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Comment by fouc | Hacker News Reader

Millennials - the generation of photographers, because of smartphones and instagram.

Does anyone else get irritated when their friends feel obligated to whip out their phone to take pictures when you're out and about in new locations?

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Not really, unless the picture they're attempting to take includes me in it. I'll never understand why so many people are insistent on taking pictures of others who are clear that they're not comfortable with it.

(Sorry for hijacking your pet peeve thread to bring up my pet peeve)

I'm pretty aggressive about telling people not to use the flash when we're out in public; a flash in a bar or other public low light area is super rude, imo.

But just taking a picture with no flash? I know it's a personal thing, but I personally find it less offensive than any other reason you'd pull out a phone.

> Does anyone else get irritated when...

Not really, I don't expect everyone to enjoy experiences in exactly the same way as me. Some like taking lots of photos of themselves or their friends, some like photos of just the landscape they're in, and others don't like photos at all. If it bothers you, find more like-minded people to hang out with so it doesn't become a nuisance.

I love taking photos whenever I go somewhere unusual or I do some new or special. Every few months or years I sit down and look through photos from different stages of my life, and I reminisce about those experiences. Sometimes it's by myself, but other times it's fun to revisit old photos of shared experiences with friends, which I think can help deepen bonds of friendship.

Edit: I thought this extra point would be interesting. Some of us also extend this behavior to certain online communications. Sometimes in group chats with friends different people will take screenshots of funny or amusing moments and share them with each other a few months later. Other times people will save a particularly humorous meme and re-share it to revisit any past discussion surrounding it.

As one of those friends: I’m sorry I enjoy your company and want to cherish it as a good memory.

And worse is when it's the pictures are ultimately used to compete in the popularity contests of facebook & instagram :)

That’s the thing though. We all enjoy experiences differently. Taking pictures helps me focus on interesting events and primes me to notice more about them. 90% of the time I never look at those photos again but the act of having taken them helps the event stick in my memory longer.

Like taking notes during meeting or whatever. It’s a mindfulness device.

I love taking my DSLR in a bag with me, in the hopes of finding a photo on the way to wherever I'm going. I rarely take it out, I got real lazy, but just having it with me still "makes me" look at things differently, and I enjoy that. I don't know if it makes me more mindful, but it makes even a boring street I might walk down every day much more interesting.

It depends on what you're taking pictures of. A lot of people seem to snap pictures of landscape, with or without other strangers in it. Those are the kind of pictures that aren't really durably interesting over the long haul. For well known places you can always find a pro who did a wonderful job capturing it. Now, if you're taking pictures of yourself and/or your friends, that makes perfect sense to me. As long as it doesn't get in the way of actually enjoying the experience.

Landscape pictures can serve as a reminder of what you were doing, a sort of diary. Sure, you could find professional photos, but they won't be as rooted in your memory.

By looking at an old photo you remember where you were, what you were doing, and _why_ you decided to take the photo.

In other words, while a pro may be able to capture the location better, they won't capture your memory of visiting it as well.

Also the meta information is nice.

That last sentence is the habitually crossed line by these people.

While I also question the necessity of having every single moment documented and framed, I don't think you or anyone else has the authority to decide what's worth capturing and what isn't.

My wife is of a similar mind. She is so beholden to the idea that everyone is a perfectly unique snowflake that she thinks all generalized experience, observations, and advice are completely irrelevant. She may be right.

This is a matter of taste; I'd much prefer taking and remembering landscape pictures most of the time. I know who I was with, and I don't want my face in frame spoiling the view.

The difference between a pro photo and my photo is that I own my photo and know exactly where and when it was taken.

You can apologize by not modifying my behavior with your ad tech microscope. Put it back in your pocket.

Thanks.

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