Inner Photography Is The Visual Communication Of Emotions
Inner photography has nothing to do with equipment or subject or technique. Inner photography means taking advantage of photography’s power to communicate on the emotional, symbolic and spiritual levels, often in a more direct and meaningful way than written or spoken word allows. It means acknowledging and using photography as an effective method of self expression and personal creativity to contribute to the larger community of the world. It is having photography as an integral part of a well-rounded lifestyle. Make photography part of your inner universe.
Inner Photography Exercises Your Mental Image Tools
Photography, like painting, sculpture and the other visual arts, is primarily an inner activity, a mental activity. Most really good photos start with an idea or a concept or an emotion and the resulting photograph is the vehicle of expression, the way the original idea is communicated to others. All of the camera equipment and technical knowledge are just the means toward that end, to the communication. If there is no idea or concept or emotion behind a photograph it will not have any meaning to others looking at it. The primary mental image tool needed to allow ideas and emotions to express themselves is a state of attentive mental calmness. Relax the body, relax the mind, let the inner dialogue float past without comment instead of letting it occupy the attention. Don’t worry, the inner dialogue and all of the concerns and check-lists and doubts will not get lost if they are ignored for a while – they will all return as soon as they are allowed. In this relaxed and clear mental state(meditation) deeper emotions and concepts are allowed to bubble up and present themselves to our minds. Treat these ideas the same as the inner dialogue by letting them float past the attention without getting attached to them. The most meaningful to you will stick around for further work at a later time. My personal experience is that quite often the way to capture a concept photographically presents itself at the same time. Occasionally a photography technique will present itself and a use for it will come along at a later time. This state of mind promotes the birth of ideas and concepts and that is at the core of any means of communication.
This is not an image tool to use during a shoot with a tight deadline or requiring very specific shots that must be fully planned out in advance. But this process does work very well for me previous to and during the planning stage for such shoots. It is a great “un-blocker” when having difficulty coming up with a concept or the means to translate a good concept into an effective image. I also like to try to spend some time in this mental state after all the “required” work for a shoot is taken care of and things are more relaxed. As often as not many more good shots result with at least some being much better than the fully planned results.
Enjoy this part of the site. Use what seems right for you and let the rest flow past. “Wander without seeking and you will find what you need.”
Please visit the Enlightened Photography page for more material.
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