Posts in Category: INSPIRA-ZEN
transformative ZenPhotography inspiration
blog post: alternative photographic processes
…or, a lesson on how to feed your soul…
As I’ve evolved on my photographic journey (and on my spiritual path) I’ve learned many things…
In the early years of my career and learning process, it was all about controlling the outcome of the images I created. Much of that need to control came about as a result of who I was creating for and what my subjects were…Wedding Clients. Photographing weddings was a “get-it-right” one-time opportunity with no-room-for-error, and it had to be done quickly AND creatively.
It was a super-exciting challenge; one I always approached with confidence and passion that led me to become one of the top wedding photographers locally and beyond – I’m well-known for my wedding art…and then I decided to let that go. I was serving others in a wonderful way, but came to realize I wasn’t serving myself. Eventually, I began to feel the powerful pull to do art for myself, in my own way and style, just as I had when I began to photograph weddings!
As I left the wedding world, I threw out the need to control the outcome of my images, and instead immersed myself into alternative photographic process where the control and outcome was almost completely out of my control in many instances, except for where I was choosing when to release the shutter. This letting go of end outcomes became a vehicle for self- and art-exploration. I thought I was happy while photographing previous to this, but letting go became pure BLISS to me!
But, to this day I must say that I feel it is so very important to have knowledge and understanding of the technical aspects of photography / cameras / lenses so you know what to do and how to create from your vision. So, self-taught or formally educated. Knowledge is the catalyst to freedom!
The photographic journey – mine, yours, the masters, the beginners – it’s all an ever-evolving process of creative- and self-knowledge.
Here is an example of one of my Pinhole (alternative) Photographic images taken in Provincetown MA:
What does it make you feel when you view it? I’d really like to know, and thank you for stopping by.
Namaste, Joanne Bartone Photographer / Zen Photography
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | No-dust 50mm Pinhole Lens | ISO: 400 | f/64 | 25 sec. | Images refined and enhanced for density + tonality in PS5
blog post: why zen photography?
Zen is not a philosophy, it is poetry. It does not propose, it simply persuades. It does not argue, it simply sings its own song. — Osho —
I imagine that those visiting our website might wonder why we have chosen to call ourselves “Zen Photography.” I can hear the pondering…”Is it a religious thing?” “Do I have to be a Buddhist to participate?” The answer to both questions is ‘no,’ but it’s OK if you are!
Zen is considered a form of Buddhism that focuses on meditation and enlightenment through direct experience. Primarily dependent on awareness and concentration, the premise of practicing Zen is to bring your focus to the present moment. As humans, our tendency is to dwell on the past or focus on the future, and when we do that we typically miss the rich experiences that happen in the “now.” Zen is an awareness. If we shift our focus to the present moment we are not burdened by the woes of the past or the anxieties of the future.
So, that brings us to the question…”Why the title ‘Zen Photography’ then?” Our Zen Photography philosophy is to provide lectures and hands-on practicum that bring your attention to the things you are most in need of learning. Through these practical learning experiences we focus on skills and knowledge that will bring you immediate progress and success. Our goal is that after you’ve attended one of our Zen Photography Workshops you will leave with the knowledge you came to obtain from us and a deeper understanding of that knowledge which will bring you more success in your photography, no matter what your level of experience. We like to think if it as Photo Satori, or Photo Enlightenment! So, our goal is to enlighten you photographically, and if some of that enlightenment rubs off of you in a spiritual way, we’re OK with that too.
For the record, we leave the religious practices of Zen up to the Zen Masters who teach Zen well. And, it’s my understanding that the Zen Masters are leaving the photographic instruction up to us, since we happen to provide photography instruction well!
Namaste, Joanne Bartone Photographer / Zen Photography
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS @ 200mm | ISO: 100 | f/2.8 | 1/800 | Images refined and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: the music of the earth
“The Earth has music for those who listen.” — George Santayana
The Earth “sings to us” every day in ways that awaken our senses and spirit. It offers us unimaginable gifts if only we might stop and listen to them, or see them.
