Name: Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you?
Uploaded: 2020-01-23T15:58:39Z
Duration: 8 min 14 s
Description: When we witness something amazing, many of us instinctively pull out our phones and snap pictures. Is this obsession with photographing everything impacting our experiences? In a meditative talk, Erin Sullivan reflects on how being more intentional with her lens enhanced her ability to enjoy the moment -- and could help you do the same, too.

Erin Sullivan: Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you?

Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you?

When we witness something amazing, many of us instinctively pull out our phones and snap pictures. Is this obsession with photographing everything impacting our experiences? In a meditative talk, Erin Sullivan reflects on how being more intentional with her lens enhanced her ability to enjoy the moment -- and could help you do the same, too.

Snapping photos can either deepen or dilute the experience of a moment. At sunrise in Utah’s Mesa Arch, thirty photographers crowded together, each chasing the same shot, highlighting how easily presence gives way to routine documentation. Research shows that taking photos can increase enjoyment only when it is done for oneself, not just for sharing online. By focusing on intention, people can transform familiar scenes into deeply personal, lasting memories.