The Inner Path of Photography

We yearn for the taste of the sacred…and through our cameras discover it, the world, and ourselves.

Tag: photography

Patience…As the new year unfolds

“Be quiet now and wait.
It may be that the ocean one,
the one we desire so to move into and become
desires us out here on land a little longer,
going our sundry roads to the shore.”
– Rumi

“Christmas Morning, Hammonasset”

When a new year starts,
our tendency is to feel that we should

“get back to business”
“get serious”
“do all the things that we put off during the holidays”

We become impatient with ourselves
feeling we’re not accomplishing things fast enough
Already not achieving goals as the new year speeds away

Perhaps there are things in our lives that need attention
that we would do well to bring back into our consciousness and address

But when you were talking about your new year’s resolutions
did you vow to listen to your inner voice?

Did you reflect on what it would look like to honor yourself,
to act on your desire to be that person you know you truly are?

Breathe deeply. Try not to rush.
The new year is but a date on a calendar.
Your life is a constant flow…

Do not stand on the bank.
Jump in the river with me.
As you begin the year of 2010, be patient with yourself.
In your life, in your work, in your art

Be silent now.
Say fewer and fewer praise poems.
Let yourself become living poetry.

– Heidi
(Non-italicized lines from Rumi poems)
“Pieces of a Broken Cup,” “Soul Houses”

Warm Wishes from Heidi…

“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness
the astonishing light of your own being.”
~ Hafi


Warmest wishes to you in this season of hope and love…

Life is full of changes…In fact, Life IS change.

May you look back on the past year
and find the beauty that was constant.

May  you pause today, now
and breathe in the goodness of the present moment

And may you step into the New Year
with great anticipation of the magic to come.

My deepest heartfelt wishes that your life’s changes
may contribute to amazing inner and outer riches
expand your possibilities
and deepen and uplift your soul.

– Heidi

The Inner Path of Photography – intensive seminar, starts September 8th

Hi…well, the intro class is over, and now it’s time for the big stuff!

4  Tuesdays in September…nine  hours of learning, exploring, and becoming even more adept at listening to your inner voice, matching it with your outer vision, and creating the images and life that bring you joy and satisfaction.

I’m really enjoying sharing my expertise that integrates my background in photography, psychotherapy, and meditative and healing arts; let me share the magic with you.

SEPTEMBER, 2009

“THE INNER PATH OF PHOTOGRAPHY”
Intensive Seminar

September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 (4 Tuesdays), 6:15 pm – 8:30 pm
Houston, TX (Montrose area, location upon registration)
Fee: $150.00

“Each artist going in his own direction at some time walks on water.”

– Minor White, Photographer

What is the inner experience of photography? Deep, spiritual, rarely discussed…it is what seduces us and send us out to shoot again and again. We yearn for the taste of the sacred…and through our cameras discover it, the world, and ourselves.

This class is for those who want to explore more deeply the intuitive, mystical part of their photography practice, work with personal blocks to full creative expression, as well as learn more about themselves and life challenges and choices.

Drawing on the tradition of the photographer Minor White, and using techniques and philosophies from Zen, psychology, and other contemplative and healing practices, we’ll come to understand more fully this silent experience, apply it to our art, and enhance the quality of both our photography and life.

Attention, resonance, the “still point”…choices, perfectionism, the “click,”…openness to experience, making art vs. being in the flow, embracing the creative process: these are some of the tools that we’ll explore as you build your inner photography practice and improve your outer resulting images.

As you more deeply understand and work with your inner artistic process, you’ll also see how life parallels art, and through this increased awareness,  learn how to more easily dance with  your own life challenges and decisions.

Class includes lecture, exposure to diverse photographic expressions & philosophy, meditative and other experiential,  outside applications (homework), shooting and sharing of photographs.

***Click here to register  online ****

OR

Contact Heidi at heidi@straubephoto.com or 713.521.1676


I love teaching Inner Path Photography!

Hey, thanks to all who participated in the “Introduction to the Inner Path of Photography” workshop yesterday…We really covered a lot, didn’t we? Inside and out, spiritually and tangibly.

Good insights, good photographs too…and some nice perspectives to apply to our lives, whether shooting photographs or not.

I remembered how much I love to teach what I believe in and that inspires me…and also how much I learn from participants at the same time.

Loved affirming that we all share similar challenges as photographers:  wanting  perfectionism, finding our own muse, avoiding the “shoulds” of others; recognizing the “shoulds” of our own inner slave driver and allowing ourselves to play!

And beginning the discussion of how to work with those challenges, and get back to the joy we felt when we first discovered our new love affair.

“M”: thanks for the “I want to go to bed with my camera again!” sentiment…It captures so beautifully what we’re all yearning for and love to feel when the that photographic/inner spirit passion connects.

Yesterday was inspiring, supportive, and full of camaraderie. That’s what I love about photographers…most are grooving on the joy of life, and enjoy sharing their discoveries and feeling.

Now I’ll get ready for the September intensive….So many ideas, so little time!

(See “Inner Path classes” tab on this blog; also you can find description here on my transformational life counseling site.)