July 17, 2006 – A website announces a worldwide “Non-Photography Day” to be hosted today.
“CELEBRATE THE MOMENT, DON’T DOCUMENT IT,” says the website, www.nonphotographyday.com, in bold, simple text. “Taking part in non-photography day is simple, leave you camera or recording equipment at home and abandon your photo shoots,” instructs the website.
Originating in Brighton, England, creator and art photographer Becca Bland encourages people to put down their cameras to fully experience the moment. Based on Zen Buddhist beliefs, the theories for the day originated after Bland’s travels to Thailand when the photographer noticed that her companions were more concerned with documenting scenes rather than enjoying them, says the website.
The website creator encourages people to choose participatory action over what Bland calls the “inadequacy of the photograph.”
Bland also says on the website her inspiration came from books including Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
No-photo enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in the so-called “non-photography police,” a network of people who encourage camera-toting passer-bys to participate in the global day. The non-photography police give daily talks in Brighton from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
With flyers and stickers popping up around various English cities, Bland says the response has reached as far as Australia and Japan, according to the BBC News.
