“Seeing” in the Process of Photography

[Michael Erlewine]

PS: Equipment wise I have some questions after watching your videos. Where is the best place to put them? 

Put them here or somewhere as part of a post built around the subject, so others can answer too.

As for mounting the lens, I don't know. I would ask Dr Klaus Schmitt. He is who I ask and he knows his stuff.

[Michael Erlewine]

HCS wrote: "If i mirror this to my job in IT (strangely enough that seems possible), i would actually call it envisioning. The process of coming to an inner view of solving all (potential) information related problems at once. This can never be resulting in a real IT solution, because such is live. However, it kind of gives me a similar feeling as the process you are describing here (and which i'm beginning to experience myself). I am not sure this makes sense  "

I am a system programmer who migrated into database engineering and finally into content aggregation, where I stayed until I retired. There is synergy here, but definitely a semantic problem, but something more as well. When you have time, look through my own voyage of discovery of photography + mind-training in this free e-book called: “Mahamudra, A Story” at this link. Also in paperback on Amazon.com. Scroll upward to find the book.”

http://spiritgrooves.net/e-Books.aspx#Photography

What I am describing here is connected to what is called Insight Meditation which, combined with another meditation technique called Shamata Meditation produces Mahamudra Meditation, which is what I practice.

When we work at typical IT jobs (or very detailed photography!), where a LOT of concentration is required over long periods of time, we develop the basic mental-muscle needed to actually meditate, a type of meditation called Tranquility Meditation (Shamata). When that mental-muscle is combined with Insight Meditation, the “Seeing” I described in the earlier post CAN be the result, an extreme clarity of mind that allows us to do some pretty wonderful things.

When I teach this kind of meditation, I came up with this analogy, which might help: It is like trying to thread a small needle with very shaky hands. The concentrative Shamata-style meditation we can learn from IT takes the shakiness out of the hands, so that we can thread the needle (Insight Meditation). When I am doing photography, I am doing a form of Insight Meditation where I am looking at and focusing on whatever object I am photographing, yet at the same time allowing my mind to come to rest, not on the subject I am photographing, but rather on the nature of that subject, which is the same as the nature of the mind itself.

I admit, this is a very technical, for me way more difficult than the techniques of photography, but the two go together very well indeed! I imagine that many highly-skilled photographers are doing a form of meditation, but perhaps are not aware of it. 



 Nikon D810, Zeiss Otus 55mm APO, Zerene Stacker

[HCS]

Michael, you have a much, much better way with words!

I'm pretty sure i mean what you write, but can't write it like that.

By the way, in my IT job, i've moved past the concentration point, i'm an architect of sorts who needs to come to grips with the world around him to get to that solution. I've been doing this for about 5 years now and to me it's been a journey you describe for yourself and your photography every step of the way. The results i achieve are not what i'm after, but a better understanding of the "universe" around me.

Anyway, i'm not even remotely close in my photography, journey wise and result wise. That's no reason to stop though.

Thanks for the train of thoughts and i will check out your e-book some time.

[Michael Erlewine]

“When words become unclear,
I shall focus with photographs.
When images become inadequate,
I shall be content with silence.”

- Ansel Adams

[PedroS]

A long thread about a turtle photo... and as usual a great photo.

What I really don't like is seeing in the eyes (whatever the subject might be) the photo gear reflex... and this happens a lot. In fact it's one of the first things I search on such photos.
If one takes great care taken the photos why not correct that afterwards, or even better, during the session?

[pluton]

Pedro, I have seen many commercial portraits(Norman Seef's 1970's rock album covers come to mind) where the blatant octagon softbox showed in the eyes of the subject, and I always felt it was annoying and unnatural-looking.
However, to me, the reflection in the turtle's eye is more amorphous, and doesn't bother me.  Also, I feel that removing it, would not be a major tragedy, it would be dishonest.