“What’s the Purpose of a Photograph?” | Yip Michaela | TEDxVanderbiltUniversity

sorry I just wanted to take a quick

sorry I just wanted to take a quick snapchat I just really want to remember

snapchat I just really want to remember

snapchat I just really want to remember this so let me start today with the

this so let me start today with the

this so let me start today with the story of how I got here because really

story of how I got here because really

story of how I got here because really just last year I was stranded in Italy

just last year I was stranded in Italy

just last year I was stranded in Italy and I thought I’d never set foot on this

and I thought I’d never set foot on this

and I thought I’d never set foot on this campus again here’s the picture from

campus again here’s the picture from

campus again here’s the picture from then this is me

then this is me

then this is me and my new friend Carly who would

and my new friend Carly who would

and my new friend Carly who would actually met about two weeks prior while

actually met about two weeks prior while

actually met about two weeks prior while I was in Paris and we kept running into

I was in Paris and we kept running into

I was in Paris and we kept running into each other so often that we decided to

each other so often that we decided to

each other so often that we decided to just start traveling together behind us

just start traveling together behind us

just start traveling together behind us is this beautiful Italian town known as

is this beautiful Italian town known as

is this beautiful Italian town known as Rio Maggio one of the five that make up

Rio Maggio one of the five that make up

Rio Maggio one of the five that make up st. tere Italy it’s home to about 1,000

st. tere Italy it’s home to about 1,000

st. tere Italy it’s home to about 1,000 residents and it’s only really

residents and it’s only really

residents and it’s only really accessible by train and just our look

accessible by train and just our look

accessible by train and just our look about five hours after this photo was

about five hours after this photo was

about five hours after this photo was taken

taken

taken Carly and I were waiting to leave the

Carly and I were waiting to leave the

Carly and I were waiting to leave the town just in time to see the train go

town just in time to see the train go

town just in time to see the train go flying by signaling the beginning of an

flying by signaling the beginning of an

flying by signaling the beginning of an Italian train strike so when I look at

Italian train strike so when I look at

Italian train strike so when I look at this photo I first remember all the good

this photo I first remember all the good

this photo I first remember all the good Italian food that I had and then I

Italian food that I had and then I

Italian food that I had and then I remember Carly he’s become one of my

remember Carly he’s become one of my

remember Carly he’s become one of my closest friends but ultimately I

closest friends but ultimately I

closest friends but ultimately I remember the feeling of having three

remember the feeling of having three

remember the feeling of having three days or the plans fall apart in a matter

days or the plans fall apart in a matter

days or the plans fall apart in a matter of seconds but when I think about it

of seconds but when I think about it

of seconds but when I think about it being stuck in Italy really isn’t the

being stuck in Italy really isn’t the

being stuck in Italy really isn’t the worst place I could be in fact two years

worst place I could be in fact two years

worst place I could be in fact two years ago before I decided the army wasn’t for

