These days, most people always have a camera with them. On photo-sharing websites, you will discover what seems to be an infinite collection of photos taken from smartphones and tablets. In the not-so-distant past, you had to make a conscious decision of whether or not to take a point-and-shoot or DSLR with you when you went somewhere. My wife, a music teacher by profession, is the avid photographer in the family. No matter where we went in the family car, I would suggest that it was a better idea than not to take a camera. You just never know when you will find that photo that proves the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words". One such moment occurred in the summer of 2014. We had taken our daughters to see a movie in Edgewater, NJ, along the Hudson River. After the movie ended, we detoured on our way home and stopped at a major hotel parking lot near the Lincoln Tunnel. The New York skyline was as breathtaking as ever. Our older daughter noticed a strange light coming through the clouds. It turned out to be the full moon rising near the Empire State Building. This time, we had our iPhones and DSLR with us. My wife captured the moment - and created a wonderful family memory at the same time.
About a decade ago, we saw a rainbow as we were driving north on I-287 in New Jersey. We had a camera with us and got the pictures. That turned out to be the same day our niece was born. Again, a new memory created.
Another time we were on a family vacation at Disney World in Florida. An entertainer who was juggling bowling pins on the Boardwalk between EPCOT and the movie studio called on our younger daughter to help him out. Unfortunately, the video of the moment was lost forever when someone stole the camera. Luckily, my wife also took photos with the DSLR, so once again a wonderful memory was preserved.
Sadly, having a camera in the right place at the right time can accompany tragic events as well. Last year, I attended a live streaming podcast at Unique Photo n Fairfield, NJ. The professional photographer who was interviewed lived about 10 miles or so from NYC. From his apartment, he had a view of the Twin Towers. Using a film-based camera, he took numerous photos, from a distance, of the unfolding events. One of the photos caught the attention of People Magazine. It ran as the magazine's first two-page cover photo. The point is that a photograph can generate a stream of memories, personal or shared.This is part of the fabric of being living, breathing individuals.
About a decade ago, we saw a rainbow as we were driving north on I-287 in New Jersey. We had a camera with us and got the pictures. That turned out to be the same day our niece was born. Again, a new memory created.
Another time we were on a family vacation at Disney World in Florida. An entertainer who was juggling bowling pins on the Boardwalk between EPCOT and the movie studio called on our younger daughter to help him out. Unfortunately, the video of the moment was lost forever when someone stole the camera. Luckily, my wife also took photos with the DSLR, so once again a wonderful memory was preserved.
Sadly, having a camera in the right place at the right time can accompany tragic events as well. Last year, I attended a live streaming podcast at Unique Photo n Fairfield, NJ. The professional photographer who was interviewed lived about 10 miles or so from NYC. From his apartment, he had a view of the Twin Towers. Using a film-based camera, he took numerous photos, from a distance, of the unfolding events. One of the photos caught the attention of People Magazine. It ran as the magazine's first two-page cover photo. The point is that a photograph can generate a stream of memories, personal or shared.This is part of the fabric of being living, breathing individuals.
View of NY skyline from NJ side of Hudson River.