The art of getting lost . . .

by Kim

"There is an art to wandering. If I have a destination, a plan-an objective-I've

lost the ability to find serendipity. I've become too focused, too single-minded.

I am on a quest, not a ramble. I search for the Holy Grail of particularity, and

miss the chalice freely offered, filled full to overflowing."

- Cathy Johnson

For me, there is nothing more satisfying than to stumble across or into something enchanting, that was unplanned. With . . . or without my camera.

No expectations, no disappointments.

To be in the right place at just the right time, via the universe.

Sometimes it's being lost in a place, sometimes it's being lost in a moment.

Instead of searching, receiving.

And sometimes, it's just allowing myself to be in the stillness of a space with out a plan, and that absolute feeling of delight when something or someone unexpectedly crosses it.

Because it seems Murphy's law says, the more we chase things, the less likely we are to find them.
Because in the chase, often times the very things we are looking for, cross the very path where we were too impatient to wait. (Even if we were unsure of what it was we were waiting for)

( Our own Kelly, lost in a moment at sunset in Galveston before she thought she was in my way - are you kidding - for me it was total serendipity!)

One day last summer . . .

by Kim

One day last summer, at a sunrise . . . 

This I believe . . . there are no coincidences in life.

Things happen for a reason.

I hadn't been to the sunrise in months, and had a really bad nights sleep, but for some reason I felt the need to go on this morning. And this woman doing Tai Chi, she usually goes to the park, but said she felt the need to be by the water.

As I walked by to leave, I wondered to myself if she would mind that I took her picture, and at the same time she turned to ask if I could take hers with her phone. And after talking for a few minutes I offered to snap some shots and send them to her, and she offered for me to join her in the class she teaches for free.

She practices slow movement to revert the core to stillness, to collect energy from our surroundings. Yes!

Two strangers brought together on a not so random morning to help each other . . . and when we said goodbye she grabbed both of my hands into hers and there was just this incredible connection.

Never underestimate and be open to your encounters with others, with strangers. That was my reminder one morning last summer, at a sunrise. 

"Meeting a stranger can be totally fleeting and meaningless, for example,

unless you enter the individual's world by finding out at least one thing

that is meanfingful to his or her life and exchange at least one genuine

feeling. Tuning in to others is a circular flow: you send yourself out

toward people; you receive them as they respond to you."

 - Deepak Chopra

Spontaneous or Planned?

 by Leigh

Spontaneous

So which one are you?  Spontaneous or a planner? Do you go about life just waiting to see what's over the next hill or do you carefully plan each step that you take in a rhythmic and methodical manner?

Now think about your approach to photography.  Do you spontaneously shoot or carefully plan out the photograph?  Does your photography match the way you are in your day to day life?

I was just thinking about this the other day after reading the insightful and inspiring post by our guest blogger Kim Manley Ort.  She talked about living a contemplative life through photography.  Her post resonated with me because I've always considered photography to be a meditation of sorts.  I go out with my camera, a calm mind and an open eye and discover what wants to be seen.  It's  very spontaneous and a time to be in the here and now.  I feel a rhythm and an openness with nature and if I can quiet my mind enough then I'm more receptive to hear and see what is out there.  And this is very similar to my day to day life.  Of course, I am a planner when it comes to scheduling work and kids activities and I do enjoy my predictable routine during the week, but on the weekends I like to go with the flow.  

Planned

I am currently taking Kim Klassen's Be Still online photography class and I have to admit….I felt very out of my comfort zone at the beginning.  How could I start to think out my photographs ahead of time when I have alway set out to discover and experience the moments I capture.  But at the same time I feel very much at home because she talks about taking time to breathe and to be still and be inspired.  

Be Still ManifestoI believe ….. there’s bits of lovely everywhere….stop, PAUSE... look...see...Shadow, light.... lines and cracks...the weathered, the worn....tattered, torn....Life is messy.........ups, downs... ins .... outs....Amongst it all... there's beauty ...just waiting to be found. Still life ……
finding pretty pieces… perfectly imperfects…. placing them close and making pretty pictures....
the pause, the quiet, the taking time….. a long cleansing breath……a daily practice.  ~Kim Klassen

She's combining the meditative approach with a well thought out study of still life photography.  I'm realizing that I don't have to be one or the other.  I can be both and find a new aspect of capturing the moment.  Sometimes we all need to be gently pushed out of our comfort zones…don't you think?