Mindful Photography

Taking Fewer yet Better Pictures
By Stephen Harris  (River Town Creative/Photography by Stephen Harris)

It seems we are always in a hurry, with so much on our minds, even when walking through a serene park or an inspiring museum. Add to this the power and convenience of the mobile phone or digital camera, where we can aim to take a photo of anything that comes along, click and go.

Then we get home and review the day's images, and discard many; and in some cases, we may not have remembered taking this shot of something we can’t even recall seeing.

We reflect on the day, and really, did we experience joy, or did we just take pictures?

This may seem like an extreme example of our busy lives while in a peaceful venue, but could we step back and consider the walk as the priority, and the photography secondary?

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​As an outcome, you may experience the venue and take fewer yet better pictures.

Being mindful involves bringing your full attention and awareness to the present moment, immersing yourself in your surroundings without letting distractions interfere, while letting the photographic opportunity flow into your digital (or analog) minds-yes.

Observe Mindfully: Engage your senses fully. Notice the colors, shapes, textures, and light around you. Be fully present and observe the details in your surroundings.
When a subject breaks through, a possible opportunity to take a photo, stop and resist the urge to take the photo right away.

Frame Your Shots Deliberately: Before clicking the shutter, take a moment to compose your shot deliberately. Pay attention to the framing, and approach the subject from different angles, and perspective. Look at the background, since many times we experience tunnel vision, focusing intently on the subject without noticing distractions or other (and better) opportunities that are within the frame.

Ultimately, you might discover something nearby that may take a better picture, or you may realize, there is no real photo here. Don’t force it, why take a picture if it will ultimately be discarded?

Be Patient and Mindful of Timing: Sometimes, the best shots come to those who wait or come back when the lighting is better. Practice patience and be open to capturing the perfect moment when it arises. Mentally bookmark the photo opportunity and plan to revisit this subject at a different time or date.

Review and Reflect: As a habit, always check the photo after taking the picture, make any exposure or composition adjustments, and re-take the shot, if necessary.
 

An example of approaching a venue in a mindful state was a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary, which has many jail cells and rooms in decay, a subject that I enjoy photographing. On my first visit, many years ago, I shot over 1,000 images and couldn’t process these for many weeks since the number of pictures was overwhelming.

On a recent visit, with a 35mm film camera, iPhone, and Mirrorless camera, I shot a combined 45 pictures. I walked every aisle and looked in most cells, but this time, only a relatively few caught my digital eyes.

On another outing, I watched the ocean gently wash over a seashell. I was fascinated by the trails in the sand as the water receded, observing this scene through the viewfinder, taking over 50 pictures from overhead. Click  Click  Click.  When I reviewed the photos later, I discarded all 50 images. Maybe if I used a mindful approach, looking at the shell and ocean interaction from different angles, a better image would have been taken, in less time and frames.

In my town, I take a mindful photography walk, where I am challenged to take only one photo along my wanderings. When that subject comes to me, I use the mindful approach to composing the picture and taking the shot. Then I put my camera or phone away for the rest of my peaceful walk.

Naturally, being mindful may not work when on a fast-moving tour or when you’re on a professional assignment, but it will work for most of our photography explorations.

Two recent mindful photography walk photos.

​Mindful photography is about being fully present and engaged in the act of capturing images. By practicing mindfulness, you can enhance your photography skills while also cultivating a deeper appreciation for the world around you, ultimately taking fewer yet better images. 

Our adventure workshops are geared towards mindfulness in photography, including Hidden Lambertville and Hidden Frenchtown, among others. Review the current photography classes and adventure workshops- and sign up for our no-spam newsletter.