In the act of deeply seeing, we transcend the boundaries between the self and the otherness of the world, momentarily merging with the thing seen. ~ Alex Grey *

For me, photography is about realizing or becoming aware of a connection that is already there. As Alex Grey says above, for a moment we merge with what we see. Something deep in us responds to the essence of what is seen.

No matter how unbiased we may try to be, we always bring ourselves into what we create and what attracts us. For those of us who photograph and like to reflect on why we’re drawn to certain subjects, it’s always interesting to look at patterns that emerge in the images we take. I’ve seen many recurring elements in my own photography. This past winter, I noticed a tendency to photograph vines clinging to walls, as in the image above.

In her book, Eyes of the Heart(paid link), author Christine Valters Paintner describes a process she calls visio divina – a modified version of lectio divina, an ancient Christian practice for reflecting on scripture. This process of visio divina helps us to connect with the divine through the images we receive in the world. She calls it “sacred seeing.” If you are not the religious type, this process can still be used to tell you a little more about what’s going on inside of you.

There are always two people in every picture; the photographer and the viewer. ~ Ansel Adams (Brainy Quotes)

The Steps and an Example 

* Become fully present in your body.

* Connect with your heart and what you are feeling.

* See the details – colours, shapes, lines, symbols.

* Notice where your eye rests (also what it avoids). What is there?

* What memories, images, feelings come up?

* Are you being called to some kind of action?

* Be grateful for what you’ve discovered.

I went through this process with the image above. I noticed the darker vine coming in from the lower right and moving upwards towards the window. It is a curving line that seems to have a clear direction. The photograph was taken in my new hometown, so to me it symbolizes coming into this new place. Notice that it is going from right to left. In my case, I have returned to the home of my birth. A side note: my mother’s maiden name was Vine.

All of the other vines, while they seem chaotic, have their own purpose and all interconnect. Although this vine is moving in a certain direction, its path can be altered depending on the other vines it meets along the way and other external circumstances. The wall seems to be the common thread or foundation connecting all of the vines. As far as what action needs to be taken, this tells me that the path is clear and to keep going, yet be open to what happens along the way.

Why not try it with one of your photographs and see what you discover.

* Quote from God is at Eye Level by Jan Phillips (paid link)

Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice by Christine Valters-Paintner (paid link)