Yesterday I boarded the Metro here in Virginia to travel into DC for a day of sightseeing. Little did I know that the most memorable thing of the whole day was not a monument on DC’s Mall, but it was about to happen on the train ride right in front of me.

After boarding and getting settled into our seats the train began it’s normal stops on the way into the city. 4-5 stops into the ride a small, middle aged, Asian man boarded in the center of the car and stood directly in the middle facing toward the opposite side of the car. I at first thought it odd for him to be standing in such a position, but just passed it off as nothing but his preference in having the ability to promptly hop off at the next stop. The doors closed and just as the train began to move the Asian man said in a loud voice “ladies and gentlemen your attention please”. He then looked down to the book he was holding and began singing. I just half way grinned and looked down as to ignore him like everyone else on the train (I’ll admit it was kind of hard to do). It didn’t take me long to recognize the song he was sing, or the tune rather. I looked up and from my seat I could see that he was holding a hymnal. He was singing “Marching to Zion”, but it was in his native tongue so I’m sure that few if any could actually understand him, but it was at that point that I began to understand what was going on. He wasn’t there to beg for money and he wasn’t just some crazy guy…he was doing what God wanted him to do…he was in his very own way trying to witness to people on the train. There was a level of awkwardness that ran down my spine as I was beginning to wonder what the others on the train were thinking of all of this…well…I didn’t have to wonder too long because people began to vocalize their thoughts. The details on this part are a little fuzzy on what was said exactly, but there was a middle aged white man dressed in a suit that lashed out saying something to the effect of “stop singing! no one on this train wants to hear you sing! this is a public train! you can’t do this!” The Asian man didn’t even pause or make eye contact, he just kept singing. The confronter got off at the next stop and in the process managed to anger another middle aged man, whom by his body language didn’t seem to agree that the confrontation was necessary. Actually the two men outside of the train were nearly in a fist fight before we pulled away and I wasn’t able to see anymore…all the while, the Asian man kept singing. Shortly after that a second confronter arose repeating basically the same thing “would you please stop singing…this is a public place! I am going to report you!” By this point the confronter had raised his finger into the Asian man’s face and I guess that was over the line because the Asian man slapped the confronter’s hand down…but still didn’t make eye contact, nor did he stop singing. Shortly after, he finished his song, closed the hymnal, and in broken English said “God Bless you all” then walked away.

It was simply one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever witnessed as a Christian. It was a simple thing, but he did it because God wanted him to and even through his persecution he kept on singing…what an awesome step of obediance.

I could say more, but I think I’ll leave it at that…feel free to post your thoughts.

A few months ago I went to this “party” that was pretty unique, but not in such a good way. Basically the party consisted of a bunch of people with little in common getting together, eating, drinking (non-alcoholic), and taking pictures. I was sitting on the couch just watching as dozens of flashes went off in succession when the bizarreness of it all just hit me. All around me people were creating memories, not capturing them. Instead of doing something fun then taking a quick snapshot of that event, taking pictures itself had became the event. As an analogy, like movie stars walking the red carpet, but not going in to the premiere/awards show…just there for the photos.

Since then, I’ve been observing this growing trend throughout American society. A few weeks ago we went to the Georgia Aquarium and I saw the same thing over and over…people coming up to the exhibits, taking photos, then walking away. I was flabbergasted…they weren’t even looking at what was right in front of them, other than to fit it into their frame and hide it away for later viewing – too busy to stop and smell the roses…they’d rather make a print at Wal-Mart.

I am a photo-enthusiast and have been a huge advocate of the “digital revolution”, but this is just too far. I thought removing the cost restrictions and the processing time of film would be a great step forward for the photography world, but I overlooked the zealousness of people to appear as if their life/vacation was more interesting/exciting than it actually is.

digital photography is not only killing film, it’s also killing the art of photography.

Does this mean I’m retreating to my film roots- no, but it does mean that I’m going to look a little harder before clicking the shutter and hopefully I’ll appreciate my photos as capturing the person/place/thing/time and not creating it.