Photographers Know that Truth is Measured in Fractions of a Second

I’m fascinated by the fact that a camera only requires a split second to capture reality, yet can preserve it for all eternity.

In our minds, life tends to travel in increments of days, weeks, months, and years — for the camera, it’s 1/60th, 1/125th, and 1/250th of a second. This is one of the greatest, and often overlooked, benefits of photography.

I’m sure you’ve experienced the following scenario: you’re jolted awake at 3AM by unsettling thoughts. They could be related to many things, but common themes include the various people in our lives.

These thoughts tumble endlessly in our minds like a dark sock going round and round in a dryer full of white underwear. We obsessively watch it until we can endure no more, then fall back asleep minutes before the alarm goes off.

The mind is a dangerous thing left unchecked. It’s crammed full of useless baggage, stacked up in fluorescently-lit Lost and Found rooms at the airport. It takes us to destinations not scheduled on the flight plan. And the mind often ejects us unceremoniously on slippery tarmacs with unsure footing.

And this is where pictures can correct the course.