Say Cheese

Every single day, a new tourist group with their guide visits the gems and jewellery manufacturing and retailing store right next to my work place. While observing them over a couple of days, the one thing about them that struck me and led to a string of thoughts was the manner in which they would go about clicking pictures.

These people look like they are on a mission to shoot everything in vision.

They start with shooting their individual portraits. Posing outside every possible section of this store. Even while going up the elevator and coming down from it. They also shoot all else which is visible from this point.

Then its group picture time. First its a group of two, then three, then more. It goes on till all combinations between everyone completes.

Finally, the guide shoots pictures of the entire traveling group. It takes a few shots before everyone is included in the frame and captured smiling. 

During each of these shots, you can see the women turning conscious before the shutter clicks. They would usually wipe their faces, check the hair, apply fresh make-up if needed and even practise the manner in which they are to stand or turn their faces.

The men would put on their shades and also light up a cigarette. They would be more bothered about the background in the frame when compared to how they look. Hence, you would find them shifting places till a frame satisfactory to their requirement is created. 

Their joys are immense after every click. Almost a sense of accomplishment. They would usually check how the picture came on the camera display and more often than not, show a bit of disapointment. Then they would begin preparation for the next shot with greater ferocity.

While there is nothing unusual about tourists clicking pictures anywhere around the world, the close similarity in behviour exhibited while doing so, makes me wonder why?

People from completely different cultures tend to be as excited and consious as anyone else when it comes to being captured on the lens. There is a universality in this behaviour and would be interesting to understand what is the deeper desire that prompts it. Is it just about having the opportunity to relive pleasant memories? Or is it about the desire to be preserved in a certain manner forever? And why is this desire so universal in nature?