Greeting old friends...

   As soon as I got back to Maine, even before I unpacked my bags, I went looking for the little friends that visit every year.  I took a contemplative stroll in my own backyard.

   Even this tiny butterfly moth on a chive blossom was a delight to my eye.  After four weeks of looking at beautiful landscapes, I am so ready to again embrace the near to hand.

   It will be several weeks before I can really acclimate to my old surroundings.  I think that is because you are, in many essential ways, changed by a pilgrimage.  It awakens things inside you, things that may take weeks to unfold.

   While I was traipsing about Ireland and Scotland, my little friends here were simply going about their daily business, pollinating flowers, building nests, bringing new life into the world.  My much loved dragon flies were the first to greet me as I got out of the car.  Not easy to photograph a dragon fly, they are constantly on the move.  I'll have to be content for the time being to
photograph the butterflies who graciously come to rest on a flower just long enough to allow me to make the image.

   The chive blossoms are such a great place to sit beside an await  butterflies.  This is another that visited shortly after the little moth.

   Sitting quietly in the garden and waiting for my little friends to visit is a delightful way to spend some time.  In a garden there is no need to go looking for things to photograph, they come to you!

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.  

~Rabindranath Tagore

The Infinite Web of Relationship...

Where does the

 temple begin,

Where does it end?

- Mary Oliver

   Contemplative photography has led me to understand and stand in awe of the powerful web of relationship that exists in our world.  Nothing, not a solitary leaf or moss or lichen, is not connected to this web...each playing it's part in sustaining all of creation, including ourselves.

    Through the camera's lens we can focus our attention on the tiny elements of this web and embrace the intimate and mysterious relationship close up.

      The most beautiful thing we can experience

is the mysterious.  It is the source of all true art

and all science.  He to whom this emotion is a

stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder

and stand apt in awe, is as good as dead; his

eyes are close.   - Albert Einstein

    There is no better place to experience this mystery of relationship than the forest and living here in Maine I am surrounded by a wonderful temple of creation.  I have found an amazing video produced by the BBC that celebrates the inspiring web of relationship in the deciduous forests of North America...from Maine's immense woodlands to the dense rainy forests of the Pacific Northwest. It explores a phenomenon they call the Wood Wide Web.

    Tomorrow we celebrate Earth Day.  I hope this video will give you a whole new appreciation of our "Mother".   Prepare to be amazed and then take your camera for a contemplative stroll in a nearby forest!

The Magical Forest

by Wallace Koh

A Prayerful Regard for the Landscape...

   I've been receiving lovely quotations for my vade mecum and I encourage you to send me something to carry with me when I travel to the sacred sites in the Burren, Iona and Glendalough in May.  One suggestion has prompted this post.  

Absolute attention is prayer.

- Simone Weil

   What a beautiful imagining for the contemplative photographer!  In our rush to experience the landscape we often miss its meaning and message for us.  Rather than walk through the landscape we should pray our way into the mystery unfolding in front of us through the act of absolute attention.  Worshipful regard of the world around us brings us into union with the divine presence we encounter.

   Instead of anticipating, we should be soulfully open to whatever we come across no matter how humble it may seem.  Like this small and worn sculpture I discovered on my recent trip to Glastonbury Abbey.  Whatever saint it is eluding to is unimportant.  Its seemingly singular regard for what is in front of it is the message here.  The eyes don't gaze longingly into the distance but at the ground right before his feet.  It is not anticipating some distant and vague possibility but is soaking in and relishing the immediate and close at hand.  We could all benefit from that kind of thinking...

Are you a Nemophilist?

   It's alright...I'm one too.  Just in case you aren't sure if you are a nemophilist or not, I'll give you the definition:

A haunter of the woods;  one

who loves the forest and its

beauty and solitude.

   I think I would also add, "and its mystery" to that definition.  I particularly love the mystery of a dark forest.  It seems to hold onto things we can only guess at.