ago before I decided the army wasn’t for

ago before I decided the army wasn’t for me and transferred to Vanderbilt I was

me and transferred to Vanderbilt I was

me and transferred to Vanderbilt I was actually a cadet at West Point and when

actually a cadet at West Point and when

actually a cadet at West Point and when I think about bad situations I think

I think about bad situations I think

I think about bad situations I think about summer training here’s a picture

about summer training here’s a picture

about summer training here’s a picture from then

from ah this is me and my tuned person

from ah this is me and my tuned person squad the summer before I entered my

squad the summer before I entered my

squad the summer before I entered my sophomore year at the academy

sophomore year at the academy

sophomore year at the academy and from all the dirt and grime in the

and from all the dirt and grime in the

and from all the dirt and grime in the face I’m clearly making you can probably

face I’m clearly making you can probably

face I’m clearly making you can probably tell this was not one of my favorite

tell this was not one of my favorite

tell this was not one of my favorite summers in fact I’m actually concussed

summers in fact I’m actually concussed

summers in fact I’m actually concussed in this photo and this was one of the

in this photo and this was one of the

in this photo and this was one of the hardest summers of my life and when I

hardest summers of my life and when I

hardest summers of my life and when I think about it being concussed and

think about it being concussed and

think about it being concussed and sleeping in the woods wasn’t exactly

sleeping in the woods wasn’t exactly

sleeping in the woods wasn’t exactly where I saw myself spending my first

where I saw myself spending my first

where I saw myself spending my first college summer break in fact growing up

college summer break in fact growing up

college summer break in fact growing up I actually hated being outside and I

I actually hated being outside and I

I actually hated being outside and I never wanted to play toy soldier I

never wanted to play toy soldier I

never wanted to play toy soldier I actually preferred air conditioning and

actually preferred air conditioning and

actually preferred air conditioning and flower hairclips

flower hairclips

flower hairclips here’s the picture from then this is me

here’s the picture from then this is me

here’s the picture from then this is me at my third birthday party and what you

at my third birthday party and what you

at my third birthday party and what you don’t see happening behind the camera is

don’t see happening behind the camera is

don’t see happening behind the camera is my dad’s actually pulling out this

my dad’s actually pulling out this

my dad’s actually pulling out this larger than me we need the Pooh stuffed

larger than me we need the Pooh stuffed

larger than me we need the Pooh stuffed animal in this moment forever catalogs

animal in this moment forever catalogs

animal in this moment forever catalogs my reaction but in reality everything I

my reaction but in reality everything I

my reaction but in reality everything I just told you I don’t remember

just told you I don’t remember

just told you I don’t remember everything I just said

everything I just said

everything I just said was from my mom’s perspective she’s the

was from my mom’s perspective she’s the

was from my mom’s perspective she’s the one who took this photo and when she

one who took this photo and when she

one who took this photo and when she looks at it she couldn’t remember

looks at it she couldn’t remember

looks at it she couldn’t remember exactly who I was then even if I don’t

exactly who I was then even if I don’t

exactly who I was then even if I don’t this photo immortalizes my teeth before

this photo immortalizes my teeth before

this photo immortalizes my teeth before I got my braces that dress before I got

I got my braces that dress before I got

I got my braces that dress before I got it covered in cake minutes later and

it covered in cake minutes later and

it covered in cake minutes later and that hairstyle that I rock for the next

that hairstyle that I rock for the next

that hairstyle that I rock for the next few months but I’m sure you two all have

few months but I’m sure you two all have

few months but I’m sure you two all have photos of people of places and have

photos of people of places and have

photos of people of places and have experiences you don’t want to forget for

experiences you don’t want to forget for

experiences you don’t want to forget for instance if I lost this photo

instance if I lost this photo

instance if I lost this photo I’d lose all the key details that really

I’d lose all the key details that really

I’d lose all the key details that really bring my Italian adventures back to life

