I was recently in Italy and the entire time I was there I wanted to shout at everyone I saw, “Put down your phone!” Does nobody experience anything live anymore?
I was in St. Peter’s Basilica paying my respects to Michelangelo’s Pieta, one of the most stunning works of art I have ever seen. A man holding up a smart phone in front of his face squeezed in next to me to get a photo, then turned his back to the statue to get a selfie. Then he walked away! Without LOOKING at this magnificent creation directly with his own eyes. If all you want is a good picture, pick up a post card in the gift shop.
I deliberately left my camera in my hotel room when I went to St. Peter’s. I wanted to SEE and EXPERIENCE and REMEMBER everything first hand without the distraction of obligation to “get a good shot” that having a camera around my neck forces upon me. Don’t get me wrong, I like taking pictures of cool things, but sometimes it’s more important to authentically experience a moment than to capture it.
