Photo by Alif Ngoylung on Unsplash |
“I loved to press the shutter, to freeze time, to turn little slices of life into rectangle rife with metaphor.” - Deborah Copaken on her earlier work as a freelance photographer in Europe
Sometimes I drive my husband crazy. When out walking - whether during our travels in new places or at home just for exercise - I often pause to take pictures. He would prefer to walk without pausing as it's more about the exercise and enjoying nature for him. By enjoying he means what he can see or smell. Very occasionally something will catch his eye - an eagle in a nest or a flock of snow geese taking flight - and he will stop for a moment, but that is rare
Photo by Jasper Gribble on Unsplash |
To keep myself from having my eyes glued to the lens, I have embraced rapid shot photography. My cell phone or camera is raised, I take a mere second to capture my image - a unique flower, a hidden tiny park, a sky full of color, a cloud that has an interesting shape - and then lower it so I can be in the moment. Pausing to take a photo this way makes sure my eyes focus and my mind sees, while not distracting me from being fully aware. These moments as I walk don't need long contemplation on what to photograph as our daily walks cover the same routes fairly often. The quick photos I do take reflect things like how the changing seasons are playing out along our routes.
Photo by Redd on Unsplash |
Then there are the places that offer more depth, and I need to be still to really experience all they have to offer. In these moments I come to a full stop, I take a slow deep breath and exhale, often with my eyes closed. Next I open my eyes and try to fully engage all my senses - looking, listening, smelling. After I've fully taken as much as I can, I decide what image or images I want to photograph to help remember this moment. The images are carefully composed before I take them, and I take only a few. This type of photography I find is easiest done when I am alone, so I don't feel any pressure to keep moving.
If you find you are power walking in a way that disengages you from experiencing the world you are passing by, I encourage to find a practice that works to help you see, smell and touch the beauty you are moving through. For each of us that will be different. On the other hand, if you find yourself missing the moments because you are always snapping images or taking videos, look for a practice that helps you find balance so you can also be in the moment and fully experience it.
Beauty is all around us and it is just too amazing to miss.
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