What is Mindful Photography?
Mindful photography is the practice of being completely present when taking a photograph. This means being aware of your surroundings, your subject, and your own reactions. Mindful photography can be a great way to connect with your surroundings and the world around you. It can also help you to better understand your own reactions to different situations.
As the awareness of stress and its detrimental effects increases, so does the desire to find ways to manage it. Mindful Photography is a practice that combines concentration and focuses on a specific skill with mindfulness to create an environment that allows you to enjoy your surroundings, your subject, and yourself.
Mindful/contemplative photography is a very focused form of art, often with a message. Awareness, rather than competition and profit, lies at the core of mindful photography. In general, mindful photography is about creativity and self-expression – not competition or greed. Given these characteristics, you can guess why it's the opposite of mainstream competitive photography.
Mindfulness has been a buzzword in the media over the last few years and has even been linked to improved health and well-being. While this might seem like a stretch, those practicing mindfulness have repeatedly reported that it has helped them to become calmer, more focused, and even more creative. When applied to photography, there’s little doubt that adopting a mindfulness approach will help you to take more visually compelling photographs.
Although we commonly take photographs without thinking, a camera can be the key to returning to the present. It must, however, be used with caution, consideration, and involvement in the matter.
Rather than striving for perfection, learn to accept what is. Beauty can be found in both excellence and flaws when viewed from a universal perspective with equanimity. Instead, try to stay in the moment and appreciate what's going on in front of the camera.
Consider your smartphone or camera to be the foundation. Keeping you at ease, connected to the present, and rooted in the here and now. It can be your safe haven where you can just be, to express gratitude for everything life has to offer while soaking up the energy of your surroundings.
Capturing a moment on camera, not only provides new perspectives and a sense of being present, but it is also possible to make photography more mindful by taking more time and care while taking fewer photos.
After saving the scenes on the camera, they can be viewed and the emotions associated with each can be relived. We may develop new ideas and feelings by noticing and paying attention to details that were not immediately apparent when the photographs were taken.
ABOUT ME AND MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY
Adopting a mindful approach to photography happened by chance, but it played an important role in my mental health journey. As a single mother battling anxiety, I faced numerous challenges, including isolation and low self-esteem. Photography allowed me to find freedom and independence, connecting me with nature and others as well as honing my skills - which in turn built my confidence. I hope to share the peace and confidence that photography gives me with others.
If you are interested in booking a Mindful Photography workshop or booking a Mindful Photography workshop for your organisation, please visit my services page or contact me via the Contact Me page.
