In This Unit, You Will

Watch a TED Talk on photography while traveling.

Listen to a discussion on photography and traveling.

Share your views on the issue above.

Before You Listen

Why do people take photos? You may say that you take photos to capture great moments. But do you really take photos purely for this reason? If photographing would somehow ruin your travel experience, would you still do it?

This TED Talk discusses this issue. Before you listen, please think about the questions below.

While traveling, would you get up at four a.m. just to take a photo of the sunrise?

Which is more important, experiencing the beauty of an attraction, or keeping the good memories in your camera?

To transcend: is to rise abobe or go beyond the normal limits of something.在中文中经常被翻译为“超越”，它表示超出一般的界限，是一个正面色彩的单词。

Love transcends anything else.

Glitter: is small, shiny material used for decoration. 作为名词是“亮片”的意思。另外作为动词， glitter还能表示“闪烁”。

The diamond glitters brightly in the sun.

Ironically: something that happens ironically, happens in a strange and funny way that you wouldn’t expect.

Impulse: an impulse is a sudden and strong desire to do something, usually without thinking carefully.

The research of Kristin Diehl and her colleagues at USC found that we enjoy our experience more when we take photos behind the camera. However, if we only take photos to share them, there is no increase in enjoyment.

Wrap-up

This TED Talk used examples to help explain the purpose of the talk.

Examples and purposes

- Similar photos of Mesa Arch and quick trips at Horseshoe Bend— we are missing the points of going to places.

- Alaskan brown bears and humpback whales in Tonga — Photos enable us to share an experience, only when you experience it first.

- Uluru in Australia — A connection to a place makes compelling photos.