How to Extend the Perception of Time - [INTRO]
Have you ever felt time moving at a sluggish pace when confined to a single space?
Yet, upon reflection, those periods seem void of any truly memorable moments?
Time perception is significantly influenced by the physical space we occupy. Many of us can relate to this, particularly during the quarantine and work-from-home periods. In the office, each day brings a variety of events and experiences, making no two working days exactly alike.
Let me give you an example:
Last week, I found myself staring at a laptop screen almost every day. On Sunday, as I tried to recall events from Wednesday, only one image lingered in my mind – me sitting in my room. Despite a productive workweek, nothing stood out as memorable. Contrastingly, I can vividly recall the events of February 13th, 2021, around 12:30 pm at the Mill Pond Trail in Dorchester. I placed my Olympus XA on top of a tree branch, set the photo timer, and captured a lasting memory.
And this is the final photograph taken from an angle on the tree branch.
Since the onset of COVID-19, the elimination of daily commutes has undoubtedly saved countless hours. Yet, this period has prompted deep reflections on my relationship with time perception and life itself. Time, objectively ticking away second by second, is subjectively experienced based on one's phenomenological encounters. A significant aspect of my life's purpose involves expanding my perception of time. I can't help but observe that the more I work in front of a screen, the harder it becomes to cultivate and recall cherished memories.
While it's true that I've absorbed a wealth of knowledge from the screen, it's also undeniable that I struggle to recollect any precious and special moments from those days spent working in front of it.
Salvador Dalí: The Persistence of Memory, oil on canvas by Salvador Dalí, 1931
Hence, I decided to write a few things that helped me extend my perception of time.
1 - Taking Self-Portraits With An Analogue Camera
In an era dominated by digital efficiency in photography, where instant reviews are the norm, I find myself drawn to the deliberate pace and unique qualities of analogue cameras. Having been a photographer for several years, I've often been frustrated by the perfection and oversaturation prevalent in contemporary photographs.
Personally, I am captivated by the unhurried process involved in working with analogue cameras. Although not inherently complex, it does demand a measure of patience. This entails selecting a "landscape frame" that captures subjects without immediate visibility, setting up the tripod, utilizing the self-timer, enduring the 12-second shutter wait, and subsequently advancing the camera to the next frame.
(Grateful for my partner's enduring patience throughout this process!)
Chinatown, Toronto, Jan 2021
Click here to read the 1st series of the BLOG.
(How to Extend Time Perception -
Taking Self Portraits With An Analogue Camera)
Bay and Univeristy ave, Toronto, Jan 2021
Click here to check out the PHOTOGRAPHS from this series.
