I visited the tourist destinations in London very briefly. For me, the monuments and attractions lose their charm amidst the crowds of selfie sticks, tour buses, and souvenir stands. The tourism industry does not preserve the history and meaning of the buildings- it commercializes it.

It would seem that the prevalence of cellphone cameras and digital/social media has caused people to live vicariously through their own snapshots, rather than appreciating the time they actually spend in a place.

I struggle with this at times- as a photographer, I am surrounded with photo opportunities at every turn, especially given that everything I see throughout my travels at this point is totally new to me. Often times I find myself wanting to raise my camera at everything, but it is important that I put forth effort to leave it at my side, and to appreciate the sights and sounds in front of me rather than a 2x3 frame on a digital screen.

Sometimes.

with Grandmother

1928-2015

Edinburgh | St.Andrews