Thoughts on Contemplative Photography

by Dotti

Contemplation seems to be the only luxury that costs nothing.

                                                    Dodie Smith, ‘Capture the Castle’

Last month, my husband I accompanied our girls {daughter and granddaughter} to Harry Potter World and Walt Disney World. And as I always do, I looked forward to taking as many photographs as I could. But then something happened. In fact, it’s happened before. I go on a trip, come home, download my photos  … and I’m disappointed.

And, I believe I know why. No, it’s not unrealistic expectations but rather something else. Those of you who follow Kim Klassen’s blog may remember some time back when she asked, ‘Do you make a picture or take a picture?’

Well, that’s my problem at these vacation hotspots. I like to make photos and everybody, including my own companions, is in a hurry. How can I make a photograph in such an environment? Somebody will be rolling their eyes. Somebody else walking behind me won’t be paying attention and will mow me down. Well, you get the idea. The whole atmosphere clutters up my brain and slows down my creative juices.

This past January, I took a course with Kim Manley Ort called ‘The 50mm Project’ and she hit on something that has stayed in my mind … the art of contemplative photography. I refer you to her website where she has several blogs about this subject and she’s made a point to study it far longer and far more in depth than I have.

I am a newbie at truly learning this art of contemplative photography but I’d like to begin the discussion here today. Here’s a simplified summary of what I understand of contemplative photography thus far.

•  Avoid giving the world around you a cursory glance. Instead, take time to really ‘focus’ on your subject. For example, if you come to a ‘photo op’ and there are already other photographers there, mostly shooting from the same view, take a little walk. Look at the subject at hand from every imaginable vantage point. Stand up straight. Bend down low. Lie down on your belly if you must. {That’s easier for some of us than others!} Find the light. And then, make the picture that only you can make because you took the time to have a good long look before pushing your shutter button.
• As you begin to contemplate the photo you are making, ask yourself what you want the photo to say. Is there a story you want to tell?
• Focus on the little things. This goes hand in glove with taking a long look. Don’t be so blinded by Mickey’s big white glove, that you miss the shiny buttons on his jacket.
• Take the road less traveled. Again, if the crowd is going one way, perhaps you’d best take another route. Find that thing, that sight, that image that everybody else misses because they’re too busy staying on the super highway.
• And the last point for today: see with feeling. This is not easily accomplished but the more we practice it, the further along we’ll be on our journey to contemplative photography.

In some ways, this is just what Focusing on Life is all about. Learning to be more attuned to life around us, the people we love, the things we love and finding the beauty in our everyday worlds. Let’s zoom in on the wonders of nature, all the little things that were unnoticed before we picked up those little ... or not so little ... black boxes that we carry around. There is beauty all around us, we just have to find it and contemplate it.

There is no instinct like that of the heart.

                                                                         Lord Byron