Photographer's Mind, Zen Mind?
I was walking along the Hermosa Beach Pier this evening when I started to think about what pictures I'd take when I get my new digital camera (an EOS 20D). I was thinking about subject, composition, lighting, and all the other things that go through the discriminating eye of the photographer. As I was doing this, I made a sudden realization. I was seeing everything in three dimensions, and my thought was effortless.
Normally, when I'm going about doing routine and mundane tasks, like driving, reading email (junk email), or waiting for a new software update to install, I see a very flat picture in my mind and I don't notice much. Furthermore, when I try to pick out visual cues from what I'm seeing, it takes effort.
As I was thinking about taking a picture, though, everything I was seeing popped out at me. There was suddenly a sense of depth and liveliness to the scenery around me. I was noticing things. Interestingly enough, this was relaxing and effortless. I could feel my pulse slowing down and my blood pressure decreasing. My breathing became deeper and more regular. I felt like I had become part of my environment.
This sounds very Zen-like, doesn't it? It reminds me of the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by a monk named Suzuki. That's a great book for learning Zen meditation. It makes the point that the Zen mind is like the mind of a beginner, a mind that experiences openly. I felt very Zen-like at the time, too.
Now, I need to apply the beginner's mind principle to all the things I do, especially the things that have become mundane, like driving. Maybe getting back into my photography hobby will let me do that.
Normally, when I'm going about doing routine and mundane tasks, like driving, reading email (junk email), or waiting for a new software update to install, I see a very flat picture in my mind and I don't notice much. Furthermore, when I try to pick out visual cues from what I'm seeing, it takes effort.
As I was thinking about taking a picture, though, everything I was seeing popped out at me. There was suddenly a sense of depth and liveliness to the scenery around me. I was noticing things. Interestingly enough, this was relaxing and effortless. I could feel my pulse slowing down and my blood pressure decreasing. My breathing became deeper and more regular. I felt like I had become part of my environment.
This sounds very Zen-like, doesn't it? It reminds me of the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by a monk named Suzuki. That's a great book for learning Zen meditation. It makes the point that the Zen mind is like the mind of a beginner, a mind that experiences openly. I felt very Zen-like at the time, too.
Now, I need to apply the beginner's mind principle to all the things I do, especially the things that have become mundane, like driving. Maybe getting back into my photography hobby will let me do that.
posted by Bernie at 9:01 PM
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