Lights, Action, Camera…..mixed feelings

I love when I capture a moment, an expression, an emotion with my camera.  I love taking pictures.  Every once in a while I won’t have my camera or I’m too busy living the moment to take time away to take a picture.  I often hear myself say “oh, that would be a great photo” and acknowledging the moment is gone I say, ” we’ll just have to remember what it felt like” or how “beautiful it was”.  It’s great to have a photo record of an event but sometimes the camera can keep us from being part of the action; we’re recording it not living it.  With our quick digital cameras I often see children run to the camera to see the picture , abandoning the fun photo-worthy activity they were only moments ago involved in. Before I had kids I was a “serious” photographer.  I had a big heavy camera with interchangable lenses and even had a darkroom at one time.  Once I had children I realized I was missing a lot of the fun by “hiding” behind the camera.  I bought a point and shoot camera and then a digital.  Now that my kids are all grown up I have my Smiling Tree kids to take pictures of.  I still feel like I’m torn between recording the fun and being part of the fun.  …….this little ramble is brought to you by my regret that I didn’t get more pictures of our ice cream making fun…………hmmmm  we’ll just have to remember how much fun it was and how delicious the ice cream was!