Why do we have such an obsession to capture and share our lives?
I walked alone by the river this evening. The stream reflected the molten dusk light and the leaves sparkled with recently-fallen raindrops. I stood on the footbridge and watched tiny fish swim in the running water.
Then I had a dangerous thought: This would make a good picture.
Out my phone came. The rest of my wandering was spent attempting to capture the evening’s brilliance. Smartphone technology can not capture nature, so I was left unsatisfied.
I spend hours every day staring into my computer under bright white light. This makes these moments in nature special. Even then, I could not escape from my phone. Its harsh light shone on my face as I tried to capture the essence of a glowing patch of green grass in the twilight.
If I only left my phone at home, I would have existed in the moment instead of trying to capture it. I would have experienced nature through my senses instead of pixels.
Perhaps wanting to capture is not a bad thing? Maybe I have this urge because I’m a loner and don’t often share walks or thoughts with people?
Who knows. But next time I go on a walk, I may leave my phone behind.
