I asked if I could be a photographer and Stieglitz said; "Well have you ever been in love?" and I said; "Yes," and he said; "Then you can be a photographer."

Minor White

Photography As A Way of Thinking

 "Seeing is for me a way of knowing, photography a way of thinking. I see most acutely through the frame of the camera’s viewfinder and think most fluently through images."
Anne Whiston Spirn

Today I started reading a book by Anne Whiston Spirn titled The Eye Is A Door,  - Landscape, Photography, and The Art of Discovery. The above quote is how the book begins. Spirn's words remind me why my camera is always with me and why my favorite time of my day is when I am capturing my thoughts through images.

Having New Eyes

 "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

Marcel Proust

The other day I took some time off during lunch and drove down the marina. I was looking for a break from my computer and the 
 chance to soak up some of the sun's warmth. As I walked along the dock  I looked down and saw this reflection. Here was an image so complete that it could be taken out of it's context and still be meaningful to the viewer. A year ago I would have walked by and not notice the beauty waiting for me in this reflection. Today, I have "new eyes".

A Shift in Vision

I am currently reading "Eyes Of The Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice" by Christine Valters Paintner. During my reading today I came across a quote that has helped me make a shift in my thinking about my contemplative photography practice. Here is what she says.

"When we approach photography as a contemplative practice, we engage consciously in this movement from opaqueness to transparency, from shadow to illuminated clarity. We move from the idea of images "taken" from the world as a property to be possessed to images received from the world as a gift of abundance and invitation. We move from looking at the world to see what we can gain to gazing on the world on the world to see what gifts we might receive. These are all essential aspects of the contemplative path and are cultivated by our shift in vision."

This "shift of vision" is the essential element in moving towards receiving images and seeing the ordinary as the extraordinary.

Miksang

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in the Miksang Institute held in Boulder Colorado. Michael Wood, the founder of Miksang, and Julie DuBose were our teachers as we embarked on the journey of learning how to see with fresh eyes and how to capture those images with our cameras. I spent five days with a group of like minded travelers. We spent the week opening our minds, eyes, and hearts to learning how to see the extraordinary in our everyday world. You can find out more about this training and Miksang here.

'It's not what you look at that matters; it's what you see."

Henry David Thoreau

Ways to Learn

Being new to photography, I try to do something every day that increase my knowledge and skills. When I am not out taking pictures, I read blogs and books on a variety of photography subjects. However, what I have found to be the most helpful is taking classes. I have taken a few in-person classes but what I really enjoy is the structure and community of online classes.



I'm getting ready to take my third online class with Kim Manley Ort . So far I have taken her Going Abstract and Photo By Design. On May 19th I will start Keeping It Simple. Kim is a wonderful teacher and I find that she provides interesting assignments along with in-depth resources. She creates a class environment that is supportive and encouraging to students of all abilities. Having a reason to take my camera out each day keeps me growing as a photographer.

Impressions from the Brandywine River Valley

I just returned from a week in the Brandywine River Valley. Spring was just starting to appear after a long winter. The Brandywine River Valley runs through portions of Southern Pennsylvania and Northern Delaware. It was the home of Andrew Wyeth and the vast DuPont family. This a beautiful area filled with farms, rolling hills, and quiet woods.

Spring Flowers

 

 Roses bloom

A crane walks by

Springtime comes

The Beginning of The Journey

The Vision of First Thought

"To become an artist, first there has to be a sense of vision taking place in one's mind. Such a vision comes from a state of mind that has no beginning and no end. It is very present, on the spot. We call that vision "first thought best thought." When that happens, there is no struggle."

Chogyam Trungpa