Beautiful mountains, ancient churches, or glistening water, these are the experiences we want to keep and snap, with a camera.
You may have heard taking pictures can make you miss the wonder of the experience.
According to one study, that isn't true.
Researchers at the University of Southern California, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania conducted nine experiments with 2,000 participants. Some people took pictures, and some people took no pictures.
The study found that people who take photos rate their enjoyment of an activity higher than those that don't snap away.
Photography of views or activities tends to increase a person's engagement in the scene as photographers look for an interesting viewpoint or the most intriguing moment. Picture takers examine each scene more thoroughly.
On the other hand, if people are painting or crafting, photography makes little difference in their enjoyment. They are already immersed in the experience.
In one situation, photography made an experience less enjoyable. If people were asked to photograph unpleasant experiences, like watching a lion kill its prey, then photographers had a more negative reaction than those who just watched. 151.txtx
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
