dave lackey
Veteran
Can you think of your moments when you were glad you didn't have a camera as it would have been utterly useless?:angel:
Heresy?
Not really.
Here is what happened to me today. Two "made-for-movie moments" involving my two grandsons, age 6 (that would be Hawk, and it really is his middle name), and age 7 (that would be Gator, and it absolutely is his middle name)....
July 5, 2012
Today...it was special. After lunch, I took the two boys over to the pool. It was hot and I was tired from being up past midnight helping the neighbors with their moving. So, what better thing to do than give Grammy a rest and watch the boys enjoying swimming as they always do?
It was hot. It was humid. I couldn't find a table or an umbrella so I grabbed the gazebo and waited for a table to be free. An hour later, ta da...we moved our towels and bag under the umbrella and I sat back watching their every move. Gator really improving in his swimming and doing laps around the edge of the huge pool with Hawk right behind him. It is about 3.5' deep and all you can see is his head popping out of the water moving forward, then disappearing underwater and popping back up a couple of feet farther ahead than the last bob...slower than his big brother but it is effective.
Then, I noticed that more and more older kids (young adults?) were congregating at the corner of the shallow end and it forced the boys to go a little wide making the turn into the big pool from the circular shallow area. Hmmm. So I kept a keener eye than usual.
Hawk was getting distressed for a moment and before I could get up, Gator went back to him (10' or more) and grabbed Hawk's arms and pulled him to his chest and walked him into the shallower water. And that was not the only time! Several times at different locations, Gator would go get him, hug him and pull him to the edge where it was easier for Hawk to stand without constant bobbing or getting scared....Beautiful moments! Gator is so protective and considerate, and I was amazed. All I could do was enjoy watching them swimming and marvelling at what was happening! Made-for-movie moment #1....
When Hawk came back to the table for a snack and a drink, I got Gator on the side and took the opportunity to boost him and tell him how proud I was that he took care of his little brother like that and how wonderful he was to do so. He looked satisfied, pulled his goggles on and jumped back in the water. Just a day in the life of big brother...business as usual...but you could see a bit of maturity and confidence in his face.
I went back to Hawk, who was still munching chips and getting a drink...I said, "Nick, you sure have a wonderful brother to save you from the deep water and pull you along with him!"...Hawk smiled in between swallows and said, "Yep...I do!" and nodded his head several times. I said, "That's because he loves you!" A bigger smile spread across his face and he said, "Yeah, he says he doesn't but I know he does...", all with the biggest grin and satisfied look on his face. I nodded, too, and told him that we both know better, he just says things like that because he is a brother, but he really loves you...and that brought more nods and smiles from Hawk.... Made-for-movie moment #2...
By then, I had forgotten how tired and miserable I was. Quite a nice day, I thought, and I got to see it and hear it all.
Heresy?
Not really.
Here is what happened to me today. Two "made-for-movie moments" involving my two grandsons, age 6 (that would be Hawk, and it really is his middle name), and age 7 (that would be Gator, and it absolutely is his middle name)....
July 5, 2012
Today...it was special. After lunch, I took the two boys over to the pool. It was hot and I was tired from being up past midnight helping the neighbors with their moving. So, what better thing to do than give Grammy a rest and watch the boys enjoying swimming as they always do?
It was hot. It was humid. I couldn't find a table or an umbrella so I grabbed the gazebo and waited for a table to be free. An hour later, ta da...we moved our towels and bag under the umbrella and I sat back watching their every move. Gator really improving in his swimming and doing laps around the edge of the huge pool with Hawk right behind him. It is about 3.5' deep and all you can see is his head popping out of the water moving forward, then disappearing underwater and popping back up a couple of feet farther ahead than the last bob...slower than his big brother but it is effective.
Then, I noticed that more and more older kids (young adults?) were congregating at the corner of the shallow end and it forced the boys to go a little wide making the turn into the big pool from the circular shallow area. Hmmm. So I kept a keener eye than usual.
Hawk was getting distressed for a moment and before I could get up, Gator went back to him (10' or more) and grabbed Hawk's arms and pulled him to his chest and walked him into the shallower water. And that was not the only time! Several times at different locations, Gator would go get him, hug him and pull him to the edge where it was easier for Hawk to stand without constant bobbing or getting scared....Beautiful moments! Gator is so protective and considerate, and I was amazed. All I could do was enjoy watching them swimming and marvelling at what was happening! Made-for-movie moment #1....
When Hawk came back to the table for a snack and a drink, I got Gator on the side and took the opportunity to boost him and tell him how proud I was that he took care of his little brother like that and how wonderful he was to do so. He looked satisfied, pulled his goggles on and jumped back in the water. Just a day in the life of big brother...business as usual...but you could see a bit of maturity and confidence in his face.
I went back to Hawk, who was still munching chips and getting a drink...I said, "Nick, you sure have a wonderful brother to save you from the deep water and pull you along with him!"...Hawk smiled in between swallows and said, "Yep...I do!" and nodded his head several times. I said, "That's because he loves you!" A bigger smile spread across his face and he said, "Yeah, he says he doesn't but I know he does...", all with the biggest grin and satisfied look on his face. I nodded, too, and told him that we both know better, he just says things like that because he is a brother, but he really loves you...and that brought more nods and smiles from Hawk.... Made-for-movie moment #2...
By then, I had forgotten how tired and miserable I was. Quite a nice day, I thought, and I got to see it and hear it all.
bgb
Well-known
Nice story Dave. i lack your story telling skills so I'll keep it short.
