Everything Is Blurry
Writing this, we’re nearing the end of our visit to Vegas.
Taking a moment to breath, I just downloaded and clicked through all of the pictures we’ve taken so far. Many of them are poorly composed and just plain crappy. Nearly all of them are blurry.
Initially, I was pissed. We’re here celebrating a couple birthdays – seeing and doing and eating a lot – so we were hoping for a bunch of great shots to capture the surprises and shenanigans. It hasn’t worked out that way, but I’ve quickly became cool with it. In a screwed up sort of way, the blurry pictures are the most accurate representation of the time we’ve spent here.
First off, you can imagine how problematic it is to coordinate eight agendas – ”I want to gamble!” “I want to sleep!” “I need to sleep!” We’re not even staying at the same place as our co-celebrators, so there’s been a good deal of running around simply to be in the same space. Heck, we’ve stayed at two hotels since arriving. So, yes, there’s been lots of zooming from location to location in order to meet dinner/show reservation. Plus – don’t forget – that the two of us are always squeezing in cash register time (work!) where ever we are. It’s been an amped up version of already fast-paced Vegas.
Now that you know the backstory, you can probably wrap your mind around how many times one of us has said “Hold up! Let me get a quick picture.” And it shows – big time – in the pictures I was just clicking through. Sigh.
But that’s just how it is. Sometimes “in the moment” isn’t ideally paced with your preferred mix of calm and exciting. Here, on this visit to Vegas, “being present” means giving into a constant, often clunky whirlwind of activity. See, we knew this would turn out to be off the beaten path in some way.
In honor of getting comfortable with the frenzy, we leave you with this uneasy-on-the-eyes shot. It’s me taking a picture of Caanan squeezing in some work while the iconic Fountains of Bellagio do their thing out the window. Guess what? It was taken quickly.
There it is… our un-photoshopped, non-HDR reality here in Vegas. It’s accurate. We dig it.
Sometimes life is blurry. We want to get more comfortable with that.
I hear ya, it’s so very difficult to get good photos when you’re running around with other people on vacation. Most of the time, I forget to even try to take photos when I’m with other people! But those are the times when you most want the photos for the memories. If we’re ever in Vegas at the same time, I promise I’ll let you stop and take all the photos you want (because I’ll be doing the same!).
It’s a deal!
Ugh. Blurry photos make my type A/perfectionist personality crazy. But I hear you. Sometimes you just have to give in to the moment and not worry about the photos. Either that, or just call them “artistic” and pretend they were supposed to be that way.
Ah, yes. The old “I meant to do that” strategy.
I think I could stand to get more comfortable with life being blurry as well
Even blurry that is a pretty great view.
The view was incredible, but of course we weren’t really in the room often enough to enjoy it very much. On previous visits to Vegas, we’d walk by the Bellagio and think “It’d be cool to stay there sometime and take in that fountain view.” Well… we probably enjoyed more of the fountains on previous visits when we just walked by.
I think that I can bare having similar “blurry” life:) xoxoxox
This is precisely the sort of post I dig! Nice lesson wrapped up in it all. Embrace the fuzzy moments!
Though I’m not crazy about Vegas, this is a damn impressive view!
Thanks David. We appreciate that your posts tend to have a larger message and that you, like us, enjoy asking the question “what am I supposed to learn from this experience.”
I looove that photo! I remember picking out this beautiful (ha) self-portrait during a college photography class, and my teacher instead chose a blurry one that I had to agree in the end was awesome. I’ll never forget it. Unrelated: soo good to meet you!!
So good to meet you too. After the amount of food and mimosas we enjoyed with you, that picture is a fairly good representation of how vegas actually looked to us.
Hey we booked our trip West! We will be in Vegas August 17th for two nights before heading to Utah for a couple of nights and then Arizona for a couple of nights before heading back to Utah. It would be amazing if it somehow worked out that we ran into you while we were out that way!
Love the post – can relate!! Steven, being the perfectionist photographer would not be happy if his photos came out like this. But I think it is perfect as is…
How exciting, but don’t tempt us. We have a weakness for Vegas and don’t need any more encouragement! Having said that, we would love to run into you guys.
As an aside, it’s gonna be hot in August. Like HOT hot.
That’s awesome, thoroughly enjoyed this explanation, and what a great view for doing a little laptop work!
While I am certainly not complaining about the view (it was great), it is also a little hard to get some work done when there are dancing fountains and 30-story jets of water going on out your window.
I admittedly get super annoyed when all my photos from a destination or event turn out fuzzy or otherwise crap.
I think it’s sort of a different story when it’s an issue of doing other things instead of taking photos, though (vs. just taking terrible pictures, lol) — it’s easier to let it go and just enjoy the memories of being in the moment. Some things are way more important than a photo!
Yes. When the photos are crap because you were having too much, that’s one thing. When you get home and look at a bunch of carefully framed shots and still think “what was I doing?!” – well, that’s another thing.
Even that blurry photo presents a cool view – makes me wish I was there. I’m with you on the struggle to balance work and play while traveling. I’m flying to San Diego in a couple hours to try it out myself!
Good luck with that! Sunny weather, the pacific coast and delicious mexican food – those are pretty big distractions.
I think I need a Vegas fix pretty soon. Great place to celebrate birthdays! I’ve got quite a few blurry Vegas pics, but not as cool as yours.
Let’s not limit ourselves to Birthdays. How about we just leave it at “great place to celebrate…”
It gives the impression of your being encased in a cosy glass box, floating over Vegas.
Yes, we were in the david Blaine Suite.
We better be careful; Vegas does not need any more ideas for gimmicky hotels!
That “blurry” picture was actually pretty nice! Now I have some very blurry pics at home from my trip this last summer
I don’t have any excuses but I think a photography class would help.
I’m going to try to live life a little more blurry. It sounds grand.
But for me, it is very beautiful!!
Wise words Catherine.