One thing that really gets on my nerves is having a great photo opportunity present itself and having the ‘not enough storage’ message pop on my iPhone screen. I have downloaded every single photo from my camera roll onto my laptop for this very reason and what really hit me was the sheer amount of pointless food selfies, work rotas and screenshots clogging up my storage. To think that has prevented me from taking some great spur of the moment shots is very annoying.
It made me think how much of our lives are taken up with the things we don’t need or don’t want to have. It also takes me back to this post I typed up back in 2015 about our daily need to remember all of those pin numbers, usernames and passwords.
I would say that 15-20% of my camera roll was photos that I didn’t need. Ones that I had taken to remind myself of a job I had to do at work or my next few shifts. Food pics that could have been anywhere by anyone and blurred images accidentally taken in my pocket or a split second after and actual photo. Is this a sign that I need to buy a decent camera that doesn’t take calls? I think so.
I have to appreciate our recent ability to take snaps on the go, no other time in history has been this kind to us. It blows my mind that we are able to freeze a moment that presents itself to us and look back at it, or tap the screen and send it across the world instantly. For this reason, I have made a promise to myself to not take photos that aren’t worthy. No photos of the rota, no silly food pics. Only the best will do. There are too many incredible moments out there happening right now and waiting to be shared to the world, many going unnoticed. I found this one this morning from the eclipse we experienced recently. Someone posted it to Reddit (which seems to have been deleted since) and has been viewed over a million times.
Well done to the person that captured this once in a lifetime moment, link is here although the image currently is not.*
Think of all the bathroom selfies being taken right at the very moment this was captured…
And how many incredible shots have been missed in the process.
*Update: Clicking the link above, it seems like there has been an update from the photographer claiming the photo has been edited.
Unfortunately, as some have suspected, the image of the eclipse that was posted is indeed modified further than simple contrast and saturation changes. It is two exposures edited into a single image.
It started out as a Facebook post of a piece of simple art I created and quickly grew to something that it was not due to the way I described and promoted the image. I have mislead a lot of people and I apologize for that. I was seeking recognition for my photography, but not in this way.
I would like to state that I have not made any monetary gain from this image, have closed down the print shop and have declined all media interviews related to this piece. I have wasted the time of many people and I apologize for that. I realize that the only reason this piece of work was significant was the story behind it which is not true.
I apologize to all who were involved in tracking down the pilots. They were flying overhead at that point in time, but not exactly as is shown in the image.
Well I certainly appreciate the honesty, even if the eagle eyed viewers may have contributed to exposing this. The person that received the confession replied:
I understand and want to thank you for coming clean. While this may have not been an “accidental photo” I think it’s important to tell you that it is still an amazing photo – and I am still planning to have a print done up and hung in my work office. While the story behind it may have been fabricated, your skill as a photographer is real. I truly hope that you continue taking photos and honing your skill.
Would I be so willing to hang it up on my wall after knowing it was a fake? I’m not sure. At least I would know I was told the truth. What do you think?
Sam
One Chance to See the World 