Take a slow approach to photography by focusing on details. When photographing landscapes, it's been easier for me to immediately identify what captivates my interest. When photographing nature's details, though, it can be a bit more challenging to know where to focus. As a starting place, I slow down and look for textures, connections, movement, variation, uniqueness, asymmetry, contrast, layers, and patterns. What details do you focus in on when out in nature?
Staying open to simple pleasures offers opportunity for rejuvenation. Nature can hold us during Dark times, and she will also be there when we are ready to rediscover Light. She allows us the opportunity to reconnect with our inner desires, to move in and out of connection with others, to stay aware of the present moment, and to explore our relationship to the environment. If we can accept her gifts, we will rediscover our joy and return to our daily lives rejuvenated. Here are a few ideas for rejuvenating your life and photo practice:
What simple pleasures rejuvenate you?
Nature can teach us valuable life lessons. Getting into nature with a camera can have some unexpected consequences. In addition to feeling refreshed, there are lessons to be learned from viewing the world through the lens of a camera - more than how to use a camera, and more than how to make a great composition. There are deep life lessons available when one becomes still and learns to see in a new way. Here are three life lessons I've learned by experiencing nature through the lens... Lesson 1 - Letting GoJust as trees freely release their leaves, so can we choose to freely release that which the mind stubbornly holds as truth...even when the heart knows differently. Freeing our imagination helps us to reconnect with our heart-centered, intuitive selves. Through the lens of a camera, we have an opportunity to slow down and shift our attention to the shapes, colors, and textures of life simply by relaxing our focus. Look at the image below. With a relaxed focus, we can ask: What does my heart see? Lesson 2 - ImpermanenceWhen witnessing nature, we can see that there is exquisite beauty to be found in the cycles of life and death. We can find beauty in imperfections, in the cracks, in the decay, in the slow unfolding. When we accept change within nature, it's easier to accept our own impermanence. With photography, we use our cameras to freeze a moment in time, but nature doesn't stop cycling. Look at the two images below. What has changed? Lesson 3 - Embracing ShadowsWe are taught that light and dark are in constant battle with one another. When we clear out those conditioned thoughts, we can look at our experiences and we begin to understand that life is more nuanced, that we are not all one thing. When we step into the shadows, it becomes easier to see the nuances that makes your subject unique. Look at the image below. What textures are seen from within the shadows? What nature photo experiment will you try?
Nature-based art supports a mindful life. When I go into nature, I am fully alive, energized, and in-tune with the world. Noticing beauty in nature has been my most consistent practice in mindfulness. When we practice mindfulness, there are beneficial opportunities. We have a chance to:
Since the term mindfulness is an abstract concept, here are a few ways one might describe the experience.
Nature-based art is a wonderful tool in helping us to simply secure our connection to a meaningful, healthy life. Bringing nature-based art into our homes, offices, and social media spaces, we can receive the benefits of a mindfulness practice as we go about our day-to-day lives. Here are three ideas for beginning a nature-based art mindfulness practice:
Mindfulness is a practice; it becomes easier and more beneficial over time. Nature imagery can make your mindfulness practice simple, accessible, and stress-free. How have you used art + nature to stay mindful?
Beauty. Courage. Curiosity. Love. Nature photography has helped me become more aware of my values. I keep these values in focus by regularly exploring nature with my camera. Yes. It’s absolutely possible to make great images using your camera on automatic and pointing the lens at nature’s stunning beauty. To tell your story through images, though, takes self-awareness, thoughtfulness, an understanding of the way your camera sees, and an ability to navigate manual settings - even on a cell phone. I’ve found that by taking on the challenges of making meaningful images with a camera, I've also been presented with ample opportunities to become more aware of my surroundings, which has slowly changed the way I see the world. Being thoughtful, understanding, and capable in making images has transformed not only my photographs, but also my life. How has your life been impacted by nature photography?
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AuthorKristin Perry is a nature photographer navigating life's complexities by focusing on beauty. Categories
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June 2021
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