I have many mentors in seeing and am always grateful for what they’ve taught me. Today, I’d like to highlight two of them, Thomas Merton and Mary Oliver.
Thomas Merton was a contemplative monk, activist, writer, and photographer. I’ve been a fan ever since reading his conversion story, The Seven Story Mountain. He dabbled in photography, poetry, and zen calligraphy.
Mary Oliver is a contemplative poet of the natural world and life in general. Her many books of poetry have inspired millions because she writes in a way that touches the heart.
In 2010, I was at a personal retreat in Kentucky on the sacred poetry of Merton and Oliver. It was there that I began to see the connection between photography and living a contemplative life. Afterwards, the phrase contemplative photography came onto my radar and I realized that there was a name for the way I approached photography.
Up until then, my most important photography mentors in seeing were Ansel Adams, Canadian photographers Freeman Patterson and Andre Gallant, and Eddie Soloway. In other areas (art, music, business, and the environment), I was inspired by these Top 10 Heroes. Through extensive reading about my mentors in seeing, certain common qualities emerged. I believe that by cultivating these qualities, one can lead a meaningful life. I wondered if the camera and the process of photographing could be used a tool for developing them. This is how the Adventures in Seeing workshop was born.
Theologian Matthew Fox’s new book on Merton reminded me of why I relate so deeply to this man. One part addresses why photography was important to Merton, namely that “the camera became in his hands, almost immediately, an instrument of contemplation.” Fox says that Merton was not a photographer; rather he used photography as a form of meditation. The camera allowed him to frame a scene so that the “suchness,” the essence, revealed itself. He photographed subjects that everybody knows about but often overlook. His philosophy was that the best photography reflects awareness that is mindful of illusion. This resonates deeply with me.
Today, I have new mentors in seeing, like photographers Guy Tal, David Ulrich, and David duChemin, as well as the participants in my workshops. Other mentors include meditation teacher Tara Brach, poet David Whyte, teacher Parker Palmer, and writer Annie Dillard.
Who helps you to open your eyes a little wider?
Note: My book, Adventures in Seeing: How the Camera Teaches You to Pause, Focus, and Connect with Life, delves more deeply into this story and provides an extensive list of exercises for practice.
** Books mentioned have Amazon affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.