What are You Taking Pictures Of?

With the cameras in phone becoming so powerful, the number of pictures taken on a regular basis around the world has increased to an amazing number. In April the WordStream Blog reported that 95 million photos and videos were shared on Instagram per day. That just boggles the imagination. So what are these photos about? Anyone interested in traveling has likely taken numerous pictures, but what do our pictures say about us and our understanding about the world?

In recent times it seems selfies have taken over the travel photography world. When one is out and about, it’s hard not to see the many people with arms outstretched, and their backs turned to the famous sight they are about to photograph. Now I have nothing against selfies. My wife and I have tried to take a number of them. We just aren’t very good at doing so. But for others it’s something they do all the time. Sometimes they aren’t technically selfies because they have someone else taking the photos. On a trip to Switzerland we witnessed a woman posing here and there as her husband snapped away taking her picture.

Many internet travel sites are devoted to pictures of their owners in a variety of places. Every posted picture contains a picture of the site’s author hoping to become the next internet sensation. From my perspective these are often glamour type shots. Now my wife often takes pictures of me, but it would be a stretch to call them glamour shots.

Yes, taking a glamour shot of a 60-something overweight man is pretty difficult to do. If my blog depended on me being able to do that, I would never have started. (My wife does take good pictures of me. My profile picture was taken by her.)

The problem I have with selfies is not that people take them. The problem for me is if that is the only thing they post. A focus on selfies changes the traveling experience. No longer is traveling the world about learning and understanding. Instead the world becomes one big stage, a stage for the audience to see what the author is doing. At the center of each photo is the star. One looks at their clothing, what they are doing, how they are posing, and this becomes the reality not the sight they are standing in front of. The photo really says look where I am not look at the world I am in.

However there is the other extreme. In that extreme the photographer seeks to keep people out of his world. For those photographers people get in the way of trying to take that perfect photo of the scene they are photographing. The emphasis here is on the specific sight. Often the person is trying to make that powerful, amazing photo that everyone will look at and think, “Wow, that’s amazing!”

I’m guilty of this kind of photography. My photos often have no people in them, and I wait patiently for people to move out of the way so I can get my shot. Alternately I will try to find a different vantage point that will avoid having people in the photo. However, if the truth be told, the likelihood of my making that perfect shot is pretty slim. If I think of all the people who have taken a picture of the Grand Canyon, what makes me think that somehow my photo is going to stand out as some amazing photo? Besides, when we take pictures of only the sights we see, that takes away the fact that we live in a world of people who can be far more interesting than the image we are so desperately trying to perfect.

This summer I went to a camp in British Columbia. At the end of the week most of my pictures were of the beautiful scenery. My pastor’s pictures were full of people and their activities. Which do you think people wanted to look at?

So in my opinion the best photos are those that include people; not people who are staged or posed, but people who are part of the ebb and flow of life. So what are the advantages of adding people? First off they add an authenticity to the photo. This is particularly true when taking pictures of cultures different than our own. The style of dress, their activities, even their environments all help create a true picture of the people and culture we find ourselves in.

The picture in this paragraph was take in Taiwan. Part of the reason for the picture was to show the abundant use of scooters. However, the people at the left of the photo add a reality to the photo that the picture would not have if there were only scooters. In particular the woman is shown going about her daily chores. For me she make the photo real.

People also simply add interest to a photo. The picture below was taken at a Japanese garden in Seattle, Washington. I have many pictures of the beautiful landscape, but this is my favorite. I would like to think the woman is meditating in this peaceful place, but the truth is, if you look carefully, she is checking her phone. Nevertheless, her presence adds a focal point that the scenery lacks and adds real interest to the photo.

Even in landscapes people can be of interest. Yes, there are many stunning landscapes in which there are no people, but because of that, the presence of a person in the photo can garner a second look. They can also add perspective. In this picture taken at Ross Lake in Washington, there are actually a few young people on the ridge. By being in the picture, they give a sense of the size and distance that might be missing without them.

But perhaps most importantly, people in a picture tell a story, and people are looking for a story. The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” is so true when one single shot can give a story about what is happening in the world around us. One only has to think of some of the famous news photos that have lived on for generations telling the story of a single moment in time. A good photo can draw out emotions with the story they are telling. I think that makes a good travel photo too. The picture below was taken at Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, CA. What emotions do you think are expressed because of the person in the photo that would not be there if he were missing?

So I am learning to include people in my photos. I’m still not very good at it, and it’s not without its challenges. It can feel awkward to take pictures of people, especially if they are aware of it. This seems especially true if you are overseas. Imagine if a tourist were taking a picture of your daily activities; how might you feel about that?

The challenge then is to either take a picture without the person’s knowledge or preferably to ask the person for permission. In some places they may grant you permission if you agree to give them some money. In other places they may decline. Often you will get a yes. Whatever the response, one needs to respect that. Our desire to take a picture should never be done by disrespecting others. In Hong Kong I was taking pictures of a market and was told, “No pictures.” I stopped. It was the right thing to do.

It’s also possible to take pictures of people without making their face recognizable. Taking a picture from a distance is one option. Taking the photo from the back or side can be another option. Stories can be told by looking at the back of a person as well as the face. In street photography it can be difficult to not get someone’s face, but try to be as careful as possible, especially with children. Parents can be very fussy about people taking pictures of their children no matter what culture. Blogger Oneika Raymond wrote a thought provoking blog post entitled “African Children are not Photo Props” It’s worth a read.

I will continue to take my pictures, many without people. On the other hand my wife will likely take pictures that have people in them, often me, often of my back while I am taking my pictures. But I am going to try to be more aware of taking photos of the people around me in appropriate ways. So I challenge you to consider what your photos are saying about you. if you only take selfies, or you only take peopleless pictures, consider making a different image. Add the people around you, and help increase our understanding of our world, its peoples, and their cultures, not just the things we have in it.

So what is your photographic style? Are you a storyteller with people or are you looking for that perfect, dynamic shot? Share your comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

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