So, What else is happening?

In the last few years with the advancements of technology things that were once not done have become daily activities. Most people couldn't take a picture and now everybody does. That has been one of the things that digital photography has done even when Brownie instamatic cameras and others like it only started to get it done. I remember when I use to photograph weddings and be the only one with a camera and now it seems I am the only one with a backup camera and everyone else has one (two if you count the one in their phone) and is taking pictures as fast (almost) as I am. Their pictures look great too and I am often glad there are a few more around just in case mine doesn't work. Of course there is always a difference between theirs and mine only because I am usually the one setting up the shot and they are having to take it at a little different angle. However now that there are always so many different cameras around I like to sometimes step back and capture a look at "What else is happening".

Below are four pictures that I took of the family sightseeing at Cedar Breaks National Monument near Cedar City, Utah. My wife and I had decided to travel up there while we had some extra time between photographing recipients of the scouting award known as the Silver Beaver award. We had pulled off on one of the side areas and were just enjoying the view. I had photographed a couple of wild animals that we could see and of course had set my camera up on a tripod and took our own pictures. We were almost back to the car when several cars pulled up and one person hopped out and seeing my camera with the telephoto lens on figured I knew how to take pictures and asked if we could do a family group shot for them. I gladly accepted and for the next 20 minutes or so not only did pictures with their camera but also with mine and then later sent them a cd with my shots on just for the fun of it. However being a non-member of the family gave me an opportunity to just sort of stand back and watch what was happening. I didn't stop taking pictures though and the following shots show that when there are pictures being taken of the group there are also some shots that can be taken showing how the rest of the group is getting into the same shot only from behind the camera and thus that memory is soon forgotten.
So here is what the family was shooting and below is what some of the others were actually doing while it was taken. (and by the way how many cameras do you see. I see 5 people and I am pretty sure there are 5 cameras.)

And of course this one on top is what else was happening while the picture below is the memory they took home in their cameras. (Here you can see that even the younger ones of the group have a camera.)
So next time you are having family pictures and you are not taking them for the family and you can stand back and watch don't stop there but record a few of the actions that will show what else was happening. (My thanks go to the Bodily Family for a chance to help them record a few family treasures.)