     There is such a wonderful embrace when you walk a woodland path.  You are surrounded, enclosed.  Sometimes you can hear the rustle of leaves but most often you cannot see what is making the noise.  You often cannot see the sky or what is in front of you.  You aren't sure whether to go on or turn back.  "Back" is knowable..."forward" is a risk.  But with the "forward" comes the possibility of new discovery.  It is that possibility that must overcome the risk.

   You pathway is uncertain.  There are roots and rocks and plenty of opportunity to trip and fall.  It is a lot like life really.  This is where faith is needed.  Faith that you will come out of the forest, that you will find your way.  Faith that you will overcome whatever adversity the path presents you.  Faith that just because you can't see the sky doesn't mean it is not there.

   And like life, you can focus on the dark shadows with fear or the light infused spots that speckle the way with hope....it really is your choice.

   For those of you who haven't given in to your inner nemophilist this Autumn, here is a lovely video to savor....

A Walk in the Forest - Brian Crain

   ...and here is a link to a lovely look at the fallen leaves in Harvard yard with accompanying quotations from famous writers.  My favorite, and the one that really resonates with today's post, is by Henry David Thoreau (definitely the supreme nemophilist!) - "I have a room all to myself.  It is Nature."

Taking Talking Leaves

Contemplative Strolling...

  I've written so much about walking in a contemplative way that I though perhaps enough is enough but then it is such an important dimension of our craft that I'm compelled to explore it yet again.  I think it also has to do with spending a week with a painter recently and seeing how different it was between us.  She sets up a still life and then it's a concentrated effort to render the real...depict the subtle qualities of light and shadow and color.  It is a process that takes several hours to create one image.

  When I go out into the landscape I have absolutely no idea what I will be photographing before hand.  I can spend an hour or more walking and absorbing the sense of place and I still may not have a clear idea.   I let the whole process unfold in front of in a kind of organic way .  Somehow I will know, something inside will whisper to me, when it is time to raise the camera to my eye and isolate a tiny fraction of everything around me...to carve out a single element that has drawn my attention.  It is such an intuitive process; so unlike the painting process my friend follows.

Four Steps...

Here are four steps I try to follow when I'm out for a contemplative stroll:

  1.  Walk Slowly...I mean really slowly! I find that if I am rushed in any way it defeats the whole process.

  2. Make frequent stops.  Every step along the way has the potential of inspiring you...take the time to stop and look around.

  3. Use all your senses when you walk.  What do you smell?  How does the ground feel under your feet?  What sounds are trying to get your attention?  It is all part of the character of the place you are walking in and it is all important.

  4. Re-trace your steps from time to time.  You will see a whole different landscape!  I was rather amazed when I learned this simply technique.  We seem to favor one side to another when we walk.  We are either a left handed looker or a right handed looker!  Walking back the way you came is a totally different walk!

 Here is a link to explore other ways of enhancing your contemplative stroll...

Walking Meditation Ideas

Looking Down...

  
    "Rain, Rain go away, come again another day..."  or so the children's song goes.  My recent few days in Down East Maine got me thinking a lot about the weather and the effect it has on the photographer. (I encountered the same sort of weather in Chatham, except for one glorious day.)  I never saw the sun once in the three days I was in Pembroke, Maine but it was fine.  Besides, the weather is something none of us can control so it is best to stop fretting and embrace it!  For me that means to stop looking up at the grey clouds and start looking down at the world at my feet.

    This is a study of a small plant by the cottage I was staying in.  I loved the way the water droplets were held individually, almost as they fell.  Some quality of this plant, a ladies mantle I think, created this charming effect.  When nature sends you rain, turn your attention and your lens downward to the small details of the landscape.  The puddles and droplets make worthy subjects for the contemplative photographer.  (Contemplative photographer Kim Manley Ort has recently dealt with this same topic on her wonderful blog...read about it here. You'll have to scroll down a bit.)

     Later on, this downward focus was rewarded as we strolled the property's beach at low tide.  Beach combing is an excellent way to hone your discriminating skills.  I found this washed up kelp which had created a provocative spiral. (You can visit my Pinterest board, The Spiral Dance...it is a symbol that has ancient antecedents, especially in the Celtic world and I love collecting examples.)  I could have easily stepped over it had my attention not been focused on the ground at my feet!  Walking slowly and deliberately is important as well.  Take your time and follow Thich Nhat Hanh's advise:

Walk as if you are kissing the 

Earth with your feet.