bring my Italian adventures back to life

bring my Italian adventures back to life I’d figure about the shoes that I’m

I’d figure about the shoes that I’m

I’d figure about the shoes that I’m wearing the same ones that I wore for my

wearing the same ones that I wore for my

wearing the same ones that I wore for my first day of high school and the same

first day of high school and the same

first day of high school and the same ones that I threw away two weeks later

ones that I threw away two weeks later

ones that I threw away two weeks later in Budapest I’d also forget about the

in Budapest I’d also forget about the

in Budapest I’d also forget about the boat the yellow one in the middle of the

boat the yellow one in the middle of the

boat the yellow one in the middle of the frame that Carly and I spent 30 minutes

frame that Carly and I spent 30 minutes

frame that Carly and I spent 30 minutes convincing the owners that we were

convincing the owners that we were

convincing the owners that we were completely qualified to operate

completely qualified to operate

completely qualified to operate we weren’t if I lost this photo I’d

we weren’t if I lost this photo I’d

we weren’t if I lost this photo I’d forget about all the important people

forget about all the important people

forget about all the important people that I shared this incredible experience

that I shared this incredible experience

that I shared this incredible experience with there’s care

with there’s care

with there’s care the only other female in my squad who

the only other female in my squad who

the only other female in my squad who like clockwork at 2:00 a.m. would wake

like clockwork at 2:00 a.m. would wake

like clockwork at 2:00 a.m. would wake me up with Michaela I’m so sorry but I

me up with Michaela I’m so sorry but I

me up with Michaela I’m so sorry but I really have to go to the bathroom and

really have to go to the bathroom and

really have to go to the bathroom and I’d grudgingly get out of my warm

I’d grudgingly get out of my warm

I’d grudgingly get out of my warm sleeping bag and accompany her into the

sleeping bag and accompany her into the

sleeping bag and accompany her into the woods

woods

woods there’s also Nick who I had very very

there’s also Nick who I had very very

there’s also Nick who I had very very briefly met the summer before during

briefly met the summer before during

briefly met the summer before during basic training and we also shared a

basic training and we also shared a

basic training and we also shared a class together that freshman year our

class together that freshman year our

class together that freshman year our mutual friend had actually approached me

mutual friend had actually approached me

mutual friend had actually approached me and told me that Nick and I were in the

and told me that Nick and I were in the

and told me that Nick and I were in the same squad for this summer training and

same squad for this summer training and

same squad for this summer training and I had to embarrassingly reveal that I

I had to embarrassingly reveal that I

I had to embarrassingly reveal that I had no idea who unic was with Nick

had no idea who unic was with Nick

had no idea who unic was with Nick standing right beside me he still

standing right beside me he still

standing right beside me he still doesn’t let me live this down these

doesn’t let me live this down these

doesn’t let me live this down these small details matter they matter here

small details matter they matter here

small details matter they matter here where I’m sitting next to my babysitter

where I’m sitting next to my babysitter

where I’m sitting next to my babysitter Sarah and while I can tell you her name

Sarah and while I can tell you her name

Sarah and while I can tell you her name and the games we used to play in the

and the games we used to play in the

and the games we used to play in the afternoon I could never put a face to

afternoon I could never put a face to

afternoon I could never put a face to these memories but with this photo I’m

these memories but with this photo I’m

these memories but with this photo I’m allowed to have that one last tidbit of

allowed to have that one last tidbit of

allowed to have that one last tidbit of information this photo gives me one more

information this photo gives me one more

information this photo gives me one more full memory from my childhood and so

full memory from my childhood and so

full memory from my childhood and so today

today

today I bring up all these photos to emphasize

I bring up all these photos to emphasize

I bring up all these photos to emphasize the stories they preserve because each

the stories they preserve because each

the stories they preserve because each time I tell a memory my story may change

time I tell a memory my story may change

time I tell a memory my story may change but the details in these photos are

but the details in these photos are

but the details in these photos are permanent

permanent

permanent they immortalized who I was where I was

they immortalized who I was where I was

they immortalized who I was where I was and who I spent those moments with and

and who I spent those moments with and

and who I spent those moments with and they remind me of my childhood of a time

they remind me of my childhood of a time

they remind me of my childhood of a time where sharing photographs used to

where sharing photographs used to

where sharing photographs used to require your physical attendance

require your physical attendance

require your physical attendance remember when we only had 36 shots on a

remember when we only had 36 shots on a

remember when we only had 36 shots on a film roll and after you’re done shooting

film roll and after you’re done shooting

film roll and after you’re done shooting all 36 you would have to go drop it off

all 36 you would have to go drop it off

all 36 you would have to go drop it off and wait for it to be processed and it

and wait for it to be processed and it

and wait for it to be processed and it felt like Christmas time

felt like Christmas time

felt like Christmas time when my mom would come home with the

when my mom would come home with the

when my mom would come home with the photos from our last trip my entire

photos from our last trip my entire

photos from our last trip my entire family would run to the living room

family would run to the living room

family would run to the living room it would watch as someone flipped

it would watch as someone flipped

it would watch as someone flipped through all the photos and would pause

through all the photos and would pause

through all the photos and would pause and tell this story is behind each one

and tell this story is behind each one

and tell this story is behind each one and each time I could almost feel like I

and each time I could almost feel like I

and each time I could almost feel like I was in those exact moments even weeks or

