Ancient bridge. Taggia, Italy

Unfiltered

I took this picture a few weeks ago, and then I forgot about it. I found it by chance, and I was enchanted by the atmosphere, the light, and the colors.

I realized that if I had the time, I would have tampered with it as soon as I took it, not being satisfied with everything I just mentioned: the light and the colors. And I would have used filters just because I could, of course! So cool!

Then I thought about how many times I look at a beautiful image and hardly have the time to appreciate its beauty, when my brain sends out an alarm: “But is that true, or just curated?”

The Magical Mystery of Photography (and the Mischief of Filters)

Ah, photography. That glorious art form that lets us freeze time, capture a sunset, or immortalize our cat mid-sneeze. It’s pure magic! With just a click, we bottle up emotions, colors, memories—and maybe a few double chins, but hey, memories nonetheless.

Enter filters: the sparkly unicorns of the digital age. Slap one on, and suddenly your rainy Tuesday looks like a golden hour dream in Tuscany. Skin? Flawless. Teeth? Blinding. Pores? Never heard of them. Filters are like makeup for your pixels—fun, fabulous, and occasionally, a tiny bit deceitful.

Because here’s the plot twist: filters are magic… the kind that pulls a fast one on your brain. One second, you’re marveling at a glowing beach pic, the next, you’re wondering, “Wait… is that ocean actually neon turquoise? Or is this just Photoshop sorcery?” Suddenly, what once looked like a postcard now feels like a prank.

The real magic of photography lies in the authenticity—the grainy laughs, the imperfect sunsets, the flyaway hairs doing the Macarena. When you over-filter, it’s like sprinkling glitter on a Mona Lisa: eye-catching, yes, but kind of misses the point.

So go ahead, have fun with filters! But remember: sometimes the best moments are the messy, unfiltered ones—the ones that make you snort-laugh, squint, and say, “Yep, that was real.”

Magic doesn’t always need enhancements. Sometimes, it just needs a lens and a good story.

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What do you think about this? Do you have the same jaded reaction I have?
I would love to hear your thoughts! Do you feel as disillusioned, or do you see things differently?