Chapter 2 of The Practice of Contemplative Photography (paid link), by Andy Karr and Michael Wood, is called “Art in Everyday Life,” and it is full of gems.
It speaks of the constantly changing life around us every day. In the first week of my Photo By Design workshop, we pay attention to light. Light is always changing and endlessly fascinating.
Photographers know this well, as we can see an image, illuminated by the light in a certain way, yet if we don’t capture it in that moment, it will be gone before we know it.
Contemplative photography is not about looking for the perfect or most beautiful subject. It is about seeing this constantly changing world, and the beauty that is there in even the most ordinary of things.
The authors quote Beaumont Newhall, “We are not interested in the unusual, but in the usual seen unusually.”
We label things as beautiful, ugly, or ordinary, yet with careful observation, we can discover the beauty that is there in just about anything. That beauty is its essence. For me, the dying leaf above is an example of that.
What conceals beauty?
The authors outline several obstacles to seeing beauty.
* Resentment (including judgment, anger, cynicism)
* Desire (possessiveness, craving, ambition)
* Ignorance (dreaminess, dullness, laziness)
* Preoccupation (thoughts, emotions)
Hw do we overcome these obstacles?
By developing a “light touch of awareness” – recognizing when these obstacles appear and then letting them go. And then, nurturing this awareness with curiosity, patience, and a sense of humor.
By doing this, we can all greatly enhance our appreciation of the world around us and everyday life.