Beautiful Things Don’t Ask for Attention: The Art of Capturing Moments
It's ok to pull out the camera!!!!!!
Moments of beauty don’t demand our focus. They exist, quietly, whether we notice them or not. But here’s the thing — while beautiful things may not ask for attention, it’s okay to give it to them. And, sometimes, that means looking beyond simply “being in the moment.”
Recently, I was chatting with a friend about our childhood. We were the creative directors of our own lives, and we were making sure we got the project done. On any given day, we’d be running around directing scenes, searching for the perfect shot, and bringing our creative visions to life. Photography and videography are not just hobbies — they are a form of self-expression, a way to create and capture moments in time. ALSO, you are allowed to like photography and videography. You are allowed to take a beautiful photo of your matcha and bagel at breakfast, to hang your head out the window for a video, and to “waste” time on a hike to stop and get the right angle (it’s never a waste).
Some of my favorite travel YouTubers (shoutout Kara and Nate- you guys are my favorite millennials) often share stories of days when they didn’t feel like doing anything — when they felt drained, uninspired, or simply didn’t have the energy to be productive. Yet, it was the need to create that pushed them to have possibly the best day of their lives. The desire to create a story became the catalyst for a day that they would later look back on as one of the best of their travels. They don’t wait for the perfect moment to appear, they create it.
Sometimes, we need to “do something for the camera” to lead us to a moment of magic.
There are the common ideas — “be in the moment,” “don’t get lost in your phone,” and “disconnect to connect.” I agree with all of this. There’s no doubt that we need to be mindful of the present.
The real magic happens when we let go, put down our devices, and experience life in its rawest form. But what if the moment itself is created by the desire to capture a good clip? What if the simple act of bringing attention to the small details around you — a sunset, a laugh, a dramatic run through a field (you know the type) — is part of what makes it special?
When I’m on a trip or spending time with friends, I often find myself in awe. Instead of just experiencing it passively, I reach for my camera or phone. I take a picture or record a video, and, in doing so, I engage more deeply with the world around me. Although I will say, I think there is an art to doing it correctly. To learn how to not ruin a moment just by capturing it.
Photography and videography give us the power to freeze time, to capture moments that may otherwise go unnoticed. I don’t see this as a distraction but rather as a way to enjoy it. The act of focusing on something to preserve it makes me more mindful, more present. The camera becomes a tool that helps me connect even more with what’s in front of me.
There’s a fine balance, of course. There’s a difference between living through a screen and actively engaging in the experience. But when approached with intention and mindfulness, the act of documenting a moment can add a layer to the experience itself.
In the end, beautiful things don’t ask for attention, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve it. They don’t demand to be noticed, but we can choose to.
But please, put down your phone at the concert. You don’t need to record every song.