I Missed the Magic, Too Busy Taking a Picture of It

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Jun Thu 12, 2008 6:38 pm

Ever wonder why we go places and spend all of our time taking pictures of the places we go so we can look at them when we get home? How many times have you left the camera in the room only to wish you had it with you? below is a picture of an Awesome Moment at DisneyWorld...but i gotta wonder how awesome it could have been for many if instead of taking a picture....they would have just enjoyed the moment. Give your thoughts and opinions on this. I personally have resorted to one night of picture taking with my new Camera, extra hours in the morning while the family sleeps and then switching to my small easier to carry camera for the rest of the day. but i'm leaning more towards fewer pictures and more expierience instead....of course i say this and my last visit to WDW i took over 700+ pictures.

MadEye · Post by **MadEye** » Jun Thu 12, 2008 7:23 pm

I love looking at old pictures of me and my family from when we used to go. But most of the things I really remember are what was never caught on the camera. Memories can be better than pictures sometimes. Like my first time on Space Mountain or Tower of Terror. I'll never forget that!!!

HakuOni · Post by **HakuOni** » Jun Thu 12, 2008 7:25 pm

that looks so fantastic. i wish i was there to hear the engines and the sight of smoke whizzing around the park.

have a magical day!

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jun Thu 12, 2008 8:07 pm

I used ot hate bringing the camera for that exact reason, but it doesn't matter as much to me after being there so many times. I bring it anyway just in case I catch Disney details I like (like the picture I posted in the "where in the world" thread, while I was having lucnh). For unique stuff like the photo above, it usually depends on how I feel at that "magic" moment whether I bother actually taking the picture.

I usually set aside a day specifically for pictures on which I go around with the sole purpose of taking pictures (benefit of having an AP I guess, so the day doesn't feel "wasted"). This usually includes on-ride pictures too of usually one or two rides(with either no flash or courteous flash of course). I pick new rides every trip that I want to get pics of.

I can relate to you completely on this issue as it's always been an internal conflict for me also. Sometimes I get home and I wish I had taken a picture of something, while other times I get home and look at the pictures and wish I had enjoyed the moment a bit more. That's the curse of picture taking I guess.

Lori60 · Post by **Lori60** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 11:10 am

I made the mistake of trying to take pictures of Wishes once.......luckily I was able to return and just enjoy the magic and beauty of the show. The same goes for the parades you can really miss so much if you are trying to "catch" it all on the camera.

Now on the other side, I wish I had a million more shots of my dad and my brother when we were there on family trips. We were all at the parks together as recently as 06. Now niether of them are here and I would love to have many more pictures to look at.
So for me, you can never take too many pictures with you family and friends in them at Disney or anywhere for that matter. That is where the real magic is......

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 12:06 pm

I certainly understand your point about missing the magic. But, personally, I LOVE pictures. Pictures are a huge part of the magic for me. I try not to obsess too much, and honestly, I don't spend all that much time just walking around taking pictures.

But, like Cheshire said, I've been there so many times, I don't think I'm ruining my experience at this point. And there are so many things in my life that I wish I had pictures of now.

dimagineer · Post by **dimagineer** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 12:22 pm

I have often thought about this as well. It's the price I have to pay sometimes, being the designated picture taker, and for some reason I'm usually not in the picture myself.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 1:18 pm

Personally I think that half the Magic what you find through the view finder. I always love taking pictures at the parks. I think that it is more magical then following the heard. Plus I like getting pictures that nobody else has yet, gets more difficult as the years go by.

netslave · Post by **netslave** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 2:47 pm

The only thing that gets the way of 'Magic' for me is if I'm always posing or asking people to pose for pictures. I think some posed pics are great, but I love candids the most.

secondstar · Post by **secondstar** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 6:08 pm

Croaker, you are right on the money.

Sometimes I am so concerned with taking memories home (so I can relive them over and over again), I am basically "working" with the camcorder and missing the real magic. It's so conflicting. I am sure I will enjoy my vacation much more if I just leave my camcorder at home. But I also know I will be so much more sad when I return and have nothing to look at to remind me of how great a vacation I just had.

It's just a quandry we Disney lovers will have to live with!

Admiral01 · Post by **Admiral01** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 8:19 pm

I was at the launch of Discovery back on 23 October 2007, STS-120, along with a brand new digital camera (with a better zoom than the old camera...purchased just for the launch). I simply held the camera and snapped as Discovery's engines ignited, the SRBs lit, and she lifted off the pad streaking for the heavens. I just clicked, all while watching with my own eyes. Perhaps the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I am SO happy that I took pictures, but equally happy that I actually watched it. It was a conscious decision NOT to look at the LCD on the camera, but I am so happy that I have the pictures...and that I have good aim.

metsofny · Post by **metsofny** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 9:12 pm

That is a awesome picture. Thanks for posting it. Nice Forum topic. If you look at the first tree on the right, in front of it you will see a man with his armed raised in excitement, try to imaging the feeling he experienced at that moment. Notice almost everyone else in the photo is busy taking a picture, looking though that tiny lens, waiting with the purpose of taking a good shot rather than living and loving the moment. Do you think that looking back at that photo later, that those who took it will ever feel that kind of excitement just looking at it that that man with his arm raised felt experiencing that moment?

Photos are beautiful and nice and they can be a reminder of a moment, but its not worth missing the chance of making a magical memory to keep with you always.

Please by the way There is NO such thing as a courteous Flash on rides where it's not a allowed, which are most rides. Please put the camera down and enjoy the moment, it's courteous to consider the enjoyment of others, who are there to Live the Moment and are not there to see distracting, ride ruining flashes of any kind. ----
"This usually includes on-ride pictures too of usually one or two rides(with either no flash or courteous flash of course)."

Thanks to all those who take a hopefully occasional moment to photograph and share their breathtaking photos with everyone.

Post by **Len90** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 9:34 pm

I personally feel the magic is able to be relived through the use of pictures. I always make sure to take a lot of pictures in the parks and yes I am guilty of taking pictures on the rides. However, there is no flash used and a lot of them still come out.

As for that moment, I think it will be a great moment to relive everytime you look at the picture. You definitely witnessed the magic either by looking through the viewfinder on the film camera or looking through screen on the digital camera. All in all pictures are a good thing.

Joe90 · Post by **Joe90** » Jun Fri 13, 2008 10:48 pm

Nice pic Croaker. Are you 9 foot 6 or did you throw the camera skywards and hope?

Our first trip to WDW I think all I did was take pics and vid. I kind of missed the experience a bit but I had lots of pics and vid to show me what I missed.
Does that make sense?

I rarely take pictures when things are happening fast in front of me now. Watch and experience, take a pic if the action slows down.
For example, I have never managed to take a pic on Buzz 'coz you gotta beat the DW right?

SimonTemplar · Post by **SimonTemplar** » Jun Sat 14, 2008 12:12 am

Great question, and I've often thought the same thing. I love pictures as much as anyone, but have to admit I've missed a little "magic" before just trying to get the perfect shot.