It’s always a good conversation when I speak with my good friend Mr. G. Inspirational and motivating, and always with a healthy dose of photographic discussion of course! He inquired about whether or not I thought photography was like meditation – especially because we have to be so still when shooting. Of course anytime one is completely focused on a specific task it could be considered a form of mediation, but shooting a subject with complete attention and stillness of mind and body, even soul (?) certainly qualifies at least as some kind of mindfulness practice.
The object of this attention surely comes into play as well, and in the case of photographic attention I’d say also that shooting at night demands a way higher level of all one’s senses, so perhaps it IS more transcendental. And so it was that when I was downtown late one night this weekend, the conditions were perfect for an evening photo spree. With the notion of meditational photography still front and centre I chose a subject that not only looks intriguing in the dark, but also calls for reflection and contemplation as regards its subject matter, physical form, and symbolism.
It was a very good night.