|
February 7, 2011
Tim Wu in The Slow-Photography Movement in Slate draws our attention to the instant fast photography of people taking tourist photos:
What struck me was just how like a reflex the whole process was; the act of photography had become almost entirely unconscious.....Speed has gained ascendance over everything. Today's cameras are remarkable devices. It is easy to take hundreds or even a thousand photos in a single day..... Photography is so easy that the camera threatens to replace the eyeball. Our cameras are so advanced that looking at what you are photographing has become strictly optional.
All this has spawned a rebellion that is being called the slow-photography movement. My turn to large format photography means that I'm a part of this movement. This evokes a direct comparison to slow food, and over the last 10 years there's been a greater recognition of what fast food has done to our bodies and health.
Wu's argument is that that fast photography leads to a focus results and documentation, while not bad, can lead you to miss out on other, deeper experiences. It is the difference between an activity as a means and as an end in itself.
|
