Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, America, Attitude & Aptitude, Camera, Colleagues, Creativity, Culture, Curiosity, Emotion, Empathy, Fast Food, New Zealand, Perspective, Photography, Planners, Planning, Relevance, Resonance, Social Divide
A few weeks ago, I bought a camera.
To be honest, I never imagined I’d buy one again … but after my ridiculous 12 US/Canadian cities in 12 day tour, where 2 of my colleagues were using one, I realised the images they captured felt – not just looked -better than the images I’d taken on my, albeit impressive, iPhone 16 pro.
So I off I went and got one.
A compact SONY one.
And it’s lovely.
But while it has features galore – features I’ll never know, let alone use – it has the 2 things I wanted most.
1. A viewfinder.
2. A good lens.
The viewfinder became strangely important to me.
Sure, the camera has a big LCD screen I could use, but the viewfinder forces me to focus – literally and metaphorically.
The viewfinder demands I am present … insists I am aware of the moment I want to capture, even if it is for as long as it takes me to press the shutter.
It’s been wonderful because on top of everything else it’s let me experience, it’s reminded me the value – and importance – of patience and sacrifice.
The ability to be able to wait for what I want, rather than get whenever I can have.
God, I sound like the most spoilt only child don’t I … but in this technological world, abundance is at our fingertips. And while that can also happen with a digital camera, the viewfinder tempts you to play by its rules rather than have you make it adhere to yours.
And you know what? It makes you notice more.
Despite being closed off from the world when you look through the viewfinder, your eye sees more.
More of your context.
More of what you’re surrounded by.
More of what draws your attention and emotion.
The photo above is an example of that …
[You can see it in all its glory, here]
I took it on one of my daily evening walks..
I really like the way the Macca’s ‘M’ is peeping above the tree. As if it is ashamed to be seen near the KFC logo. Like it’s trying to hide from view. Worried how it must look to passers-by.
It’s different to how this scene would look if it was in America.
There, fast-food logos are all chest out, screaming “look at me … I’m important”.
A tussle for attention.
But where I live in NZ, it’s a bit different.
Not just because NZ is a very different place to America – though if truth be told, NZ bloody LOVES fast-food – but because these places only opened about a year ago.
Where I live it’s all family restaurants and small businesses, so when Maccas and KFC turned up, the kids in the neighbourhood saw it as the ultimate symbol of ‘progress’. Hell, the Maccas is open 24 hours – which even by general NZ standards – is a revelation.
And maybe that’s what I love about the photo …
The way it captures the tension of change.
Showcasing how fast food restaurants try to look like part of the community it invades.
Wanting to fit in but unable to help itself in wanting to tempt people into its temptations.
The bright coloured logos standing out against the evening blue sky.
I’ve probably passed this location at least 50 times, probably more … but I only noticed what it says about where I live, today.
Because of a viewfinder.
And a camera that doesn’t just let more light in, but also the imperfections.
Because vision isn’t about the ability to see everything, it’s the ability to notice what matters.
Which is a pretty good metaphor for both the art of strategy and the true definition of creativity.