I have discovered Lightroom on my smartphone. Now that may seem a little dimwitted of me, but give me a break... I was born when computers were giant building-sized overheated monstrosities that everyone thought a miracle because they were able to add two numbers together. I now carry a device that not only adds two numbers together, but uses numbers to keep phone records, uses numbers to manage my accounts, collects numerous news articles of interest, connects me to social media, stores my music and books, and, I don't doubt, goes on a vacation to Paris and sends me e-postcards on how much fun it's having, all the time wishing I was there.
So anyway... I have discovered Lightroom on my smartphone, and do I love it. I have been editing images with it on my laptop, and knew that it existed on my phone, but had no idea of what it could do. I see all my RAW images, edit them on the smartphone (slightly more limited than the laptop, but give it a break... it just got back from Paris and is jet lagged!), save them as JPEGs and even post them on social media. Oooh La La! C'est magnifique! Comment pourrais-je vivre sans cela pendant si longtemps?* (Sorry... all my phone wants to do is speak in French and eat crepes all day. But I digress...). The thing is, now that I can use my smartphone to easily post my images on Instagram without having to export, resize, log into Instagram and do whatever I have to do on a laptop, I find that I'm getting a lot of 'likes' and people are starting to follow me. I've posted images before, and even sent links to the images on this website, but haven't seen much traffic until now. What has changed? Is the immediacy of an image on social media more effective than a link to the same image? Since I can more easily post more often, does that keep me in the minds of other users? Did my phone really just send me a bill for a night out at the Moulin Rouge? I need to start keeping tabs on my devices. As a result of all this activity, I get excited when I see that little heart on Instagram go red. I'm noticed! I'm liked! I'm followed! In any other context, that could sound rather menacing, but not in the social media world. We seem to crave being recognized when it comes to social media... and that is saying a lot for someone who likes to stay at home and veg in front of the television all day. How did I become someone that wants to be noticed? What does it say about me as a person or us as a society? Is it important for our self esteem to have lots of 'likes' or is this just the new role we play in this 21st century technological age? It is an odd thing being constantly reviewed by your peers and even more so when it comes from total strangers. Why should anyone care what someone else thinks about a tweet, an image, or a blog post? Could this indicate something missing in our lives? For me, this is a realization I'm able to reach and process through this journal and through my image creation. I began writing this post just to talk about how strange it was that I liked getting 'likes', but it has turned into a self-reflection on the need for a sense of connection, a way of communicating feelings that is somehow missing otherwise. If this is truly the case, is the best solution really to crave more and more 'likes'? Sounds too much like an addict thinking just a little bit more will make them feel better and able to cope with reality. Maybe the best thing is to find other outlets that allow us to connect with the world. If we start creating images that are less reliant on self-centered motivations and more about contributing to others, then we would gain the recognition that we are truly craving... that of making a difference. Although this one small change doesn't remove the need to be noticed, it helps us realize we need to be needed. And that's what life is all about. *: By the way... my phone may speak French, but I, regrettably, do not. I make no claim as to the accuracy of the translation!
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