Response Essay 3

There's an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. Now I'm sure that's been used before, but there's an unlimited use for that particular phrase. When talking about tourism photography in particular, we have to answer the question of why we take pictures on vacation anyway. What is the fascination with taking pictures of everything we see while on vacation, of people we know, and will never see again? The author claims that "either the interaction between tourists and nature or the environment" is why tourists take photos. Although I do agree in part with Steve Garlick in this assertion, in other parts I need some more convincing. Tourists take photos of the places they visit to cherish the memories of the places they've seen and may never go back again. The fact that he states that tourists think that taking photos of the things they see gives them a sense of owning the thing they see is wrong. It's not simply a sense ow owning, it's more like capturing a slice of time to remember forever the place you have visited. Moreover he gets a quote from Susan Sontag "to photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed". This statement can be considered half true, just taking pictures of people without their permission is wrong, but if you ask them, more often than not they will oblige. all in all he makes a few assertions that i do not agree with, but there is some truth to his statement that tourism photography gives the user exclusive access to the memories of the trip.
When addressing the question of why I personally take photos on vacations, it's for the pure fact that I want to remember the places I've been and the things I've seen so I can look back on the memories and share my experiences with the world. I tend to focus on important landmarks, things that interest me, and wildlife when I'm taking photos. Occasionally I'll take urban shots, but my favorite type of shot is overlooking an entire city skyline, especially at night, that's when the true essence of a city comes to life. When it comes to pictures I take at home versus school, I take more photos at school with my friends because mom takes the pictures at home. I may bring my camera when I go out with my friends, but mostly I forget I have it. After I'm done taking pictures I put them up on Facebook to share them with my friends and now family. It's the easiest way to get the pictures to everyone without spending money on printing them up.