Why do I take photos?

There are two Japanese concepts that explain it best:

Natsukashii

Natsukashii celebrates the quiet joy of having lived through something fond enough to remember.

It’s a reflection, not a longing. It’s less about wishing you could return to the past and more about feeling grateful that the memory exists. It can be triggered unexpectedly by small, mundane sensory details—the scent of rain, a memorable sound like music, or an old photo. It brings a smile. The natural physical reaction to feeling natsukashii is usually a soft smile rather than a sigh.

“Natsukashii doesn’t mourn the passage of time; it celebrates the quiet joy of having lived through something fond enough to remember.”

Ichigo Ichie

Ichigo Ichie is a Japanese idiom that translates to “one time, one moment” or “once in a lifetime”.

At its core, it is the philosophy of treasuring a moment because it can never happen again in the exact same way. It encourages presence, mindfulness, and gratitude. Instead of going through the motions, you bring your full awareness to the experience right in front of you.

“Even if the host and guests may see each other often, a gathering on any given day can never be repeated exactly. Each meeting is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.”

— Ii Naosuke, Chanoyu Ichishu (1858)