3 Insights Mindfulness Meditation Practitioners can use to Increase Awareness with Photography

You would be surprised how many parallels exist between formal meditation practice and the craft of nature photography.

When hearing the word meditation, most people with little or no experience in mindfulness immediately imagine someone sitting on a cushion with their eyes closed and a blank mind. But is that really so? Meditation really just means developing a sense of awareness and an inner observer. It is about observing what is happening in every particular moment and then continuously practicing letting go.

Well, it turns out that the practice of nature photography is very similar, just with a different point of focus.

Insight 1: The Power of focusing on one thing and one thing only

In photography, this is called isolating a subject, such as a bird or a single tree.

Similarly, especially as beginners or seasoned meditators, we engage in this practice daily. We concentrate on one thing alone—whether it’s the breath, the sound of the wind, or the warmth in our nostrils.

By doing so, we focus our mind’s eye. When distractions inevitably arise, we gently guide ourselves back to our focal point.

Insight 2: Practice acceptance of what ever comes up and be okay with it

Our high expectations often taint our overall experience, a common phenomenon in photography as well.

The typical scenario involves meticulously planning for the perfect shot. We are well aware of the significant role that locations play in capturing beautiful photos, prompting passionate photographers to journey to the most remote places in pursuit of that flawless shot with the perfect sunset of an awe-inspiring landscape. However, reality often diverges from our envisioned outcome. More often than not, the weather fails to cooperate, leading to frustration.

Rather than resisting, we can choose to embrace the moment and make the best of what it offers. This adaptive approach is an essential mindfulness practice.

Insight 3: Cultivating an Elevated Sense of Perception and Awareness

Last but not least, it’s crucial to focus on details and the little things.

Mastering photography involves training your eyes to perceive elements that others might overlook and honing your observation skills. Whether it’s patterns, colors, symmetries, or simple shapes, becoming adept at noticing these nuances is key. The same principles extend to the inner observer, with the distinction that what we observe isn’t physical but rather emotional, sensational, and metaphysical.

However, this distinction doesn’t make them less real

But most importantly, there is no—or should not be—an end goal, except for the practice itself. Photography as meditation is an open journey you embark on with no clearly defined objective other than showing appreciation and gratitude for what is.

When so much of life seems focused on rivalry and anxiety, this gives me relief.

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