was in those exact moments even weeks or

was in those exact moments even weeks or months later and my childhood has been

months later and my childhood has been

months later and my childhood has been immortalized in these chant shots these

immortalized in these chant shots these

immortalized in these chant shots these perfect mistakes where we really had to

perfect mistakes where we really had to

perfect mistakes where we really had to focus in on exactly what we wanted to

focus in on exactly what we wanted to

focus in on exactly what we wanted to remember well he had 36 shots sometimes

remember well he had 36 shots sometimes

remember well he had 36 shots sometimes even less how did we really want these

even less how did we really want these

even less how did we really want these moments to be preserved now in a

moments to be preserved now in a

moments to be preserved now in a generation with technology we can easily

generation with technology we can easily

generation with technology we can easily overlook these capabilities and the

overlook these capabilities and the

overlook these capabilities and the quality of storytelling taking a picture

quality of storytelling taking a picture

quality of storytelling taking a picture now requires minimal effort it’s as easy

now requires minimal effort it’s as easy

now requires minimal effort it’s as easy as clicking a button on a camera or on a

as clicking a button on a camera or on a

as clicking a button on a camera or on a smartphone but now with this ability to

smartphone but now with this ability to

smartphone but now with this ability to take hundreds of photos in a matter of

take hundreds of photos in a matter of

take hundreds of photos in a matter of minutes and see them instantly have we

minutes and see them instantly have we

minutes and see them instantly have we simply replaced quality

simply replaced quality

simply replaced quality with quantity the next time you’re at a

with quantity the next time you’re at a

with quantity the next time you’re at a football game or hiking or even at lunch

football game or hiking or even at lunch

football game or hiking or even at lunch I challenge you to put away your camera

I challenge you to put away your camera

I challenge you to put away your camera and to really live in the moment and I

and to really live in the moment and I

and to really live in the moment and I ask you to be slow and to be deliberate

ask you to be slow and to be deliberate

ask you to be slow and to be deliberate when the moments just right because we

when the moments just right because we

when the moments just right because we too often take pictures and forget and

too often take pictures and forget and

too often take pictures and forget and this time I want you to take pictures

this time I want you to take pictures

this time I want you to take pictures and remember I want to revisit that

and remember I want to revisit that

and remember I want to revisit that snapchat I took at the very beginning of

snapchat I took at the very beginning of

snapchat I took at the very beginning of this presentation remember how I said

this presentation remember how I said

this presentation remember how I said that I wanted to remember this moment

that I wanted to remember this moment

that I wanted to remember this moment well I have about 23 hours in 50 minutes

well I have about 23 hours in 50 minutes

well I have about 23 hours in 50 minutes to decide how I want to remember this

to decide how I want to remember this

to decide how I want to remember this without the picture the memories of

without the picture the memories of

without the picture the memories of today will soon disappear but with the

today will soon disappear but with the

today will soon disappear but with the picture I’ll remember exactly what dress

picture I’ll remember exactly what dress

picture I’ll remember exactly what dress I wore and how long it took for me to

I wore and how long it took for me to

I wore and how long it took for me to decide I’ll remember how many people

decide I’ll remember how many people

decide I’ll remember how many people came and heard me talk and all the faces

came and heard me talk and all the faces

came and heard me talk and all the faces of my friends and I’ll remember how soft

of my friends and I’ll remember how soft

of my friends and I’ll remember how soft and how bright this carpet actually was

and how bright this carpet actually was

and how bright this carpet actually was this one picture would allow me to

this one picture would allow me to

this one picture would allow me to relive this moment again and again thank

relive this moment again and again thank

relive this moment again and again thank you

you

you [Applause]