Chapter 15 of The Practice of Contemplative Photography,(paid link), by Andy Karr and Michael Wood, continues with the technical requirements for forming the equivalent of what you saw. This chapter explores shutter speed, ISO settings, exposure, and white balance – not rocket science, just important basics for photography.

Chapter 16 is about one of my favorite subjects – space. Not outer space, but the space around things or form. This type of space is often not recognized, and so shifting your perception to notice space is a great way to expand your seeing and your experience of the world. It is key to seeing freshly. By seeing space, you start to see the invisible way that everything is connected.

In her moving TED video, Hedy Schleifer talks about the power of connection between people. She quotes philosopher Martin Buber, who said,

“Our relationships live in the space between us. Not in me, not in you, not in our dialogue, but in the space that we inhabit together. That space is sacred space.”

For me, contemplative photography is about exploring relationships, not only with others, but with ourselves, nature, and Source. So, for me, focusing on the space between things, holds clues to those relationships. This will be the subject of my weekend photography retreat in Kentucky at the end of April.

The assignment from Chapter 16 of The Practice of Contemplative Photography, gives exercises in seeing space itself – “space that surrounds things and space that is between things.”

Space can be startling. We are so used to looking at things that to see the absence of things can throw us off balance. This can be unsettling and provocative. These are subtle perceptions, but once you open the door to them, the possibilities are endless. ~ The Practice of Contemplative Photography, Chapter 16

Notice the space around things today. How does it change your experience?