The Art Of Contemplative Photography
With sophisticated cameras in our smartphones, we are all photographers these days. The ease they bring to the task can result in beautiful photographs or just heaps of mindless pictures. All these may give us joy anyway, but if we want to learn to see ourselves and our world in fresh ways, the camera can become our ally and sacred teacher through the special art of contemplative photography. But first we need to understand that this is about more than taking 'good' pictures; it's about fully connecting with the visual richness of our lives, about pausing to let the present moment touch us with its beauty and lessons. This is not to say that it makes a big distinction between 'art' and 'commercial photography; the former can fail to touch us, while the second can often open us to wonder. Elliot Erwitt, a documentary photographer with an amazing gift for noticing things said, "To me, photography is an art of observation... finding something interesting in an ordinary place... it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. Technique is less important than how we approach contemplative photography. It helps to possess the ability to see the world the way children do; they marvel at ordinary things that the rest of us often overlook. Content with the experience itself, when something catches their attention they stop-and look; really look. A teacher of contemplative photography suggests that when you go out to photograph, ask yourself where you sense the energy focussed at that particular moment, and to then compose your photograph around that area, yet remembering it will not be the same the next day. There is a transitory aspect that makes the moment precious. Your role as a contemplative photographer is to make connection and meaning from what you perceive, at that particular moment. Connection happens not only between people, but between us and nature, even between us and everyday things. Jan Phillips, writing on photography as a scared art in 'God Is At Eye Level', reminds us, "Everywhere I look, there God is, looking back, looking straight back." She invites us to notice that inthe process of observing, being wholly attentive, we are liberated momentarily from our sense of separateness, experiencing a oneness with the subject of our gaze. "We all crave this oneness, this holy and mystical union, and are willing to travel to the ends of the to find it. Yet it is ours to experieneevery moment, wherever we are.” Often what we 'see ‘is clouded interpretation of what we see. Practising contemplative photo teaches us to become moremindfuhow much we add to everyday not While there is nothing wrong wit it can often colour our judgment, 1us further away from what matter the moment-what simply is. Approaching nature and life w your unlikely mindfulness teach camera-being open yet not trying hard-you find that the photograpmake will resonate with persona ling and life lessons for you. It does happen every time, maybe just ongwhile,but when it does, you feel bleWisdom teaching has it that lathing’s reveal us to ourselves.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Marguerite Theophil views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Marguerite Theophil and Speaking Tree,Times of India
The Art Of Contemplative Photography
With sophisticated cameras in our smartphones, we are all photographers these days. The ease they bring to the task can result in beautiful photographs or just heaps of mindless pictures. All these may give us joy anyway, but if we want to learn to see ourselves and our world in fresh ways, the camera can become our ally and sacred teacher through the special art of contemplative photography. But first we need to understand that this is about more than taking 'good' pictures; it's about fully connecting with the visual richness of our lives, about pausing to let the present moment touch us with its beauty and lessons. This is not to say that it makes a big distinction between 'art' and 'commercial photography; the former can fail to touch us, while the second can often open us to wonder. Elliot Erwitt, a documentary photographer with an amazing gift for noticing things said, "To me, photography is an art of observation... finding something interesting in an ordinary place... it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. Technique is less important than how we approach contemplative photography. It helps to possess the ability to see the world the way children do; they marvel at ordinary things that the rest of us often overlook. Content with the experience itself, when something catches their attention they stop-and look; really look. A teacher of contemplative photography suggests that when you go out to photograph, ask yourself where you sense the energy focussed at that particular moment, and to then compose your photograph around that area, yet remembering it will not be the same the next day. There is a transitory aspect that makes the moment precious. Your role as a contemplative photographer is to make connection and meaning from what you perceive, at that particular moment. Connection happens not only between people, but between us and nature, even between us and everyday things. Jan Phillips, writing on photography as a scared art in 'God Is At Eye Level', reminds us, "Everywhere I look, there God is, looking back, looking straight back." She invites us to notice that inthe process of observing, being wholly attentive, we are liberated momentarily from our sense of separateness, experiencing a oneness with the subject of our gaze. "We all crave this oneness, this holy and mystical union, and are willing to travel to the ends of the to find it. Yet it is ours to experieneevery moment, wherever we are.” Often what we 'see ‘is clouded interpretation of what we see. Practising contemplative photo teaches us to become moremindfuhow much we add to everyday not While there is nothing wrong wit it can often colour our judgment, 1us further away from what matter the moment-what simply is. Approaching nature and life w your unlikely mindfulness teach camera-being open yet not trying hard-you find that the photograpmake will resonate with persona ling and life lessons for you. It does happen every time, maybe just ongwhile,but when it does, you feel bleWisdom teaching has it that lathing’s reveal us to ourselves.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Marguerite Theophil views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Marguerite Theophil and Speaking Tree,Times of India