But there is another kind of seeing that involves a letting go. When I see this way I sway transfixed and emptied. The difference between the two ways of seeing is the difference between walking with and without a camera. When I walk with a camera I walk from shot to shot, reading the light on a calibrated meter. When I walk without a camera, my own shutter opens, and the moment's light prints on my own silver gut. When I see this second way I am above all an unscrupulous observer.
In her work "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek," Annie Dillard explores two distinct ways of perceiving the world. The first method, which involves using a camera, is characterized by a focused and somewhat mechanical approach, where the observer is preoccupied with capturing specific moments and measuring light. This perspective prioritizes technical precision and planning, as one moves from one shot to another, aiming to produce a certain visual narrative.
Contrasting this is a second, more profound way of seeing that requires a certain surrender. Without the camera, Dillard describes herself as an "unscrupulous observer," fully immersed in the moment. This approach allows her to experience life more intuitively, as she becomes part of the scene rather than an outside observer. The light and moments become imprinted on her being, leading to a deeper connection with her surroundings and a more holistic understanding of the world around her.
