The Inner Path of Photography

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

Tag: poetry and photography

August 6, 2012

“Play”

Girl_playing_on_slide_image

Can Lightness come to play today?

Laughter
Unguarded pleasure
Delight, contentment, bliss

The feeling of body and mind totally immersed
in the pure joy of being.

Please stop. Right now.

Take a  deep breath, and hold it.
Then let it out, feeling your energy flow from the top of your head to the tips of your toes

Relax your shoulders
Soften your heart

(Your heart is there, you know. Just waiting.)

Think of a time when you were happy, playful
Free from the heavy cares that you’ve shouldered so well

Remember from your childhood, last month, today  – no matter!
See the scene, and feel it.
Let your body and mind enjoy.

Can you do it? Will you?
Deepen, deepen
aaahhh

Now hold that feeling
Smile.

And walk into your world.

Play!

(Would you like me to guide you through this meditation?
Click here for my voice and a downloadable spoken version)

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July 23, 2012

“Unexpected”

No_Cookies_Left_Image

The cookies are gone, espresso savored
Warm feelings from an evening with friends.

Playful posting of photo, just taking a break, and then

Tender memories of a passionate time.

A different photo
A man who could capture
layers of emotion through a simple cup and saucer.

Images and coffee
Friendship and love

A rich life.

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July 8, 2012

Freedom

Galveston_Halloween_Girl_With_Wings


The girl stands at the edge of the water.

Should I fly? she thinks
Or  let the soft waves trickle over my toes
then return to the safety of the sand…

The boy steps forward.

I am here, he says
slipping his hand into hers

Oh yes, she sees
Now she can joyfully do both.

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January 22, 2012

“One Moment in Time”

We judge ourselves too harshly when we look at the now
(which may not measure up to our dreams and expectations)

and think
“This is My Life”

Rather than looking at our lives as a sequence of images
a flow of moments in time that – lived through, gathered together –
reflect complex lives of good times and bad
Triumphs and illusions of failure.

Underlying all:

The personal story of constant expression
of love, inspiration, depth of spirit, courage

The experience of pure moments
thankfulness to be alive.

Remember your story

(or perhaps you’ve forgotten
and need someone to tell it to you,
and remind you of the images)

Celebrate the amazing fact
that you are still here to tell the tale

Yes.

Then you may say,
 “This is My Life.”

***

Last week I posted a short article here about “sequencing” in photography – where you use the flow of a series of photographs to tell a story, rather than depending on one image to tell it all. I found once again that the choices we make in art often reflect the way we think about life.

Must your life right now be the “ultimate image?” Or can you relax and trust in the beauty of sequencing, your true life story…

Perhaps we could remember that, just as in “sequencing,” our lives cannot be evaluated by just one image, one moment in time.

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