How to do mindful photography
In the rush to learn how to use your camera, compete with others at your camera club and get THE shot it is easy to lose sight of what photography could be if you gave it space: your creative vision, no more no less.
We can all go to famous landmarks, put our tripods in the exact same space that hundreds before us have done, dial in some safe settings and come home with the shot. How fulfilling is that though, really?
You can easily copy this shot by parking in the car park close to Durdle Door, making the short walk to the top of the steps at sunset and choosing your settings to get a good depth of field. Emma used f11, ISO100, 15 seconds with a Canon 5DIV and 11-24mm lens at 14mm.
This is a classic shot of Durdle Door in the UK that Emma took but it’s not one she’s particularly proud of. In her book, Beginner’s Landscape Photography, Emma describes how this photo was effectively a copy of images she had seen on Instagram, taken as part of her landscape photography education. She researched the location but doesn’t claim this as an original shot. (Emma wrote A Year With My Camera.)
This process of copying images has an important role in the journey of any beginner photographer, just as painters and artists copy famous works as part of their journey to mastery, but at some point you need to bring some of your own personality to your shots.
Mindful photography helps make shots personal
Mindful photography is simply being aware of your thoughts and how they impact your photography.
it’s not “woo-woo”
it’s not passively sitting around waiting for inspiration
it’s not easy
To do photography mindfully is simply to be present.
Pay attention to your thoughts: are they critical, competitive, anxious, bored?
Decide whether these thoughts are helping.
Start shooting and continue to pay attention to your thoughts.
If you want to, try directing your thoughts. If you notice you are feeling rushed try telling yourself it doesn’t matter if you miss the sunset. If you find yourself annoyed because you forgot a filter remind yourself that’s an opportunity to try something different. If you arrive and don’t know what to shoot, sit down and take 10 deep breaths and just use that time to pay proper attention to what’s in front of you.
By being present and focussed you can stop a shoot defaulting into routine. By all means take the famous shot carefully. But then take some time to reflect and see which parts of the scene you are drawn to. Without criticising yourself try taking photographs you want to rather than the ones you think you should take.
As you give yourself permission to shoot for yourself not for someone else you will find your photography becomes much more personal and much more satisfying. You might never show these shots to anyone else or you might find your confidence increasing week by week and you are happy to share your personal shots regardless of what people think.
By using mindful techniques, staying present, enjoying the moment and most of all shooting for herself not for anyone else, Emma’s landscape style has come a long way since she first took her camera out of the studio and into the wild:
Don’t forget, mindful photography is not a certain style of photography. It doesn’t have to be pretty flowers or peaceful views. Mindful photography is the state of your own mind when you pressed the shutter. It is personal to you. The photograph you take doesn’t matter; the key part of doing photography mindfully is simply being aware of your thoughts.
Mindful Photography Online Course
Emma’s 14-week mindful photography course runs in May each year. In 2021 it starts on Monday 3 May. Click here for more details.