There, right in front of you in the middle of winter is a blessing of color or sound that is offering itself to you. It might be a golden weather-worn leaf curled in a crevice surrounded by snow, or the sound of ice expanding and contracting on a lake while the rest of the world lies in silence. There, everywhere is the Earth’s music and in our visual world, we can translate it into a beautiful image filled with the magic and majesty that is Nature.
Many people love nature and photography. Many people take great pride in creating with their cameras, and you don’t have to be a professional to do it.
Zen Photography Workshops | Retreats | Safaris was created with the intention to inspire, guide and inform people who love photography, no matter what the skill level and in ways that are both interesting and enjoyable.
The various practical experiences and lectures available to you at Zen Photography Workshops | Retreats |Safaris are designed to help you get in touch with and integrate the inspiration you see around you into your own creative process and we look forward to helping you fuel your soul and direct your creativity towards the gifts that surround you.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS A2E | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 IS @ 70mm | ISO: 1000 | f/5.6 | 1/30 | Images refined and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: wishing or doing?
“If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of potential – for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints; possibility never.” — Soren Kierkegaard
If I were to wish for anything, I’d wish to create an interactive dialog with the many visitors that come here to the Zen Photography blog. Thank you for honoring me by reading my posts (we have many visitors from all around the world). Despite our not being able to meet in person, I’d really like to hear your thoughts and strike up a conversation on how you relate photographically with my writings. Having a connection is essential in supporting one another on our photographic journey – I will always welcome your input here.
So, let’s consider our photographic potential for a moment…
Many of us have a passion for photography, whether we are just beginning to learn it or we are someone who is in the thick of a solid career.
As a new photographer, how many times have we seen the potential in wanting to create from a scene or a moment only to have the outcome be disappointing as we struggled with camera settings or we mistimed our shots? All that possibility leading to all that disappointment. That’s called frustration. Frustration leaves many a shooter to rely on P – which does not stand for Professional or Potential, in my book!
Or, perhaps that passion for our photography has led us to move from enthusiast towards an actual career as a photographer – all that potential, all those possibilities…all that struggle as we make our way down an unknown path without a mentor or a coach. That’s how it was for me, nearly twenty years ago. What was I thinking?! As a typical creative person, I was thinking about the potential, the excitement, the possibilities – everything I knew I could do, despite not knowing how to go about doing it. That didn’t stop me. I blazed a trail for myself and for many photographers that followed after me. But that trail blazing came at an expense at times – there’s a LOT of learning to be done as the sole owner of a photography business. That is one thing I know for sure. Those who tell you they’ve learned or know it all (at any time in their career), probably haven’t learned anything at all.
Each of us is on our own journey; we all learn in our own way, pace and time, but you now have the opportunity of learning from people who have experience and are here to guide and help – Team Zen. They are a gift. I wished I’d have had someone to mentor me as I was learning photography and the business of photography – THAT is a whole ‘nother story, believe me.
I’d like you to consider your potential while reading this post, then consider the things you spend time wishing for…those possibilities that look so enticing yet are still out of reach. Are you achieving your photographic or business goals by planning and harnessing your potential instead of just wishing that things will happen? Do you have a plan to learn more about photography, or more about operating your photographic business?
Please share your thoughts here with us. What do you see as your potential vs. what you are wishing for. ‘My potential is: ___________________.’ ‘I wish __________________ .’ Can you feel the difference between them?
If you need some photographic or business guidance, consider taking a Zen Photography 2-day Workshop, or attending a Zen Photography 5-day Retreat, or having 1:1 Coaching. Team Zen can help you learn to see differently and create from your potential in a way that will move you thoughtfully towards success.
