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The Daily Tar Heel

Office DJ: A playlist for savoring the moment

Caroline-baby.jpg
Co-Photo Editor Caroline Bittenbender in Brigantine Beach, N.J. in the summer of 2005.

Moments are key to great photojournalism. A photo with no moment has little meaning behind it.

The “decisive moment” does not always have to be the game-winning touchdown, or the crowd rushing Franklin Street after beating Duke at Coach K’s last home game. Moments are everywhere — all the time. 

Students playing ultimate frisbee in the snow on the quad, your friend making the funniest joke you have ever heard, a child’s parents kissing them on the cheek as they say goodnight, opening the rejection letter from your dream school — these are all moments of value.

Moments can be tragic, spontaneous, joyful, silly or quiet. They can be incredibly private and personal, or public and extravagant. One thing that I love the most about photos is that they have the power to transport the viewer into these moment, allowing them to connect with a total stranger in a matter of seconds.  

I always like to think that my eyes are connected directly to my heart. While I am out shooting, I feel what I see.

However, music evokes an intense variety of emotions that I cannot quite communicate in a still image. And photos cannot always do a moment justice, but the right song can.

To me, these songs are moments in and of themselves. Each one of the songs on this playlist is associated with a memory of mine, or it reminds me of a person, a place or feeling.

Even if I am just sitting in my room staring at the wall, opening Spotify and playing Hippo Campus can turn my boredom around. A quick car drive to the grocery store evolves into an expedition when “Live Well” by Palace blasts through the speakers — a song that reminds me of a road trip with my friends through the mountains, the autumn leaves of which were the most vivid I had ever seen.

I hope that listeners can use this playlist to create new moments like I've been able to.  

This playlist is meant to be relaxing, nostalgic and invigorating all at the same time to pull on your heart strings in all the right ways. 

Whether one is studying in Davis Library, working out at the gym or sitting out on campus on a sunny spring day, there is always something to be felt in those moments.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6cmFNl8lllA6BGc7SKLy3y?si=JAEfoBp9TaSkyhwwGoKAgA


@dthopinion

opinion@dailytarheel.com

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