                                                                                  

    A lot of what we do as contemplative photographers involves this discriminating practice and it is well we work on the skill whenever you can.  This summer make a point of doing a little beach combing of your own whether it is by the ocean or on the shores of a lake.  Take the time to look down...   

  

A Walk Around Monomoy Island...

Down to the Beach

   I don't often preach on this blog unless it is something I feel very strongly about.  This is one time I need to step up on my soap box.  While I was in Chatham I took a walk in the Monomoy Wildlife Refuge.  It is a spectacular setting clinging to the edge of the sea.  It is the only designated wilderness area in Southern New England.  Without that designation this entire area would have succumbed to the crazed builders of multimillion dollar homes that ring the reserve. It is a primary stop on the Eastern fly way of migratory birds and the seals seek solitude on the sandy islands.

In wilderness is the preservation of the world. - H.D. Thoreau

   This place in Chatham surely validates Thoreau's thoughts. Chatham, on the whole, is a sanctuary for the wealthy and well connected.  Their estates dominate the shoreline with "private property" signs in abundance...except on Monomoy.  The wealth I had to drive by to get to the refuge made it all the more stunning in its contrasting unmanicured, natural landscape.

    As contemplative photographers we can, if we wish, try to show the world the beauty of these wild places.  Perhaps in so doing we may encourage others to work with us on their preservation.  The world has enough seaside mansions...it doesn't have enough of these sanctuaries for our fin, fur and feathered friends.  Is there a wild and threatened place you care about?  Consider ways you can use your photography to save these special places for generations to come.  I can think of no better use for our work.

In-coming Tide on Monomoy Island

     One resource to explore:

The Wilderness Society

   Find a way to become involved preserving what is left of our wild spaces before places like Monomoy Wildlife Reserve cease to exist.

The benefits of wilderness are numerous. Wilderness provides so much more than a place to camp, hike or fish. Wilderness cleans our air and filters our water. It provides a home for wildlife and an economic driver for local communities. - See more at: http://wilderness.org/article/why-protect-wilderness#sthash.yG7aBwIo.dpuf

Not all federal wildlands are "wilderness." Wilderness is a type of protection given to the most pristine wildlands — areas within national parks, forests, recreation areas and other wildlands where there are no roads or development. This officially designated wilderness is the last remnant of the wild landscapes that once stretched from coast to coast. - See more at: http://wilderness.org/why#sthash.xlWSrjxH.dpuf

Not all federal wildlands are "wilderness." Wilderness is a type of protection given to the most pristine wildlands — areas within national parks, forests, recreation areas and other wildlands where there are no roads or development. This officially designated wilderness is the last remnant of the wild landscapes that once stretched from coast to coast. - See more at: http://wilderness.org/why#sthash.xlWSrjxH.dpuf

The Nature of Solitude...

We should remember that loneliness is the pain of being alone,

 yet solitude is the splendor of being alone, and that to have long-lasting

 happiness we should remember the difference in between.

- Arzu Kaya Uranli 

   When I recently told some friends that I planned to spend two weeks alone in a stone cottage deep in the Wicklow mountains of Ireland they responded: "Won't you be lonely?"  It got me thinking about the nature of solitude and how so many people are uncomfortable being alone.

The Solitary Boat

    As a contemplative photographer, I thrive on solitude.  In fact, if I am traveling with other people I find it nearly impossible to practice my craft.  I often excuse myself and head out on my own.  You can't do contemplative photography in a group!  When I led my contemplative stroll in Concord this Spring I struggled with the idea of leading 15 people into the landscape as a group.  I, instead, created a little field journal of guided meditations that they could take off on their own and I let them walk where they wanted...I returned to the farmhouse.  I wasn't abandoning them, I was letting them relate to the landscape through their own senses, not mine.