This isn’t a race, it’s your journey.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 16-35mm L f/2.8 IS @ 16mm | ISO: 400 | f/8 | 1/160 | Provincetown MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: i dream
“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall unveil. ” — James Allen
Dreams are invaluable – they can offer us creative vision and set us free from worry. Our dreams, whether done while sleeping or in a fully awake state of mind, are the very fuel that inspire us to create a work of art, or a business. They are paramount in all we do.
Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats wants to nurture your dreams with you; we can explore, guide and help you bring them to be. In fact, we’d LOVE to do that with you.
Until we meet…please share with us what your dreams are…what do you dream of doing, being or creating? We’d really love to know what your dreams are about.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS @ 200mm | ISO: 125 | f/4.0 | 1/1250 | Buffalo NY | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: i see light
“Photography is the literature of light; the cinematographer (photographer) is a writer who utilizes light, shadow, tonality and color tempered with their experience, sensitivity, intelligence and emotion to imprint their own style and personality on a given work…” — Vittorio Storaro, Director of Photography
When you look at your world around you, what do you see? More so, what kind of light do you observe? Are you aware of the expansiveness, expressions and subtleties of light? …how it bends, shapes and colors your world around you…it’s nuances at different times throughout the day, or even at night…it’s reflections on water, off of substances and onto others, can be so interesting… Observing the gift of light is, in itself, a remarkable gift!
Practicing this observation of light will bring you present in your moments – to be in the light; literally, a part of it as it surrounds you. Once you begin to look fully, in your present moments, seeing light, and your world around you can profoundly change you – it grounds you, brings you peace, yet it can leave you in awe and excite you all at once, as observing then becomes an excursion from your norm.
I would love for you to practice seeing light; watch it change, and then observe the feelings you have within you as you stay present in your observations of light. Look deeply… What do you see? ‘I see __________________ .’
Share the experience with us here. Then, delve a little deeper by practicing this exercise in seeing at one of our Zen Photography Retreats, where we will fully immerse you in a whole new way of seeing…a whole new light.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 16-35mm L f/2.8 IS @ 16mm | ISO: 400 | f/5.6 | 1/160 | Venice FL | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: photographing fireworks
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” — George Carlin
We’ve a holiday approaching. Holidays traditionally mean that we’ll be spending time relaxing and having fun with family, or friends that have become family. It’s a perfect time to get out the camera to practice photographing the people, places and things we love.
One of the things people love and long to photograph for themselves are fireworks – they can often-times take our breath away.
Photographing fireworks is really not that difficult to do, but there are a few things you need to prepare for that will ensure some success for yourself. Below are Zen Photography S|W|R’s Mini-Free Photo Workshop with tips and suggestions for those of you who own a DSLR camera and want to try your hand at photographing fireworks. To forewarn you, this post is rather long, but I saw no other way to present the detailed information – enjoy.
Zen Photography S|W|R Top 11 Tips for Successfully Photographing Fireworks:
1. Vantage Point: scout the location for the fireworks before you set up so you are confident that your position will produce a pleasing composition. And, because you won’t have a lot of time to change your actual position once you are shooting, consider:
a. The direction that the wind blows because you’ll want to have the fireworks between you and the smoke they produce to keep the shots as clear as they can be. Your position should be camera – fireworks – smoke.
b. Your position should also allow for a view of the sky that is as unobstructed as possible.
c. Do include people, landmarks or other interesting skyline features in your composition and do consider producing silhouettes.
d. Pay attention to your horizon line and framing: fireworks are a great example of the rule of thirds in action (section your viewing frame into three equal horizontal and three equal vertical sections, then keep your subject out of the middle of the frame!); keep your horizon line level and low.
e. Decide if you want to shoot vertically, which is a lovely format to focus more on the fireworks as they reach high into the sky, and if you have either accurate positioning that allows for vertical shots, or a zoom lens that can get you positioned for highlighting the fireworks alone – or, horizontally, if you are going for dramatic landscapes to accompany the fireworks display.
f. Remember that initially, once the fireworks begin, you will need to adjust your composition, depending on their positioning in the sky. This can be tricky, so be prepared for making this adjustment at the start.
