Challenging the moment.

I'm not very good at taking pictures. In fact, over the past few years, there have been very few which include both my husband and I. I'm even worse at printing the meager pictures I do manage to take. It's one of my yearly failed New Year's resolutions. I think there's something kind of awkward about forcing others, many times an innocent bystander, to stop they're enjoyable day and take your picture. And then there's that whole troublesome, "Ohhh. Well, this one didn't quite turn out how I'd hoped. Do you mind taking another sir?" I actually end up feeling sorry for the stranger, once pleasantly enjoying their day, who now has the burden of pleasing your photographic requirements. Anywho, all of that being quite well and said, I still find myself envious of those who do manage to capture the moments - whether it's the coffee they shared with friends, or the amazing new recipe they cooked last night. Perhaps it's the children playing in the backyard or a night out on the town. Whatever it may be, I'm always a little awestruck when I see all of these beautiful pictures posted and boasted online and on blogs. The other night it struck me though that all of these amazing pictures occurred only because someone stopped what they were doing and actually took them. So that amazing dinner on the table... someone actually had to say, "No hunny! Don't eat it yet. I have to get a picture first." Or those images of you with your friends at the coffee house, "Oh, excuse me dears. Do you mind if we take a quick photo? I need it for my blog. You know. And oh, just pretend like we're talking leisurely. I want it to look candid." This particularly hit home last week when my husband treated me to a new restaurant downtown and we splurged on an overpriced dinner and wistful talks. I looked all around me at the amazing ambiance and immediately wanted to capture it. And as I was fidgeting with the iPhone and playing with the feel of different filters, I became keenly aware that I had become that person. That obnoxious person at the table next to you who keeps taking photos. The person who, while at a nice dinner, sits idly with phone in hand instead of chatting with their companion. So it's a little ironic I think, to be loving  a moment so much that you want to stop and capture it, but yet in doing so, you're also ruining a portion of that moment. A moment living it that you will never get back.

Cooper's Brick Oven Wine Bar, Main Street, Manayunk.
Instagram, in the 70's, at the expense of my companion.