From as far as I can remember I always felt the need to capture key moments when travelling. Then, as social media and technology developed it was to capture any moment. I was a living Kodak Moment campaign on steroids - everything and anything turned out to be something I could, and would, snap away at. I felt the need to take the perfect photo, making sure I would have a memory of that moment forever.
Little did I know that I would seldom revisit my photos. I would, however, draw on my memories constantly.
In the last few years it has gone a step further. We've seen the funny photos tagged with #BoyfriendsOfInstagram, mocking those who patiently, and painfully, take the perfect photos of their friends. Traditional museums have started to curate their exhibits so that they are 'insta-friendly', with these types of installations arguably driving most of their visitors. Articles are constantly popping up about the most Instagrammable travel destinations, and influencers are setting an unattainable benchmark with profiles that are highly polished rather than a reflection of the average person's day.
Having gone through a phase of wanting to use my own social media as my travel diary, I know how seeing life through a screen can prevent you from taking in your surroundings. It is the first thing you think of when you look at something. Instead of thinking about the context, beauty or scale of what is in front of you, you spend your time visualising the frame of your shot, dampening your other senses as you try to find the best angle. It can change your idea of a good experience versus a bad one - if you can't get a photo out of it, were you even there? It makes you believe you are telling a visual story about your life, but ultimately it is limiting the full story you could be telling.
In a world where screens are omnipresent, we sadly seem to find it natural and acceptable to constantly be looking at life using technology rather than our own two eyes. But at what cost? How much of life are we missing as we peer through the viewfinder?
When I started travel blogging my motivation was to share the story of my life, making it a bestseller. I wanted to inspire others to try new things and challenge themselves through inspirational stories, tips and tricks. I tried to communicate with both words and photos, but the focus on photos took over and made my vision blurry.
Trying something new, or visiting somewhere solely for the purpose of sharing a photo removes us from the experience and alters our memory. It's time to start calling ourselves and others out when living for the gram, or missing too many 'in-real-life' experiences.
This year I am trying to get back on track, telling my story through words with weekly writing and more quality face-to-face time. Whether it is leaving my phone at home for the day on weekends, or locking it in the bedroom during dinner time, I want to be completely present. I am starting to use Instagram less and focusing on seeing things through the best filter made specifically for me - my own two eyes.