Into Nature

Nature can teach us valuable life lessons. 

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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...

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Lesson 1 - Letting Go

Just 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?

​Photo experiment: Let the focus slide and watch new shapes and colors form. Notice how this engages your imagination.  ​

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Lesson 2 - Impermanence

When 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? 

​Photo experiment: Take two  photos 6 months apart. Notice changes without judgement.

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Lesson 3 - Embracing Shadows

We 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?

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​Photo experiement: Strong, direct light casts long, harsh shadows, so try photographing from within the shadows. Notice what new details become visible.    

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What nature photo experiment will you try?