While trying to figure out how to take more film photos, I found myself rummaging through my most recent scans for inspiration. That’s when I noticed something interesting: two distinct kinds of images emerged. There were the sequences — the ones that told the story of a place or experience, and took up most of the roll. And then there were the in-between shots — the quiet moments, the small details that had simply caught my eye, scattered more sparingly throughout.

Looking at these two types of images, I started thinking about why they felt so different, not just in subject matter, but in the way I had taken them. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on high and low emotional arousal states. And this contrast in my photos brought that to mind.

High arousal is that rush of excitement when something grabs your attention — when you’re fully engaged, buzzing with energy, and (in my case) chasing the light. It’s when I move quickly, seeking out compositions and feeling that creative spark. Low arousal, on the other hand, is a quieter, more reflective state. It’s a slower way of seeing, where small, unnoticed moments have a chance to stand out.

Lately, I’ve been trying to spend more time in that lower arousal state, focusing on being content rather than always chasing excitement. And while I do want to take more photos, maybe paying closer attention to those quieter moments, when I just take single images, is just as valuable. The goal isn’t just taking more photos, but noticing things more — the quiet pauses as much as the big moments. If nothing else, I like the idea of my film rolls reflecting both of these states, even if the high-energy moments still take up most of the frames. But maybe, over time, I’ll learn to lean into the quieter moments more, and let them take up just a little more space.

kirstin