by Kim
"Above all, I crave to seize the whole essence, in the confines
of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the
process of unrolling itself before my eyes."
- Henri Cartier-Bresson
Henri Cartier-Bresson was a street photographer. And although this is not about street photography, it is still about the essence we can capture in a single photograph in the moments that move through us if we allow them.
It is about being able to see and fully experience the beauty beneath the exterior of life . . . because even beneath the surface of the grayest of days, both physically and metaphorically, there is something that shimmers, like gold.
For me, photography has always been a kind of spiritual practice. I've always felt that the photograph is secondary to my experience.
But there are some days that the convergence of my heart with the mindfulness of the present does not always become reality and I find myself at a crossroad of sorts.
Just being in the "right spot"isn't enough if I have disconnect between my head and my heart.
And honestly, there are days that I go out with my camera and have every intention of "finding something" to bring home on my memory card. Those are the days that I find myself the most frustrated.
Because I've forgotten that expectations lead to disappointments, and that the process or practice of putting my camera to my eye is much more about a path of discovery, of myself and the world around me.
And then there are days like this one, where there were no preconceived ideas about what the sunrise should look like. Where I could feel the essence of the morning in a single photograph, and moments lingered like eternity.
"To us, the difference between the photographer as an individual eye and the photographer
as an objective recorder seems fundamental, the difference often regarded, mistakenly, as
separating photography as art from photography as document. But both are logical extensions
of what photography means; note-taking on, potentially, everything in the world, from every
possible angle." - Susan Sontag
11 comments:
Such beautiful photos! Love the sunset!!!
Your photos are so incredibly beautiful that I'm finding it hard to focus on your words but when I do, wow! So perfectly said, Kim! I know I find so many times that when I go out determined to "get" something, I come home disappointed. It's when I go out with an open mind and heart that I find and can capture the beauty around me. Your quotes are simply perfect. I read them several times. Great post, my friend!
I agree with Terri - great photos, great words, great quotes. I love this Kim..
Agreeing with both Terri and Judy, great photos, great thoughts. I think this is a hard practice to put into practice. It's very hard, especially in a new place or at a special occasion not to have preset expectations and when we do, the results are usually disappointing. It's kind of like athletes say about letting the game come to them: we need to let the pictures come to us.
Bang on. Gorgeous shots.
Beautiful post. Love these photos.
Such a beautiful post with beautiful photos.
Hugs, Linda
beautiful, beautiful photos kim. love the serenity you've shared here. i too find that when i am open to beauty - not just to the beauty on the surface - i am so much happier with my photographs.
Beautiful post, Kim! Cartier-Bresson's words have inspired me many times. It seems that when we try the hardest to get a certain image, we often fail. Your images here are all beautifully contemplative, and demonstrate the convergence of mind, heart, and eye.
This is simply stunning...thank you.
Beautiful photos.
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