How to See Like a Photographer - Part 3
BE A TURTLE
The power of pausing, and why slowing down enhances your vision.
In this lesson, we’ll teach about the power of slowing down to perceive the world around you more intricately.
SPEED IS THE ENEMY OF ENGAGEMENT.
Standing at the edge of a tranquil lake, the reflection of the surrounding forest perfectly mirrored in its calm waters, have you ever felt time slow down? The world seems to hold its breath, and in that stillness, every leaf, every ripple takes on a sharper focus. It’s the power of the pause, allowing each detail to tell its tale.
Culture around us often expects us to do more, see more, and to do so at lightning speed, rewarding those who are willing to run the quickest to their set goals. But nature is different, and it always doesn’t reward the quickest, but the ones that are ready to slow down enough to engage with it.
A FACT OF NATURE.
Studies have shown that even just 20 minutes in a natural setting can significantly reduce stress hormones. In Japan, there’s even a concept called “forest bathing” that doctors prescribe to people to improve their general health.
GET OUT THERE AND START SEEING LIKE A PHOTOGRAPHER
Lesson:
Embrace the Pause
Sometimes you need to stand still to let the world reveal itself to you. Slowing down can exponentially expand what you see. There’s a few ways we can go about this.
Thinking Exercise
Take a 15-minute break on your next hike. Sit down and observe a single tree, rock or other natural object. Note down the details you would have missed otherwise.
Need some assistance slowing down? Enter the grandpa walk.
Have you ever noticed how some older (and often much wiser) people walk? They walk with their hands grabbed behind their back, forcing them into a slower, relaxed gait. Give it a try and see how it slows you down.
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Navigation:
Depth
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE JOURNEY
Depth in photography is pivotal for making visually compelling images and creating a three-dimensional illusion in a two-dimensional medium.
Imagine you’re observing a serene forest scene. To create a photo with depth, think of it in three parts: the foreground (close to you), the middle ground (a bit further away), and the background (the farthest point). For instance, you might see a vibrant mushroom nearby as your foreground, a deer grazing in the mid-distance, and a mountain range far away in the background.
This week, while pausing, try to look for layers in the scene before you: foreground, middle ground, and background. Notice how each layer contributes to the whole picture.
PATH NAVIGATION
Color
Light and Shadow
Depth
Patterns
Contrast
Frames