Photography: Capturing Memories, Sharing Moments, Preserving Milestones
Talk about old. We found some 8mm tapes - the ones that are in a camcorder on which you record video. Remember camcorders? Anyone who grew up in the 2000’s or after wouldn’t, since the camcorder became somewhat obsolete by then. However, camcorders were really popular thirty or forty years ago. We had one to videotape momentous occasions when our daughter was growing up.
Technology has made leaps and bounds since those days (Hello, iPhone). Luckily, even though outdated, we were still able to watch those 8mm videos. The joy in seeing movies of our daughter learning to walk and talk was priceless. It reminded me why I love videos and photos so much.
I’ve had a love of photography since my high school days over forty-five years ago. It isn’t only the ability to express myself artistically and to show the beauty of the world around us, but at its deepest core, I love photography because it captures memories. I love that we can see emotion and connections between people in the pictures taken. And I love that there is a record of a person or an event that draws me back in time.
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything”
Nowadays, we carry a camera everywhere - one that takes videos and photos as well as makes phone calls. It’s always available. But how do we share them? More importantly, how do we preserve them?
And then we come upon a situation when a mobile phone just doesn’t get the image we want. Like the wings of a hummingbird in mid-flight or a close-up of the petals of a flower. Images we want to take for artistry. One of the most enticing aspects of photography as a hobby is the limitless scope for creativity. From experimenting with composition and lighting to playing with different angles and perspectives, it is then that we want a camera dedicated solely to taking pictures - typically a DSLR.
Whether we use our camera phones or a DSLR, images that we take are meant to be shared.
Sharing Moments
When we take a photo, it lives on our phone or camera and is viewed by us alone - unless we share them. We can send them electronically so they are viewed by that one person to whom the image was sent, or we can share them with the world through social media. Though they technically live for an eternity on the world wide web, their life is fairly fleeting in one’s feed.
However, printing the images brings a different experience. They are more accessible. When photos are printed and framed, visitors see the photos easily, inviting conversation.
When printed in a book, pictures tell a story - of a trip or an event. We enjoy viewing wedding photographs in an album displayed on a coffee table. An album with photos of the bride and groom preparing for the day, the walk down the aisle, the first dance, the toasts, the cake cutting, and the final goodbyes as the couple rides off into the sunset. The story of the day told in a linear fashion all in one place for all to see.
Printed photographs stand the test of time and can be kept for generations. How wonderful that we have a printed photo of ancestors and relatives from hundreds of years back - if only in a shoebox. Electronic images have their place, but printed photographs feel more lasting.
Printing Photos the Easy Way
There are many services to use to print those images that you’ve taken. Popular ones include Nations Photo Lab, Snapfish, and Shutterfly. These are services where the photos are sent to your home. However, you can send images to your local CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart to print photos for pickup.
The concept is the same regardless of the service you choose. You must transfer the photo from your phone or camera to a website. You order them online.
It’s a simple process, whether you want just prints or you want to create a calendar, cards, coffee mug or book. Go to the website and create an account by signing up with an email and password. From there, you choose the item you want - prints, cards, photo books, gifts, mugs. You will be asked where the site should get the photos from - your computer (or phone if you use your phone to log in), google photos, or facebook. Follow the prompts to give permission for the website to access those photos. Choose the photos you want to print and add them to the cart. Here is a handy video from Snapfish’s website about the process.
The Confusing World of Cloud Storage Demystified
Think about it - if images are only on your mobile phone and you lose your phone, you’ve lost your images. Except all iPhones come with limited iCloud storage. This video, iCloud Photos Explained & How to Use, explains what this is, how much storage you get for free (spoiler alert, it’s 5 gigabytes) and how to upgrade to get more iCloud storage. Depending on the resolution of your photos, 5 gigabytes is about 500-800 photos. You’ll need to pay for more storage if you have a lot of photos or videos, and that could cost an extra $11 per month if you want storage for say, 2 terabytes.
There are other ways to store your images; Flckr, DropBox, or Amazon Prime to name a few, and my favorites - Google photos and Smugmug.
To use Google Photos, you need a google account (like gmail), so if you don’t have a gmail account, you’ll need to create one. Instead of just 5 gigabytes of free storage as found in iCloud, Google Photos gives 15 gigabytes of storage for free. Beyond that, there is a fee.
Here’s an excellent video explaining step-by-step how to use Google Photos.
I have used SmugMug for years and love it. SmugMug was originally designed with a professional photographer in mind. It was a place for the photographer to showcase their images to the public for the purpose of selling the photos. However, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to use SmugMug.
I created a “website” with SmugMug as a place to house all of the images I’ve taken and created a “gallery” by topic. For instance, I have a gallery called 2017 Nashville TN Vacation. All of the images taken while on that trip are in that gallery. I have created a gallery for each of my vacations, so it is a super easy way to stay organized. SmugMug is not free. The basic plan is $15 per month, but with it, you have unlimited storage for all of your photos and videos.
If you’re interested, here is a video explaining how to set up your SmugMug account.
Photography as an Artistic Expression
While smartphones have undoubtedly revolutionized the way we capture and share moments, they cannot match the artistry and versatility of a dedicated DSLR camera. With interchangeable lenses, photographers have the flexibility to choose the right lens for a desired effect, whether it’s capturing portraits with a shallow depth of field or the beautiful arc of the Milky Way in the night sky.
A dedicated camera gives the photographer license for creativity with a wide range of manual controls to fine-tune every aspect of images that capture breathtaking moments with precision and clarity. Can you imagine taking wedding photos with an iPhone?
Learning how to take photos with a dedicated DSLR camera has never been easier. If you are passionate about elevating your picture-taking skills, there are resources.
Websites like YouTube offer countless tutorials covering everything from camera basics to advanced techniques.
Community centers in your town may offer classes. Check your town’s website for adult education classes.
Visit your local library to find out if they offer classes. Certainly, you can borrow books about the subject.
If you live near a college or university, you may be able to take courses; sometimes, for free if you are above a certain age.
Camera stores typically offer classes. At Hunt’s Photo, a store near me, I’ve learned the basics of food photography in their studio and accompanied other enthusiasts in fun locations like Rockport.
Google “photo walks near me” to find a list of ways to join other photographers to learn techniques, composition, and even some history and insight about the location in which you are walking. I’ve joined PhotoWalks in Boston on several occasions.
Join a photography or camera club near you. Find one in your state here.
If you’ve ever been to a craft fair, you’ll likely find a booth of photographic prints. Talk to the vendor, who can give you plenty of tips on where to find classes or clubs to join.
Don’t hesitate to seek inspiration from other photographers online. Follow photography blogs or join an online community through a Facebook group.
Whether or not you choose to become a hobbyist, pictures and images will always be a way to capture memories to share through generations.
For me, taking photos and videos will always be a creative outlet, a means of connecting with the beauty of the world, and a way to record moments in time that make life meaningful and extraordinary.
Below are photos taken with a DSLR camera. Some were taken while on a Photo Walks excursion in Boston and in classes at Hunt’s Photo - either in their studio (food photography) or while on location in Rockport and at the Stevens-Coolidge House and Garden in North Andover.
