Gang-gang Cockatoo

The Gang-gang Cockatoo, with its funky punk appearance, exudes character and personality. My two encounters with these radical birds were starkly contrasting.

The first, I was without a camera or phone. I simply sat and watched, revelling in both its presence and personality.

The second was at a friend's house. She called across the garden to announce the Gang-gang's arrival. I switched straight into 'capture mode', running to grab my lens, and rushing around madly to get 'the shot'.

They soon flew away, and I realised I hadn't even experienced the moment. I felt hollow.

Photography can be wonderful; it prompts me to look more deeply into the beauty and intricacy of things. It can also be unhealthy, if I'm not present to the experience, and am only concerned with the outcome.

The Gang-gang has taught me that if I stay present to the experience, and enjoy it, a good outcome is just a bonus.

This feeling of having to get 'the shot' is very relevant in the smart phone age. The need to create content out of our experiences, and in a weird way, validate them, can be an unhealthy practice. In my travels I've come across content creators who'll arrive at a beautiful destination, get 'the shot', and then leave. This idea of solely manufacturing a moment to make our lives look interesting, in reality, can leave our lives dull and devoid of real experience. There is space for both experience and content, but it's important to find a healthy balance between the two.

Do you have a healthy relationship with content? Could enjoying the process, and remaining present to the experience, make that relationship more healthy?