Put the camera down

Documentary film maker Brian Palmer, who shoots video, photographs and writes for a living, is sometimes told to put his cameras down.

"I think this drive to collect evidence of one's travel experiences and then to present it as proof to other people for validation is powerful among many of us, pro and non-pro alike," said Palmer, a Brooklyn resident. "The ease of digital capture and transmission via social media may have intensified the tendency, but I'm not sure to what extent. Those who are inclined to live through the lens will, unless stopped.

"I have been able to rein myself in when a travel companion has taken me to task," he said. "I feel things more, and I often see more, paradoxically, because I'm not trying to stuff the world into a 35-millimeter frame."

Has a traveling companion's smart phone ever gotten in the way of a vacation? Has it ever added to your enjoyment of your trip? Please share in the comments below.