Comments on: on photography as mindful seeing

By: Happy Trails | LightintheWoods

Happy Trails | LightintheWoods — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:46:30 +0000

[...] I joined the 366Photos project, and have been developing my eye for good images. I am finding that this skill is moving outside photography, and sharpening my awareness of detail and function. This is part of what D’arcy was alluding to as ‘mindful seeing’. [...]

By: Design and Story at Bionic Teaching

Design and Story at Bionic Teaching — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:44:07 +0000

[...] that works is a key component of design (and just about anything else). It’s a lot like what D’Arcy says here about photography (just replace photography with design). And there’s no easy answer. There [...]

By: Pages tagged "mindful"

Pages tagged "mindful" — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:38:12 +0000

[...] online community. The best part is … it’s all 100% free! Check them out here: Join Hey Nielsen! Comment on on photography as mindful seeing by Ope… saved by 8 others Mangaboy425 bookmarked on 01/10/08 | [...]

By: Open Monologue » The courses, the camera and the crash

Open Monologue » The courses, the camera and the crash — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:23:56 +0000

[...] at D’Arcy Norman’s picture per day project in 2007. D’Arcy wrote today about the mindful seeing of photography. If you’ve ever picked up a camera or been momentarily captivated by the pure aesthetic joy [...]

By: dnorman

dnorman — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:51:45 +0000

@davidicus: yeah - I figured that’s more likely what you meant

By: On photography as mindful seeing « Ordinary Photography

On photography as mindful seeing « Ordinary Photography — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:38:21 +0000

[...] on photography as mindful seeing - D’Arcy Norman dot net [...]

By: davidicus

davidicus — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:39:31 +0000

sorry–”helping others see through your eyes” might have been closer to my meaning.

By: dnorman

dnorman — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:15:39 +0000

@jen: some of my favorite photographs would be “bad” artistically - but I love them because of what was happening before, during, or after the shot. but that’s a personal thing, and doesn’t translate outside of my own skull. there is much more to a good photograph than simple aesthetics

@brian: absolutely! it translates to any learning activity that is internally motivated.

@chris: photography as visual poetry. I love that.

@alan: thanks. I wasn’t sure how clearly the writing would/could be, but I think it came out ok Yeah. I know “the look” - “oh, great. he’s bring the camera again” and “why on earth is he shooting a photo of that? again?” I’m becoming a bit more immune to it, perhaps selfishly, but it’s just a part of me now…

@davidicus: it’s definitely a lifelong process. not sure anyone else can really see the same way though - we all see things uniquely…

By: davidicus

davidicus — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:53:37 +0000

nice. there are a lot of techniques and excercises to open people’s eyes to seeing things critically. finding one’s voice and helping others see them the same way takes a lifetime.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:36:44 +0000

This was beautifully said, thoughtout– what you describe happens by instinct, reflex when you are in the mode of seeing. For me, I have long felt more connected to a place, an event, a time when I can experience it via the camera, and like your words about it not “hiding” behind the camera. I develop more meaning with something when I do the camera thing, and you’ve explained it so well. Its almost like continually exercising your observational muscles.

But perhaps you know that “look” from others you may be with, like, “why is he taking a picture of **that**?” or “we’ll never get there if he keeps taking pictures.” You keep clicking.

BD (Before Digital) I did somewhat enjoy the mystery between the time you “saw” it in your mind, took the photo, and then there was the delay of gratification (or not) waiting for the prints to be developed, or develop it yourself– the seeing it in your hands and confirming what you saw in your mind, negating it, or even finding it was more beautiful than what you had imagined.

I thought the magic would be less with digital, but even with seeing it on the camera screen, I often don’t really appreciate the image until I see it on the computer, and there is magic when it turns out beyond what you had saw (or previewed).

And like your bus seat story, some of the best moments are finding something extraordinary among the world in an ordinary spot, just by seeing, framing, composing… and then clicking.