2. The most important piece of equipment you’ll need is a tripod; it is critical for keeping your DSLR camera stable, for keeping your horizon line level and in adjusting composition and framing.
3. Other suggested equipment:
a. A lens that allows for a wide-angle view (a minimum of 28mm, but it’s ok if you only have a 50mm – you’ll just have to be careful of your positioning with a lens that does not have a wide angle of view).
b. A minimum f/stop of f/5.6 (you will finally be able to use the lens that came in the kit when you purchased your camera with some success!). More on this in settings below.
4. Shoot your camera in M – Manual mode and put your lens on M – Manual focus.
5. No flash is necessary; be sure to turn your flash off.
6. Have a flashlight so you can see as you initially set up and adjust your camera settings.
7. Use the self-timer feature on your camera to reduce vibration and any possible camera shake when tripping the shutter button, especially if you don’t have a remote shutter release. If you have a remote shutter release, use it; it’s most helpful in this situation.
8. ISO setting should be at 100 or lower. ISOs higher than 400 produce digital noise in any photograph. However, if you have an automatic noise reduction setting in your camera, now is the time to find it, turn it on and keep it on; a little extra noise reduction can never be bad.
9. Focusing: manually set your focus to infinity (the ∞ symbol on the distance scale on the lens), then back it up to just a bit so the focus index line is set just before the infinity symbol; trust me on this tip!
10. Bring multiple memory cards and extra camera batteries and take a LOT of photographs. In this instance, where you are dealing with some unpredictable things such as timing (unless you have that remote shutter release), the many photographs you will take will likely produce a few great images. This is the time to experiment and have fun, not worry about getting things perfectly perfect, so come equipped to shoot to decrease any disappointment or frustrations.
11. Have fun and experiment as much as you can! If you have time, try other settings just to compare results from those I’ve suggested.
Zen Photography S|W|R Top 8 Setting Suggestions for Photographing Fireworks:
1. Tripod, DSLR camera level on the tripod and rule of thirds in play, whether you are shooting vertically or horizontally.
2. Camera Settings: set to M – Manual.
3. ISO: 100 – you are photographing very bright subjects that will light up the sky and buildings all around you, so a low ISO is critical to capture the details in the shots.
4. Lens: 24mm, or 28mm fixed lens, or a Zoom lens that is a 24mm-to-70mm, or 18mm-to-135mm (typical kit lens) – a wider angle lens is a subjective choice.
5. Lens Focus: set the focus control to Manual then manually move the focus ring to align the lens focus index line to just slightly in front of the Infinity symbol on the camera’s scale.
6. f/stop: f/8 or f/11 regardless of your lens. We’ve had great success at f/8 with our 24mm lens.
7. Shutter Speed: the shutter speed is the next most important consideration after your Tripod and Vantage Point and you must have your camera on the Manual setting to photograph so you can control your camera settings and shutter speed fully. I cannot tell you what your shutter speed will be exactly, but I can tell you that it will likely be somewhere between 1 second and 6 seconds, and could even fall at .5 (a half of a second) and may even go up to 10 seconds, depending on how bright the fireworks display, the setting, weather, smoke, etc. a great place to begin photographing will be around 2.5 seconds and make your adjustments for either more exposure (slower shutter speeds) or less exposure (faster shutter speeds) from there.
8. B – the Bulb Setting is used on occasion when you want to create one image with multiple fireworks bursts: on B the focal plane shutter stays open until you decide to close it. A tricky and quick way to close and open it is to use a 8×10 piece of black cardboard or foamcore, holding it against the front of the lens as the focal plane shutter remains open then quickly removing it to capture multiple bursts on the one “frame,” but this may lead to moving your camera out of position if not done gently and carefully.
There; no more how to photograph fireworks secrets or fears. All this takes is a willingness to create, enough excitement to motivate you to get out there to shoot, and patience with yourself and the outcome as you learn how to do this on your own.
