MY HOW AND WHY

Photography in mindfulness and flow

To me, photography is more than the resulting pictures. It is going to the forest to soak in the energy. It is looking closely at forest life through the camera lens. And when I go to the water, I go to see the horizon. Like with a zoom lens, you need to let the eye move from close to far away.

You don’t have to put on airs with Nature. You can be yourself fully. You can relax and let go of To-Do lists and your care for others. This is where you start your journey from mindfulness to flow.

Mindfulness is when you are in the moment experiencing without judgment. You are aware of what is happening. Flow is the opposite - you are floating, fully immersed in what you are doing. Suddenly an hour has passed, and you believe it's been just ten minutes.

Mindfulness with the camera leads to flow. In the pursuit of a photograph, you go from breathing to almost not breathing at all. It doesn't matter what camera you use. What matters is the moment.

This is the scene where I found the photo at the top of this segment.

Be mindful. It is in the details

Slow down, breathe. Use your senses to ground yourself in the moment. See the trees, see the leaves, see the light in the shadows, the light filtering through the leaves dancing on the ground. And there it is. The sunlight I can use to fill my frame, and I finish the picture in the camera.

The process looks something like this:

take a first shot of something to get you started
grounding and being present with all your senses
a few snaps working the scene to see what you've got
going closer, going back - you find where the light is and
you get working - it's all about intuition and flow.

Impressionism
on my mind

At the same time as I first studied photography
and got to know my way around a photo lab,
I studied Art History and fell in love with Impressionism.
That's why my inspiration comes from paintings - light and shadows, mist and transparencies,
hues of blue and gold.

My Nocturne.
My Ode to Impressionism.

Lake Mälaren Palettes

One of my best-loved spots to watch the sunset and the moonrise is down by the pier on the east docks by Lake Mälaren in Västerås. Here you will find one of my favourite palettes for both documentary and art pictures. The process is fleeting, and you're bathing in colour.

What's your favourite tree? One of mine is the willow. They look human, stretching their arms to the sky, or as here, cradling the sun. This silhouette looks like a mother holding her baby. She tells the stories of living by the water through the seasons. She is the Mälar Queen.

It's about the moment. It's about being at the right place, at the right time paying attention. This evening was one of those rare occasions when I was almost alone on the pier, and every second counted. Mesmerized by the sun playing on the waves, I almost forgot to be still.

Setting Sun, rising Moon.
Here.

Bear Island

When silent, you see more.

"It's me and the road and the one not taken.
It is not an intellectual journey.
It's a spiritual one.”

- AGNETA M. LINDH

My Soaring Soul

The sun is setting over the blue cornflower field; the Golden Hour is nigh. A mindful moment melts into being in flow. Time and space cease, cloaked in gold and purple. A breeze ripples the crops, and the cornflower nods.

The only thing I know is Now.

and there it was
by chance, do you think?
almost, a secret place
beckoning me as I
walked the path
amid poplar and red clover
horses neighing in the field
foals snuggling up eyes closed
mine, mine were open

my palm resting on the
sunbathed stone
eyes wandering the trees
the rustle of a squirrel
the buzz of a bee
there! the sun a falling star
touching the leaves
showering the grass
the grass, where I was sitting

while the poplar sang
a truth took form of
life forever being
as I leave I'm still there
where the red clovers glow
where I walked by chance
- do you think?

The Journey Continues

I've never been part of a photo group before I met my international peers at the Photo Specialization From Michigan State University via Coursera. This community is a meaningsful addition to my How & Why.

Supported by my community, my weekly contributions go on to new projects. Sometimes in the most surprising ways. In open discussion and friendship, we go forward together.

See the challenges

MAGIC! Yes, I was surprised too.