Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you? | Erin Sullivan

Photography and the Experience of Being Present

Erin Sullivan reflects on whether photographing meaningful places enhances or interrupts the experience of being there. At crowded landmarks, visitors may take nearly identical pictures and leave without really looking around. Yet photography can also deepen attention: Sullivan notices details such as fading layers of mountain light, natural shapes, and bears moving through water.

She sees a photograph as a way to communicate. As when making a portrait of someone she loves, she considers what an image should say and feel like. Every creative choice matters, whether an image is intended for sharing or kept for herself.

Research by Kristin Diehl and colleagues at USC found that taking photos can increase enjoyment—but not when people take them solely to share. Sullivan’s experiences also show how intention shapes the relationship between a camera and a place:

• Alaskan brown bears: Photographing the bears alongside other photographers helped Sullivan stay engaged with the animals and share the experience.
• Humpback whales in Tonga: She sometimes left behind her bulky camera so it would not come between her and swimming with the whales.
• Uluru: Sullivan respected Anangu cultural restrictions on professional photography in sensitive areas. The limits encouraged her to learn about the place and connect with it, which she says also helped her make more compelling images.

A Deliberate Approach

Sullivan supports taking photographs and sharing personal perspectives, but encourages people not to keep a camera out constantly. When the impulse to take a picture arises, she suggests:

1. Stop and pause.
2. Take a deep breath.
3. Look around and notice what is happening.
4. Consider whether you are experiencing the moment with someone else.
5. Choose deliberately whether to take the photograph or put the camera away.

Photography can be part of a beautiful experience, Sullivan concludes, but it should not become a barrier between the photographer and reality.

Creators and Contributors

• Speaker: Erin Sullivan
• Researchers discussed: Kristin Diehl and her USC colleagues
• Translator: Joseph Geni
• Reviewer: Camille Martínez