Enjoy your holiday, your family and friends, and those fireworks! Please feel free to comment here on the blog on your successes or any frustrations, and please feel free to post some of the images you created at our Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats FaceBook page – we’d LOVE to see your results. Enjoy Independence Day fully.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 24 – 70mm L f/2.8 @ 24mm | ISO: 100 | f/8 | 0.6 sec | Pittsburgh, PA | Image refined cropped, minimally processed + enhanced in PS5
blog post: contemplative photography
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” — Buddha
Whether or not it is a single flower we approach photographically, or the abstractions of shadows and light, the point here is that photographic “seeing” goes much deeper than what we are actually seeing.
There is an almost intuitive seeing and a knowing involved in photographing…what direction is the light coming from – am i adding light to my subject or scene, or using the ambient light alone – is the light high or low, blue, pink, yellow or orange – how am i relating to my subject, or to my light – what or who is my subject – what rules of photographic design am i going to use as i photograph – will i use selective focus or selective composition – do i want it to be a colorful image, or do i desire the simplicity (or complexity) of a black + white image…these decisions are spontaneously and intentionally considered as you contemplate the outcome of your image oftentimes in what can be mere moments.
The mental focus used to create a photographic image is nothing short of miraculous; nearly as miraculous as the single flower…but not quite…
I believe that when we can step beyond looking and move more towards seeing the miracles present in our chosen subjects and the miracles in the light and in composition, it can change our whole approach to our photography.
When we contemplate the purpose and message of our photography it can open our creativity to growth we never thought possible.
Helping people move more towards contemplative photography is exactly what we love to do.
Join us for a Zen Photography Workshop and create with intention. An on-line workshop on Contemplative Photography that will be available by July 2012. We believe you will find it to be of great value if you are looking to see differently.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 IS @ 70mm | ISO: 100 | f/4.0 | 1/1250 | Provincetown MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: now what?
“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” — Lao Tzu
You’ve attained technical mastery with your camera and perhaps even with on-/off-camera lighting. now what?
How do you connect; how do you move from the typical to the extraordinary? what to do, what to see…differently, or compose…differently; how to go about creating uniquely; what is to be done to stretch yourself artistically.
If you are asking these questions you are ready to move yourself towards more personal, artistic and professional growth.
Team Zen has inspiring ideas to challenge your growth and help you move yourself towards your goals.
A Zen Photography Workshop or Retreat can be the stepping stone to your journey . come join us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 70-200mmmm L f/2.8 @ 185mm | ISO: 100| f/3.5 | 1/2000 | Presque Isle Erie PA | Image refined cropped, processed + enhanced in PS5
blog post: attainment
“I have so overcome the mechanics of my camera that it functions responsive to my desires, my shutter coordinating with my brain is released in a way, as natural as I might move my arm. I am beginning to approach actual attainment in photography — that in my ego of two or three years ago I thought to have already reached. It will be necessary for me to destroy, to unlearn, and then rebuild upon the mistaken presumptuousness of my past.” — Edward Weston
Ego interferes with our personal and professional growth; it’s a constant battle to be aware of ego and keep it in check.
Edward Weston was a Master Photographer who continues to inspire through his work and wisdom, even thought he is no longer with us.
I am one of those photographers who believe in mastering the technical aspects of photographing because it can set us free to create imagery that can astound. it is my opinion that when you shoot in “P” / Program mode, it’s the easy way out. it’s like cheating on the test; all the answers are there for us, even if they are mediocre answers. Program mode doesn’t allow for us to stretch our creativity, it simply allows us to create just like everyone else, and then deludes us into thinking we are fantastic photographers. well, delusions will only get us so far in anything we choose to do.
Team Zen wants you to have success, whether you are photographing as a career choice, for your self, as a parent or an enthusiast who simply wants to learn to be more proficient with their DSLR.
Let your ego go. take a risk and learn the skills that will be of great service to you and bring you joy. Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats can help. come join us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone