Response Essay 3

Tourism can be considered a form of art. The camera, serving as the artist’s paintbrush, etches an object, landscape or person onto a piece of paper, and sculpts the memory of a tourist. Photographs allow a person to relive their experiences, share their journeys and savor the culture of a foreign land.

Photography can be more that an art form; it can help people become in tune with themselves. In his article, “Revealing the Unseen: Tourism, Art and Photography,” Steve Garlick relates self actualization to photography through memory. Steve Garlick states, “The construction of self-identity involves a relation to the past whereby events located in another time and space bring their force to bear on the present.” By viewing a photograph, we are able to recall not only the physical state of an object in a photograph, but we are also able to recall emotions and other memories linked to the contents of the photograph. Viewing a picture that was taken in the past enables a person to see how much they have grown, both in appearance and maturity, since that particular point in time. Garlick discusses relations to the past when he asserts, “The connections thus engendered affect both our sense of change and our sense of stability in our identities.” Our personal stability can be fortified through photographs because the act of taking pictures proves to the tourist later on that the object actually exists. The object of the picture is established as being real and validates the person’s relation to its focus. Also, pictures of other people help the individuals to shape their perception of themselves by seeing how they differ from others. Garlick agrees, “In photographing the ‘other,’ the emphasis is primarily on difference, that is, a difference from ‘me,’ who is thereby defined by the relation.” Photographs enable a person to link to the past, validate experiences and distinguish themselves from other people. These qualities of photographs enable a person to know themselves in a deeper manner, and are motives for tourists to take pictures.

Although the author made some positive assertions about tourism and photography, he also made quite a few negative ones. I particularly disagree when the author states, “..the task of capturing one’s holiday experiences on film is a misguided project that erects barrier to other possibilities that may inhere with touristic experience.” I feel that taking pictures actually opens up doors for tourists. Although sometimes the “locals” may be a little bit irritated by tourists, they oftentimes find them to be amusing and allow them certain privileges. When taking pictures of the locals, some of them will jump in your photograph with a crazy face or weird outfit. I feel that experiences like these only add to the spontaneity and adventures to a tourist’s travel experience. Also, taking pictures extends the trip as a lifelong memory because the person is able to refer back to his or her travels through the medium of a picture.

All in all, the author conveys photography within tourism in both positive and negative lights, but he does not particularly advocate it. I liked the point Garlick makes about self-actualization, but I was not fond of his discouragement from taking pictures as a tourist, especially when he says, “We might wonder…whether such a conception of touristic photography is at all a realistic possibility.” With this sentence, the author is challenging the ability of a picture to provoke thought, an idea I disagree with because I feel photos evoke thought and aid a person into pondering the past. After pointing out many faults of photography within tourism, the author does not label it as a “bad activity,” but he does not put it on a pedestal, based on his assertions dealing with the faults of this particular occurrence of photography.

I take pictures while I am on vacation because I like to look back and remember the fun experiences I had. I also like to take pictures because I can tell my friends and family all about my trip upon my return. Pictures serve as a visual aid, and most of the time, accurately portray a beautiful landscape, differences in culture or a great accomplishment. Words can only go so far before they are translated and personalized in another person’s mind, but pictures provide an accurate description of what was seen or experienced. While travelling, I tend to take more landscape pictures than I do at home and school. I believe I try to capture my surroundings because they are different from home, and I want to remember the “world as it really is”. Although I do like to take pictures of myself and travelling buddies at certain sights, I take more pictures of my family and friends while I am at home or school.

After I have taken pictures, I usually print them and put my favorites in frames or on my wall, especially at school. These pictures serve as a reminder of my travels and allow me to view my progression as a person. Sometimes, I even give framed pictures as gifts because it is like giving a memory and is personal. I post some pictures on facebook because my friends and family like to see what (and how) I am doing. I feel facebook is a good way to stay connected to the rest of the world and posting pictures allows me to not only compile them on an Internet source, but also share my fun.