When you carry a camera, you predispose your mind to find good things on which to meditate. I resumed making images because I started using photography as meditation, and I think it is a great form of contemplative art, and a very accessible way to actually appreciate a small find every day — or sometimes a sweeping vista — you never know!
How is this meditation?
By “meditate,” I just mean dwelling on something mentally. Photography as meditation, or maybe you could say photography as contemplative art, is a way to thoroughly focus your mind on an object or interrelated set of objects.
When you have a camera with you part of your mind is looking for ways to use it. And when you are looking for ways to use it, you notice things you wouldn’t notice. Usually, these are things worth paying attention to. Maybe it’s just some nice raindrops, maybe it’s something more important.
But for that moment, something worthwhile fills your attention. Something breaks into your mental chatter and focuses your mind. It is an opportunity to do good or to be grateful.
Use what you have
Photographers like to say that the best camera is the one you have with you. I would add, the best subject is the one that you can photograph now.
If you’re coming to this post from social media, you probably know that I made this image on a morning walk after a rainy night. Someone had put a table on the curb, presumably to throw it away, and the raindrops had beaded nicely on the surface.
The camera I had with me was a little infrared-converted point-and-shoot. The infrared spectrum with some filtration of visible light sometimes makes some rich black and whites.
What if I don’t have a camera or can’t carry it?
If you don’t have a camera and you want to try some meditative photography today, try a different app on your phone. Just the novelty will help your mind to start looking for good things.
Find more ways to meditate — even from your desk — that’s one reason I am putting these posts and images on my website.
And for more frequent content, you can follow me on Instagram or look for the frankly better image sizes on Vero and Flickr.