Photography in Own Life
Photography plays a major role in my life. I love taking photos and am most comfortable with a camera in my hand, whether that is my digital SLR or my iPhone camera. I’ve found that it’s the taking of the photos, not the quality of the camera, that’s most important. In recent years, photography has become both a creative and emotional outlet for me — a way to express what’s going on inside at a conscious and subconscious level.
I take photos to stay present in certain situations, or as an escape. I also use viewing photos as an escape. I am not good at traditional meditation, but I can view photos of nature and be transported to a more relaxed place.
Philosophy of Photography
Photography is the art of storytelling without words. You don’t just take a photo with your eyes, you take it with your experiences, emotions, and heart.
Photography is also a way of looking at the world. It’s a way of seeing the outside world and capturing it with the light of your inner world. The more tuned in you are to your inner story, the more stories your photos can convey. Those stories do not need to be literal. If you’re sad, you don’t need to photograph someone crying to convey that emotion or story. You just need to view the world as you. A macro photo of a single drop of dew can convey a narrative of agonizing sadness, or delight and joy, if you let it.
Photography and Mindfullness
Photography can be a tool for mindfulness. When you look through a lens you must be present to take in the sight, and orchestrate your shot. By focusing on what you see (the composition, the lighting, etc.) you are being mindful, whether you realize it or not. You are focused (literally) on the present moment and not worrying about things that have happened in the past or might happen in the future. You are in the now, at least for that moment. And sometimes one moment is all it takes to bring you back from a negative place.
What draws us to a photograph
There are the obvious things that can make a photograph pop, like unexpected composition, lighting, or contrast, but sometimes it is the not-so-obvious things that really draw us in. The mood. The tone. The story, both seen or unseen. We love when a photo tells a story, whether that’s a family playing in the woods or a candle on a table
Tip for Beginners
Technically, I encourage people to use what I call “focus with intention,” which means the subject or a piece of the subject is in focus unless blur is purposeful, and to be aware of the background. A messy background can take away from the subject, whereas a clean background brings attention to the subject.
It’s amazing how you can shift your body positioning while you’re shooting and increase the power of the shot exponentially. However, for every “rule” there is an amazing photo to break that rule! So, the only real rule is to keep taking photos, and to experiment and have fun along the way.
Always keep a camera with you, even if it’s your phone camera.
Experiment.
Have fun with it!
All that we’ll explore and learn can be used to take better photos, but how you use the tools and techniques can make the difference between a nice snapshot and a visual story. Keep shooting, trying different things, and pushing the boundaries of what feels comfortable to you.