I have the ick for phone photography
Because people are not living in the moment to create memorable experiences, even on holiday.
Digitally Exhausted came to be because I wanted a place to share my thoughts on tech’s societal impact. My writing covers social media’s spaghetti-like complexities, the curiosities of BIG tech, and why digital self-care is just as important as eating your vegetables.Why do we need a “vacation from vacation”? Depending on the itinerary, going on holiday is not what it used to be. Long lines and crowds of eager selfie-takers swarm picturesque views and monuments. And recently I went on holiday and came back, not only with souvenirs but an ick.
I have the ick for phone photography, specifically on holiday. The number of phones I witnessed experiencing first before the photographer was aggravating.
People whipped out their phones, snapped a picture (or a few) to capture a moment or object, and walked away without being present with what they were taking a picture of.
Why are we passenger princesses with life?
We were outside the Hofbräuhaus, a famous beer hall in Munich dating back to the 16th century. Dan, our lovely and witty tour guide, was sharing the history of the Hofbräuhaus but all I could do was watch a thirtysomething in our group take pictures and videos of himself. He twirled around us, snapping selfies instead of being present on the tour. But who am I to question what he does on a tour he paid for? To give him the benefit of the doubt, the outside of the Hofbräuhaus was not extraordinary—the Hard Rock Cafe across the cobbled stone street made the beer hall lose its historical aura.
My grandma says, “Take note and move on.” But it’s hard to step forward watching people document their experience instead of being present.
This happened at Partnach Gorge too. My dad and I walked through dark caverns as drops of water landed on our heads. The scenic walk slowly turned into stop-and-go traffic. Walkers would come to a halt every few paces, snapping photos of and with the gorge (it was gorges after all).
I kept wondering how many people were experiencing the gorge—did they feel the refreshing mist or cool air engulfing us?
Can we do both? Yes. We can take pictures while we’re on holiday (or whatever thing it is). However, it’s a distorted version. Imagine eating ice cream after getting a filling at the dentist, the feeling and taste are there but it’s different.
Pictures are memories to look back on, little time capsules to aid memory. Ironically, taking photos can influence what we do (and do not) remember.
Back in the “good ole days”, we would gather for a picture or take an extra photo “just in case”. The new normal is taking photo bursts and live photos for the “perfect” picture to share online or to add to the 3,000 photos on our phone’s camera roll.
Taking pictures and sharing them online is fun. The rush of warm fuzzies (i.e. dopamine) that hits from likes and comments is thrilling. Friends and family see what you’re doing and the adventures you’re having but it can be at the expense of full enjoyment.
The point: question the why behind the photo and what it’s replacing if anything.
How to practice presence on holiday
Since I went down a digitally exhausted rant (thank you, my dear reader, for giving me your attention), here are a few things I learned on holiday to practice presence:
Take note and get curious. Photography is not a bad thing. Pictures take us back in time as many times as we want—a gift. In the 3-5 seconds it takes to grab your phone, question if you would rather experience or remember.
Practice solitude. At the end of the day, make time for solitude. This gives us the time to think about what happened—journaling is great for this too.
Get lost. Some of our best days were when we wandered around to get our bearings and peoplewatch. If we didn’t wonder, my dad and I would not have had the BEST German hotdog ever—my mouth still waters thinking about the brown bread and bratwurst.
Have all the chats. Talk to the tour guide. Ask your server where the locals go. One of our dinners tasted even better after the chef asked us to join him and the owner in the kitchen for a shot of local Schnapps. This would not have happened if my dad and I weren’t curious about how they ended up in Rothenburg (a must-see village in Germany!).
Currently, digitally exhausted with…
Digital cleaning. I am making more of an effort to keep my digital life squeaky clean. Realistically, the long-term goal is a consistent shine which means unsubscribing from nonsense emails, keeping my desktop screen organized, deleting apps I do not use, and slowly decluttering my Notion.
A clean device is like a clean kitchen—it feels good!
Wherever you are, be there ✨
Germany. It was a special holiday because not only was I getting to spend time with my dad (he lives in the States so I do not get to see him that often) but it was a new experience we got to share because neither of us had been to Germany.
Until next time,
Wherever you are, be there.
P.S. Be the driver, not the passenger in life.
Good work Celine, love the selfie too :)