We roam the world, from place to distant place,
Yet see it all through screens, behind a lens.
In trying to capture every fleeting grace,
We miss the whispers that the stillness sends.

The mountains rise, the waves of the ocean break,
Yet seldom we breathe the fresh air on our skin.
As clouds shift shapes and winds begin to race,
We fail to notice it all from behind the screen.

Caught in the chase for likes and follows,
We miss the moments that make life so dear

Put Down your phone,

Your Camera

And just roam for a bit

I wrote this poem when I was 19 years old, backpacking alone through Alaska. I was sitting at Beluga Point overlooking the Turnaigarm just outside of Anchorage. The waterway, 4 miles wide, was surrounded by jagged white peaks. It was a clear day, the tide was coming in, and there were a couple of kayakers surfing the waves. Beluga Point is a popular tourist spot off the highway going towards Homer. Much to the surprise of the crowd of tourists gathering at the coast, there were no whales to be seen. But of course, there wouldn’t be any; it was the middle of April, which is way too early for the salmon to come, and they are the ones to bring in the whales. At that moment, watching the crowds, I had an epiphany: how strange was it that everyone was looking at this wonderous view through the lens of their cameras and phones? I started to dig back into my memory of all the places I’ve been to on that trip, and wherever I went, people just did that. And I am guilty, just like the rest, trying to document every moment. Very seldom did I see someone with no phone, no camera, just taking it in, living in the moment.

This might be a counterintuitive message from a photographer, but sometimes the best image is the one not taken. Only then, when we are free from distractions, can we identify noteworthy scenes that we might have otherwise overlooked. Those are the ones I try to capture now.

At that moment, on Beluga Point, observing the coast and crowds of tourists, one idea held me captive: it was very interesting to watch people take pictures and what they were taking pictures of. And it planted a seed for this project.

I followed standard photographic ethics for this project: be kind, respect my subjects and surroundings, and don't exploit anyone.