"Don't shoot what it looks like, shoot how it feels." ~ David Alan Harvey
Due to the current state of the world, it could be beneficial for all of us to be more in the here and now in the present, where it is easier to find peace and quiet. Or even to be more mindful, so to speak, of what we say, do, and think, as it is tempting to respond to others and focus on the negatives during difficult times. How we act, interact, and even plan forward is more important than ever to our mental and physical health.
It is no secret that this pandemic has changed us as humans – it has affected our communities and relationships more than most of the events in my life ever.
It made us take a break (okay, more of a hard stop) so we can really see what we want and what we need. Stop and not just smell the flowers, but feel them, explore and be with them. To decide if we really like the flowers or if we want a different color or variety; or maybe to determine if flowers are an important presence in our lives today, in the here and now.
Many people practice mindfulness, but they do not notice whether it is yoga, qigong, meditation, tai chi, just going for a walk or staring out the window. These are all acts of mindfulness. I do them all.
One of my favorite mindful activities is "consciousness breathing". It is one of the most powerful mindful practices of all. Getting your screaming mind to breathe again, if only for a few moments, can completely put your mindset in calm and present.
Aside from conscious breathing, there is a mindfulness exercise or channel that most do not even consider. And that, my friends, is photography. Yes, you read that right, good old simple photography.
I really got into it during the entire pandemic. I'm seventy-five, I travel and live in my trailer, but I'm really never alone.
Something that saved my sanity through this pandemic and while I was on the streets is taking photos of things I feel. I'm not only talking about taking photos with your friends and family or your favorite food, but also about paying attention to what you capture on digital film and letting the subjects become your consciousness.
I have lived a long life and I intend to live to be old "holy urge". I firmly believe that my beautiful life at this age is the result of mindfulness and picking up my camera, taking it out for a walk, and being one with the photos I take.
There are a few things that I think are important when it comes to mindfulness through photography. I am sharing some with you today in the hope that it will inspire you to do the same. Photos are beautiful, personal, and not just captured – they are things you do.
Some quick tips:
1. Always carry your phone or an updated camera with you.
I suspect many of you have your phone with you all the time, but probably not a camera. But no phone or camera doesn't match photos. So just do it. No pockets? Be creative. Hang it around your neck with a tether. For women, your waistband or belt bag or, even better, nice comfortable trousers with deep pockets.
2. Take shiploads of photos.
You don't work for National Geographic and no one is going to crouch you down for these photos. So shoot whatever speaks to you.
Stop and look around, sit in your home or outdoors in silence and take pictures. It could be raindrops, lichens, flowers, trees, the sidewalk, puddles, the sky, yourself, your foot, a work of art, a burning candle. Everything goes. Open the cabinets, turn on the faucet, check out ice cubes and pets. The mindful photo opportunities are endless.
3. Slow down.
This is where mindfulness comes into play. Take a look around and see all the options for a photo. What's this? What if I get closer Should I paste that thing next to it? what is so special about that? Is it the color or shape or texture that attracts you? Are there any reflections? What if I bent down or looked at it through the grass or maybe from a different angle? What if I lie down here and look up? Do not rush to take pictures.
4. Breathe.
Slowly in and out, in and out, just breathe. Basically, you are learning to relax and not be on a mission. Mindfulness also means being here now, not being on your shopping list or figuring out what to say to your significant other about a problem that has upset you. When your thoughts wander, bring them back by simply saying "come back" or "I'm back".
5. Become a detective.
Be curious about what you do and see. Open your peripheral vision. Notice the things around you. Softscapes like nature and hardscapes like houses, cars, fences, buildings. How do things connect? Where does heaven meet earth? Where do you fit in What do people do when there are people in your vision? Observe and consider.
6. Establish a purpose before you go out …
… like “today I will take fifty photos” or “today I will focus on things that are red” or “today I will look for reflections”. Snap photos of clouds to look at later and think about what you see. Or if you can't think of anything, just snap photos of anything you fancy and take that shot with respect. Remember, setting a purpose will help you focus and slow down.
7. Go alone.
Leave behind your friends, children, significant other, dogs, and anything else that might distract your attention. Even if only for a tiny second. This time is for you and you alone. We have enough chatter in our heads to drag along and bribe to shut up. So let this be about your time. Go early in the morning while your family is still sleeping or doing their morning routine. It's easy to slip and the light is perfect.
8. Learn more about your camera.
The hard truth is that you are only as good as you want to be. Don't blame your phone, lights, or anything else for your shitty photos until you've spent some time learning what amazing things your phone or camera can do.
There are plenty of YouTube videos to get you started and of course the store where you bought your phone or camera. Since taking a few classes, my photos are 200 percent better than they were and just keep getting better. I love the simple format and all of the examples. I even learned to edit with a couple of apps. Yes, it took some money. Toilet paper too. It's worth it.
Taking these photos and printing them in a journal or online Pinterest forum are great ways to share your mindful moments and allow you to revisit them when you need them most. Be curious, experiment and learn all you can, but most of all, breathe, point and click … mindfully.
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Photography captures the moments, thoughts, memories and feelings of life. It's also a very simple thing that you can do to bring yourself back to the present. I like to think of it as another form of meditation.
It can also arouse curiosity and amazement, evoke positivity and calm your mind and body. Many beautiful things can happen through a lens. Combined with some deep breaths, you can really capture what you are feeling or want to feel and capture those mindful moments.
Nobody needs to see your photos. They can be personal and private. You can even create and reference a mindful photo journal when you may not want to look through a camera lens but want to think about what you captured earlier to bring a sense of mindfulness into your space.
Light, camera … mindfulness.
About Kathleen Sinclair
At the age of sixty, Kathleen earned a master's degree and learned tai chi while becoming certified to teach. At the age of sixty-three she joined the Peace Corp and taught at a university in Ukraine for two years. She spent three years in Mexico in her early seventies. Today her home is a trailer that she tows across the country with her outback. . . and she has never been happier with herself or her life. Visit her at kathleensinclair.com.
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