The word photography is a combination of two Greek roots: photo (φωτω), which means “to shine”, as a reference to light, and graphia (γράφω), which means roughly “something that is written, drawn or recorded”. Therefore, photography is a recording, description, or illustration of light. Even though we could be more technical and meticulous about the nature of light and our perception of it, for now I want to focus on the intrinsic beauty, importance and deep meaning of photograph sharing in Google Maps’ environment.
To guide someone can be understood as showing that person the best possible path by some useful manner. The senses play a very important role in this action; particularly, the eyesight involved in the perception of pictures and photographs is the vital nexus between the Local Guide and the one who’s being guided. Although the previous affirmation may seem obvious and trivial, it expresses the great significance of sharing photographs for any location in Google Maps, and how these ones represent a starting point for anyone who may wish to attend certain place.
Considering what’s been said before, I can affirm that sharing photographs has become my favorite activity on Google Maps. Even if the power of words in a review is strong enough to convince people, every element in a photograph can say as much as a written opinion, or even more. Whenever you take a photograph, you are immortalizing a set of feelings scattered in the colors, in the bright, in the shadows, in the geometry and in general, in that frozen instant. Subsequently, whenever you share that photograph, you are allowing the instant mentioned to remain firmly in the memory and the heart of possible observers, against the unstoppable rush of time. From another point of view, whenever you share a photograph as a Local Guide, you are turning on the lighthouse which will guide the disoriented ones to the best of the experiences. Now that you know this, take your best camera and capture a breathtaking landscape of your favorite park, some delicious food from your favorite restaurant, the astonishing architecture of your favorite museum or simply the awesomeness of your favorite locations. Share your perspective with the world and I can assure you that lots of people will follow you. If you need some inspiration, just take a look at the little gallery which I included in this post; as I said before, every “light recording” we make represents a frozen moment in time, which becomes perpetual and unmovable.
