Why you can live in the moment and take photos

There's been a fair bit of discussion recently about this. Even the 'Today Programme' (R4) asserted today that 'people are not living in the moment - they're taking photos instead of events that are fully covered by the press and TV'

This is nonsense.

When people take photos, they are mostly not recording the event for posterity. They're doing it to share the moment with their friends and loved ones.

Two points;

Firstly, taking a photo of an event or a sunset (or a sea view!) requires concentration. You have to compose the picture, look for the best angle, see where the light is coming from, and above all try to get a view that best represents to someone else how you see things.

All that actually means that you are concentrating much harder on the present that you would otherwise be.

Secondly, most meaningful events are best enjoyed with other people. But if they're not there, what can be better than sharing an image of what you're seeing with the people with whom you would like to share the event!

This wonderful technology allows us to share the moment as well as live in it!