only one who doesn't take vacation pictures? Trying to "capture" every moment seems like a wasted opportunity to really enjoy what you're doing, when you're doing it.

I almost always leave my camera at home and let someone else worry about pictures...

 

[globetrotter]

Originally Posted by Stazy

Am I the only one who doesn't take vacation pictures? Trying to "capture" every moment seems like a wasted opportunity to really enjoy what you're doing, when you're doing it.

I almost always leave my camera at home and let someone else worry about pictures...

+1

 

[Xericx]

I used to not but now that I have digital camera, i like to snap quick pics of what I do. looking back, I'm glad I did as I tend to forget some of the experiences when I didn't take the pics.

they all blur together. i take candid shots mostly and just random stuff like the food, restaurant signs and stuff like that. if its a big ojbect i'll pose

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Stazy

Am I the only one who doesn't take vacation pictures? Trying to "capture" every moment seems like a wasted opportunity to really enjoy what you're doing, when you're doing it.

I almost always leave my camera at home and let someone else worry about pictures...
I couldn't agree more. I don't take pictures on vacation because when I've been with others who did, the whole vacation turned into a never ending photo shoot. Taking photos seemed to be a bother and to get in the way of having a good time.

Even worse than taking photos is being forced to look at photos from others on vacation and to listen to their commentary of what happened. I hate this. And since I don't like liking at pics from others, I won't ask others to look at my pics.

 

[Agnacious]

I take very few pictures. Mostly I will buy about a dozen postcards for myself. I find those pictures better than anything I could take, not to mention the fact that the person probably set up for hours waiting for the perfect shot. They usually have scenes I would want in a picture so they are the pictures I would take if I could.

 

[tiecollector]

I take very few candid shots and leave the landmark shots to the pros and buy a 50 cent postcard. I also dislike worrying about losing my camera or getting it wet or where to put it. It is nice to have a few candid shots to look back on. I will only ever submit anyone to having looking at about 5 pics of my vacation max.

I've also tried photoshopping myself into postcard pics and it turns out not too bad.

 

[Bhowie]

No pics on vacation.

 

[GQgeek]

You can do both if you have the time. You don't have to take pictures of everything. It's only a significant problem if you're in a group being rushed through a site, which basically forces an "experience" or "shoot" type of decision. My gf complained about the camera a little when we were in peru, but she was the first to ask for the pictures so she could show her friends when we got back. I also got up early a couple times to go take photos while she slept in. She was a good sport on the whole.

When I'm in SA this year, since it's a prolonged trip, I expect i'll carry the camera some days, but most other days I will leave it in the apartment. Whenever I go to see something significant you can bet i'll be bringing my camera though. All 10lbs and $6k of it (and yes i worry).

 

[FidelCashflow]

If I visit the same place more than once, I just take pics the first time and thats it. If anyone asks about my most recent trip, I just whip out old pics

 

[tagutcow]

Originally Posted by Stazy

Am I the only one who doesn't take vacation pictures? Trying to "capture" every moment seems like a wasted opportunity to really enjoy what you're doing, when you're doing it.

I almost always leave my camera at home and let someone else worry about pictures...

This occurs to me when I bring a camera to a concert. I think, "why did I spend $10 to look at these guys through a viewfinder?"

There was a perspective piece in Time or something like that a few years ago about a mother who realized that by contantly trying to videotape her children, she had been avoiding living those memories with her children. It's really easy to go overboard with the photographer/videographer role.

 

[tagutcow]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

I take very few candid shots and leave the landmark shots to the pros and buy a 50 cent postcard.

Yeah, I never understood people who insist on taking snapshots of things like the Empire State Building. Hello, don't you think this was better done by about a billion photographers before you?

 

[Xericx]

Originally Posted by tagutcow

Yeah, I never understood people who insist on taking snapshots of things like the Empire State Building. Hello, don't you think this was better done by about a billion photographers before you?

gotta have a pic of you in the thing. it takes 2 seconds to snap a pic. When I was on vacation in the philippines, I was snapping 100 pictures per day...glad I did. I'm not posing every shot, just shooting whatever comes to mind. good way to docment the day and it really isn't intrusive whatsoever.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by Xericx

gotta have a pic of you in the thing. it takes 2 seconds to snap a pic. When I was on vacation in the philippines, I was snapping 100 pictures per day...glad I did. I'm not posing every shot, just shooting whatever comes to mind. good way to docment the day and it really isn't intrusive whatsoever.

This is true, you need to have a pic of you in it to prove you were there. I will not dwell on getting that perfect shot though, because it just won't happen. I will also only take a pic in front of 2 or 3 of my favorite big landmarks. When I go to NYC next month I'll probably take a pic of me in front of the Statue of Liberty, Chrysler Building and Central Park Boat House because those are the three things I've always wanted to see.

Now that I have a fiancee I like taking more pics because I need something to print out to put on my desk at work.

The biggest pain though is that you have to set things down and find someone to take your picture, which is annoying. If I didn't find it so tedious, I'd probably take more pictures and then only put about 10-15 in the photo album.

 

[Xericx]

I'm disappointed I didn't take more photos in college or road trips, etc. some of them are completely gone from memory unless refreshed. My photos are chronologically organized so I see what I do from day to day, month to month, year to year.

worth it for such a minor inconvenience. the problem with buying postcards is that its great if you only go to the big tourist attractions. If you go off the beaten path, you want to see interested perspectives.

 

[holymadness]

This is the attitude I normally have when I'm travelling. However, I suspect that if I had a very nice DSLR and the know-how to take good photos, I'd make a little bit of effort. My current camera and skills are crap.

Also complicating the issue is that I'll be spending 2 months overseas in the near future and that amount of time could conceivably justify taking a 'picture day', one spent simply photographing the environs. I'll have to think about it.

One thing I absolutely hate, though, is the way that taking pictures of landmarks marks you with a big, red TOURIST sign. I like to blend in when traveling. On the other hand, taking pictures of faded and peeling window shutters in skid row neighbourhoods just strikes me as pretentious. Where's the middle ground?