Why Take a Photo?

I read this article by Joanne McNeil that asked why everyone likes to take pics of the Eiffel Tower? No, not pics with you or your loved one in the foreground (those are memories, or as McNeil says “Images are always linked with contextual metadata of the mind”), the question is about pics that have only the Eiffel Tower in them. Was David Wojnarowicz not joking when he wrote:

“I imagine people sleep better at night having these tiny proofs of the existence of the Eiffel Tower in boxes underneath their beds.”

Or do we have it all inverted, wonders McNeil:

“Photographs that prove the existence of the Eiffel Tower more importantly prove the photographer’s existence.”

I click, therefore I am.

And that was about as far as McNeil got. It left me wanting for more.

I read a few excerpts from Susan Sontag’s book called On Photography that she wrote way back in 1977. Surprisingly, things she wrote then apply even for today’s social media photostream age! She mentions two reasons, one positive and the other sad. First, the capturing-the-mood reason:

“Photographs really are experience captured, and the camera is the ideal arm of consciousness in its acquisitive mood.”

And then the sad one, based on the obligation we feel to have fun on our vacations!

“Most tourists feel compelled to put the camera between themselves and whatever is remarkable that they encounter. Unsure of other responses, they take a picture. This gives shape to experience: stop, take a photograph, and move on. The method especially appeals to people handicapped by a ruthless work ethic – Germans, Japanese, and Americans. Using a camera appeases the anxiety which the work-driven feel about not working when they are on vacation and supposed to be having fun. They have something to do that is like a friendly imitation of work: they can take pictures.”