It was only the other evening that I was watching TV, when it dawned on me, what was actually happening when I'm making a photograph.
I'll try and explain.
A well known comedian here in the UK revealed that he regularly meditates. His colleague seemed to be surprised that he meditated. When the comedian explained it a little, thats when the penny dropped for me.
Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment, without judgment. It can be done in many different ways, such as sitting quietly and focusing on your breath, or walking and paying attention to your surroundings.
Many of us might put meditation in some sort of religous / religion area of thought because many of us believe meditation is practiced in numerous religious traditions. The earliest records of meditation (dhyana) are found in the Upanishads, and meditation plays an important role in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, but meditation is not limited to any particular religion or belief system. It can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their background or beliefs.
According to sources ie Wikipedia etc, Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, and, or is the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment, without judgment. It can be done in many different ways, such as sitting quietly and focusing on your breath, or walking and paying attention to your surroundings.
Well, there it is, I've been meditating all these years and I didn't know what was going on.
If we choose to apply the statement above, then making of a photograph is another form of meditation .
Photography requires you to slow down and pay attention to the world around you in a way that you might not otherwise. You have to be aware of the light, the composition, and the subject matter in order to make a good photograph. This process of focusing your attention can be very meditative.
Here are some illustrations of why photography could be a form of meditation:
Both require focus and concentration. (No Pun intended)
When you are meditating, you focus your attention on your breath or on the present moment. When you are taking a photograph, you focus your attention on the subject matter and the composition of your shot.
Both can help you to relax and de-stress
Meditation is a well-known way to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Photography can also be a relaxing and enjoyable activity. It can take your mind off of your worries and help you to focus on the positive.
Both can help you to be more present in the moment.
When you are meditating, you focus your attention on the present moment without judgment. When you are taking a photograph, you have to be aware of the present moment in order to capture the perfect shot.
Some of the best practice for taking great images are to:
Slow down and take your time. Don't rush through the process of taking a photograph.
Focus on the present moment.
Be aware of the light, the composition, and the subject matter in front of you. Don't worry about what the past or the future holds.
I've eventually let go of expectations. I don't worry about taking the perfect photograph. Instead, I'll focus on enjoying the process and on capturing the beauty of the world around me.
So I hope you can see where I'm coming from. Photography is my form of meditation and as I said earlier, I hadn't a clue as to why I nearly always felt good after getting out for a few hours with the camera.