The light and the dark of photography

I thoroughly enjoyed Sontag's piece about photography. She really looked at aspects of photography that I sometimes think about and she doesn't seem to be vilifying or praising the act in any on way, but she definitely brings to attention the social, mental and psychological aspects of it. It seems to begin with her bringing attention to the timeless and objective aspects of taking photos but also the aggressive, voyeuristic, violating and insecurity that is inherent in the action. What I found personally intersting was that before I met my girlfriend I was disinterested in taking photos of events, groups and experiences I had. But my girlfriend cherishes her photos and has much more attention to recording and preserving the things that she has done and is planning to do. This influence on me has definitely effected me to also have some of the same sentimentality when it comes to plans and events. So reading this article has reinforced some previously held beliefs while at the same time causing doubt in the reasoning behind my original indifference toward taking photos as well as the new found appreciation I have for them. I really enjoyed how Sontag wanted the reader to question the normally straightforward act of taking a picture while at the same time bringing insight into the psychological reasoning behind it.