   Here on Cape Cod, while my companion headed off for her day of painting, I was able to seek out the solitary places in this lovely landscape.  Her experience in her workshop is so different from the solitary nature of contemplative photography.  The students were there to learn the techniques of another artist and it was best nurtured in this group environment.  Everyone had a similar goal.  These types of workshops are an exclusively external process whereas contemplative photography is a completely internal process.

     Being just a bit ahead of the "summer crowd" and visiting during the week and not on the hectic weekend, it was not hard to find these quiet places.  One tiny boat bobbed in the tranquil water and the only sound was the far off cry of the gulls.  Somehow, the little boat added to my sense of solitude.  I urge you to set aside some time each week to practice the fine art of solitude and silence.  Nurture the stillness of your own soul and feel comfortable with your own thoughts...they are the essence of contemplative photography. 

I never found a companion that

was so companionable as solitude.

- Henry David Thoreau

  

Returning to Chatham...

   I hadn't visited Chatham on Cape Cod for over 25 years.  I am spending a few day in this lovely sea side village this week and it is so interesting to see how things have changed.  Not so much the village, which of course has seen some modifications, but how my way of looking at the village has changed in the ensuing 25 years.  Chatham was always just a quaint little town with my favorite inn, The Chatham Bars Inn, and lovely shops.  Now, it is still all that but my perceptions have shifted to the more subtle aspects of the place.

   Over time, the practice of contemplative photography does alter the way you approach a familiar or remembered location.  My priorities are just not the same.  In a very real way, I am in fact seeing Chatham for the first time and it is wonderful.

   Yesterday was the first day we saw the sun and I headed for the beach.  Strolling the water's edge before the summer crowds arrive is one of my favorite things to do.   Finding this boat stranded at low tide reminded me of why I love the ocean so much.  It is the cyclical nature of the tides.  Each low tide reveals something new, from the patterns in the sand to the things left behind.  Each day, twice a day, the slate is wiped clean.  Someone walked their dog earlier and their paths converged.  Soon, if the sun comes out fully, the beach will host sun bathers, children will look for shells, someone will toss a Frisbee and the seaside will be a buzz of activity.  Later, the ancient and eternal sea will, again, wipe the slate clean for the next day.  This is a lesson we all can take away; each day we have the opportunity to begin again.  Each day is a fresh start.  We only have this day, this moment and it is our duty to make the most of it whether it brings fair or foul.  Tomorrow we will begin again...
 

Consider Taking a Contemplative Stroll this Summer...

Click here to see the folio of images from the stroll...this photo by Paul Buckley.

   In April, I led a contemplative stroll at the Thoreau Farm.  It was a glorious day and the participants each recorded their unique impressions of the landscape.  For all of them, it was their first such endeavor.  I think they will agree with me that to think "contemplatively" as you photograph opens  up a whole new world for you.  A world where perception is separated from judgement...where seeing becomes beholding and you enter into a true relationship with the landscape.

   I posted the guided meditations we used that day and you can use them for any walk you might take this summer.  Here are some further suggestions.

•  At the beginning of your stroll, sit and think about your intentions.  Try to clear your mind of expectations.  Pledge to do the stroll without prejudice or judgement. Accept whatever you find.  Be open to what attracts your attention and stay with it for awhile.  Try not to put a time limit on the stroll...let it go slowly and meditatively, as a walking meditation.
• As you move along your path, take time to sit and experience the landscape through all your senses...what does your ears hear?  What do you smell? What draws your hand to touch?
• Consider each thing that compels you to photograph it a "breadcrumb".  Let it lead you on.
• If possible, turn around and retrace your steps back.  Do this to discover all the things you missed on the way out since you will be seeing them from a new perspective.
• At the end of your stroll, take a few moments to jot down your impressions in your journal.  Did any of your images you received surprise you?  Did you find a "theme" to your series of photographs? Did your time in the environment change your thoughts in any way?

   You could take the same stroll again and not see the same things.  Each time you are, in a very real way, walking in a whole new landscape.  The light won't be the same, or the weather, and you are not the same either.  Brother Paul Quinon at the Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky has been walking and photographing the "same" landscape for over 50 years!  He told me that each walk is an entirely new experience for him.  Henry David Thoreau walked the fields and woods around Walden pond his entire life and never tired of it.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new

 landscapes but in having new eyes.

