How You Know You're Doing It Right
"When a photographer ceases to be conscious of himself as the capturing agent of an image, he can become one with the creation of the image through perfection of the technical skill."
Ran across this quote one day, while exploring the connection between Zen mind and photography. It's an accurate description of how you become one with the camera, one with your subject, and how great shots happen. I don't claim to be a pro, or anything like that. And as far as the "technical" aspects of photography, I have miles to go before I sleep. But I have noticed, when I am shooting something I have a deep affinity for, I become absorbed in what I'm doing to the point where I could care less about who's around or what they think. It feels as if I am one with what I am doing and what I'm shooting. I feel like I'm where I belong, and doing what I'm meant to be doing. I'm in my own little world, in my element, and completely happy and content. I've also noticed that when I'm in that "Zen" mode, the images that result from that shoot tend to be some of my best work. Through those kind of sessions, and the photos that result, I also learn more about myself as a being, my subjects, my world....and of course, my craft and its tools. I always come away from a photo session refreshed, renewed, and more in love with photography. Even when I'm reviewing my captures, editing or whatever needs done with them, that part of it too is sometimes a look inside. Or, I may see something I'd missed in the moment; reviewing what I'd thought I captured, and discovering something I'd had no idea was there. Always an adventure, always an experience. Immerse myself in what I'm doing, camera, environment, heart and soul, become one. And although I have so much more to "perfect" in my technical skills, having a "Zen" approach to my photography has helped me create some pretty nice images now and then. I'm learning to really see beyond the sight most of us just take for granted, and appreciate the world around me on a deeper level.