Week #10

Red Umbrella 

"Going outside and meeting the challenge of taking what is and making it yours, that's what photography does for me. It's not the subject that interests me as much as my perception of the subject."

Roy DeCarava

Yesterday morning I was sitting reading in our living room feeling sorry for myself. I been down for a few days with a cold and I had just had to cancelled a photo shoot at a friends house that I was looking forward to the next day. I was watching the rain fall down when I looked up and saw the red umbrella. Pulled up my camera and took a shot.  Always go for the red!

Week #9

Winter Evening

Silently and serenely one forgets all words.

Clearly and vividly, it appears before you.

When one realizes it, it is vast and without edges.

Hongzhi Zhengjue

 I was finding it difficult this week to schedule in the time and space I needed with my camera. I was also feeling a bit at odds with myself over what I'm looking for out of my photography. 

Yearning for some wise words, I picked up John Daido Loori's book, The Zen of Creativity, Cultivating Your Artistic Life. I have read this book before and thought that it might have a pearl of wisdom that could guide me to some insight about my slump. Right there in the introduction were the wise words and the gentle reminder I needed to hear. Loori talks about the great Zen Master D.T. Suzuki's views on the arts of Zen. Suzuki says the most interesting aspect of the arts of Zen is that they don't exist for the sole purpose of creating a work of art, but they are rather a method for opening the creative process. They comprise the means of training the mind and of living our lives. 

It is this very practice that I use my camera for - a way to bring my eyes and heart together and stand in the present moment. 

Here is a link to  John Daido Loori speaking about his photography and creative process.

With gratitude.

Week #8

Looking in the Window

"Very often I try to find something that matches a feeling I have. On the other hand, a lot of times I photograph with nothing specific in mind. I just play it as it comes. If it's good, fine. I find 'letting it happen' relaxing, a playful vacation. Stimulating pictures almost always result."

Minor White -

People often ask me how I decide what I want to photograph. I must admit that I usually don't go out with something specific in mind that I want to capture. I am more inclined just to show up and see what happens. Yesterday I was at the Vacaville Vintage Market poking around looking at the various treasures when I paused a moment and looked up to see this old house with this wonderful window. To others there this might look like an eyesore but to me it revealed a beauty and soul that only comes with age.

Week #7

Downtown Shoppers

Anyone who knows me know that I love to learn and share the experience with other like minded souls. I often take online courses as a way to stretch myself and hold myself accountable to getting out withy camera.

Right now I am taking an online class titled Photo Meditations. The class is being taught by a photographer and author by the name of Susannah Conway  The purpose of the class is to help us connect to our creativity and use our cameras as a way to connect ourselves to the world around us. Susannah provides wonderful materials and examples from her own work and the work of many other creatives.  Because the class is online, the students are from all over the world. We share our progress together and get to learn from each other as well as Susannah. I would encourage you to check out Susannah's site and to think about signing up for one of her classes. You don't need anything more than a phone camera - so get out there and start seeing your world with new eyes.

Week #6

Two Trees

"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow."

Imogene Cunningham

There is something about the process of photography that compels me to want my camera with me at all times. I am most comfortable now when I am looking at the world through my viewfinder. Perhaps it has something to do with what Ms. Cunningham said - I am always looking forward to the next picture and the chance to see the world in a new way.

Week #5

Foggy Morning In The Backyard

Last week I listened to Krista Tippett interview Stephen Batchelor regarding his work with Secular Buddhism. If you aren't familiar with Krista and her podcasts, I recommend that you check them out at On Being. During the course of the interview, Stephen Batchelor shared that one of the most profound practices he took away from the years he spent in Zen monasteries was this Tibetan death reflection.

Death is certain.

The time of death is uncertain.

What shall I do?

 When I first heard him say these words I thought to myself what a  morbid statement but in fact, over the past week, it has become just the opposite. Like a gentle prayer the words have drifted in and out of my thoughts. They've become a reminder that my time on this earth is limited. They have acted as a focal point, a check-in, to make sure that my actions align with what is most important to me. They have released a renewed commitment to be fully present in my daily interactions with my family, my co-workers, and strangers I pass on the street. Life in it's whole is more vibrant and alive. So I ask you - what shall you do?

Peace

Week #4

Early Morning - Mt. Diablo

It's official - I'm a crazy person with a camera! Here in Northern California we had a glorious rainy week. Wednesday I was driving to work, sitting at a red light, waiting to enter the freeway when the quality of the light through the fog and the streaks of lights on the pavement overtook me. Before I knew what was happening I had rolled down my window and had my camera up to my eye. With only a few moments to try to capture in my camera what had captured my eyes and heart I clicked away. Soon the light changed, I laid the camera carefully down on the seat next to me and rolled the window back up. 

A few minutes later I found myself again fighting the urge to pull out my camera to capture the incredible images before me. The hills were glowing with the hint of the new day sun . I might be crazy but even I don't stop and pull over on Highway 4 to take pictures. I saw a road that meandered around the side of a hill off to my right and quickly took the next exit. Not knowing where I was heading I carefully starting climbing the hill on a road that was not much more than a paved path. I parked the car and looked down the valley. Sunrise on Mt. Diablo. So maybe I am a little crazy but it is so worth it!