- Marcel Proust

   So, find your place to take a contemplative stroll this summer.  Perhaps promise yourself to revisit it in each season.  Hmmm....this sounds like the beginning of a new photographic series to me!

A Contemplative Photography Retreat at Bethany Springs...

   The contemplative photography retreat at Bethany Springs was a wonderful opportunity for me to hone my perceptual skills.  The retreat organizer, Kim Manley Ort encouraged us to be open to what draws our attention, without prejudice or judgement.  This was an excellent experience for me and I think of it as a kind of boot camp for my visual listening skills. 

According to the book, The Practice of Contemplative Photography, a

flash of perception is a gap in the thinking process - a  moment when we

are suddenly stopped by something startling or shocking or absorbing.

Time comes to a standstill and we are totally present.  There are no

concepts, judgements, or labels - just pure, direct seeing.  - Kim Manley Ort

   No matter what form of contemplative photography you ascribe to (this weekend was rooted in the Miksang approach) clear, unedited perception is a necessary first step.  I only wish we had had more time but that is always a problem with these retreats...never enough time!

Click to view slide show...

   I want to share some of my images made during the weekend under Kim's instruction.  I've provided a link so you can to view a slide show.  She had asked us to concentrate on Light and Color, Texture and Pattern and finally, on the Space Between.  I've not labeled the photographs or edited them in anyway, they are the raw image as I saw it.  I leave you to imagine which image is a response to which prompt!

   I also want to call your attention to a link in the side bar to a PDF of my Field Guide for the Contemplative Photographer.  You can print it out and keep it to mull over and consider.  I also think you should spend some time with Kim's wonderful blog, 365 Days of Inspiration...it is a rich resource for the contemplative photographer.  I was so pleased to have finally met Kim as I have been a follower and admirer of her blog for some time.  She made the whole weekend flow seamlessly and she was able to get each of us to experience the world in a new and refreshing way regardless of our background or past experience...a true teacher!  You can read about our weekend at Bethany Springs and explore Kim's wonderful on-line workshops and retreat opportunities.   Enjoy!

A Contemplative Stroll at the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village...

Marvelous, silent, vast spaces around the old buildings...Some marvelous subjects.  How the blank side of a frame house can be so completely beautiful I cannot imagine.  A completely 

miraculous achievement of forms

-Thomas Merton

      I began my walking meditation of the village with a reading from Merton.  It seemed to fit in so perfectly with my weekend workshop with Kim Manley Ort.  On Saturday she asked us to look at the "spaces between".  (More about this contemplative photography weekend in a later post.)  Merton understood this "spirit between".  It seemed to infuse my experience of the village.

    Sitting meditating on the beauty of the "spaces between", I waited until the clouds had arranged themselves just so before I made my photograph.  They truly were in charge...I just needed to be patient.  There really is no more wonderful feeling than to see the man-made fuse with the natural landscape as it does in this image.

The moments of eloquent silence and emptiness in Shakertown stayed with me more that anything else-like a vision.

-Thomas Merton

   It is something of the core spirit of the place, what Merton called the logos, that is what the contemplative photographer strives to reveal in their images.  It seemed so present here at Shakertown in its unique form of simplicity and light.

   Whether it is the space between buildings, fence rails or wisk brooms hanging on the wall, there is a simple rhythm and structure that reflects this "logos".

   Spending time sitting with the landscape, and in this case with the buildings and details contained within the landscape, you will find that you can tap into its unique logos.  

   I hope these last two posts will inspire you to find a beautiful build environment to study and photograph.  I plan to revisit the Shaker communities in New England this summer to continue my study of simplicity and light.

The old Shaker colony at Pleasant Hill is a place that always impresses me with awe and creates in me a sense of quiet joy.  I love those old buildings...They stand there in an inexpressible dignity, simplicity, and peace under the big trees.  -Thomas Merton