... most recently at a motorcycle street race. I took the TLR with the intention of getting as many people and static old bike shots as i could but the excitement of the racing the smell of bean oil and the noise meant I never even took the camera out of the bag.
At the end of the day I was stuffed full of hotdogs and chips, slightly sunburned just a little bit worse of hearing, worn out and very happy.
... most recently at a motorcycle street race. I took the TLR with the intention of getting as many people and static old bike shots as i could but the excitement of the racing the smell of bean oil and the noise meant I never even took the camera out of the bag.
At the end of the day I was stuffed full of hotdogs and chips, slightly sunburned just a little bit worse of hearing, worn out and very happy.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Dave you are so right.
Sometimes it's nice just to appreciate the moment and not think about being a photographer ... eyes and memory are enough!
Sometimes it's nice just to appreciate the moment and not think about being a photographer ... eyes and memory are enough!
Mr_Toad
Fluffy Marsupial
My old brain has forgotten the book..and the author...but I read a book by a man who was world-renowned for walking great distances in amazing places (e.g., walking solo the length of Death Valley..mostly walking at night).
Anyway...after years of walking, he ultimately stopped carrying a camera at all. Instead forcing himself to dedicate extra time to seeing and experienced the scenes he beheld. I think Large Format folks work with a similar mindset.
"Remember, Be Here Now."
-- Baba Ram Dass
Anyway...after years of walking, he ultimately stopped carrying a camera at all. Instead forcing himself to dedicate extra time to seeing and experienced the scenes he beheld. I think Large Format folks work with a similar mindset.
"Remember, Be Here Now."
-- Baba Ram Dass
mwooten
light user
Beautiful story Dave. I have images in my memories that are far more lovely than a camera can record.
smiling gecko
pure dumb luck, my friend
thank you...
thank you...
...for sharing your experience at the pool.
i agree with previous responders about experiencing moments without a camera in-hand/around the neck/up to my eye/etc...
ever so often i become aware of moments - mostly with the wife or grand daughter we are raising - that are just too dear, too cute, too beautiful to try to record with a camera...moments of grace and simplicity...and choose to see and experience them and not photograph them.
...i call these golden moments and they remind me just how full my cup of life truly is...your post and the responses to it helped recall that sensation.
breathe, relax and enjoy.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth
thank you...
...for sharing your experience at the pool.
i agree with previous responders about experiencing moments without a camera in-hand/around the neck/up to my eye/etc...
ever so often i become aware of moments - mostly with the wife or grand daughter we are raising - that are just too dear, too cute, too beautiful to try to record with a camera...moments of grace and simplicity...and choose to see and experience them and not photograph them.
...i call these golden moments and they remind me just how full my cup of life truly is...your post and the responses to it helped recall that sensation.
breathe, relax and enjoy.
smiling gecko, aka kenneth
Shade
Well-known
Yeah, when I'm around a bunch of cheesy people that I don't know and wants to be taken picture of. First they pose like mad, and then I wouldn't know how to give the files to them any how. So Just a clutter on my SD card.
dave lackey
Veteran
Thanks, guys...:angel:
I am really interested in others' stories because somehow there is a myth, IMO, that a camera should record everything no matter what.
What ya got?
I am really interested in others' stories because somehow there is a myth, IMO, that a camera should record everything no matter what.
What ya got?
zauhar
Veteran
Wonderful story Dave. I know you are very proud of these young men.
We just got back (end of last week) from our first vacation in years, and I have mixed feelings about taking the cameras along. I have some great images, but the price I paid was constantly getting separated from my wife and daughters while I was busy taking photos. The worst: I got caught in a rainstorm while searching for them, soaked to the skin, and came down sick on the way home. My wife thinks it's pneumonia!
Randy
We just got back (end of last week) from our first vacation in years, and I have mixed feelings about taking the cameras along. I have some great images, but the price I paid was constantly getting separated from my wife and daughters while I was busy taking photos. The worst: I got caught in a rainstorm while searching for them, soaked to the skin, and came down sick on the way home. My wife thinks it's pneumonia!
Randy
KenR
Well-known
My children's weddings. I left the photography to the pros (as well as various friends and other amateurs) and didn't give it a second thought. That's why you hire them and it allowed me to enjoy the moment.
Sparrow
Veteran
I take photos of my kids all the time, from the first day to now, and I still enjoyed many moments Kodak and otherwise
thegman
Veteran
That's a great story. The only times that I can think that I'm glad I did not take a camera are times when there is such natural beauty that I just want to sit and look, and not be preoccupied with my camera.
Also, when I walked into the sea with my wallet in my pocket, glad there was not a camera in there too.
Also, when I walked into the sea with my wallet in my pocket, glad there was not a camera in there too.
Phantomas
Well-known
The one time when I felt no personal pressure to take any photos was when hanging out with Colombian cocaine dealers in central America. Not because it was dangerous, we were on a very friendly terms and they were actually the rare bread of people who understood immediately what type of photos I take (rather than bugging me about beautiful landscapes or such) they even said I could take photos no problem. I spent a night with them cruising from production dens to various dealer houses and we just talked and talked all night. By the morning, when I was back in my hotel, I realized I haven't taken a single shot. I should have been horrified about the missed opportunity, but instead I felt very contempt with just spending time in a nice company and seeing all the weird things, hearing weird stories, all the while appreciating the fact that things can be quite normal even in the strangest sounding situation. It was a great experience and I'm glad i didn't ruin it by pressuring myself to take "meaningful" photos.