Posts in Category: PHOTO COACHING
Creative Zen Photography 1:1 PHOTO COACHING
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
Basic Photography Workshop Recap
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Our Basic Photography + DSLR Camera Workshop was a lot of fun, but the time together went all too quickly…
The workshop was hosted by Christine Goodis at her contemporary Lawrenceville salon, Salon Christine purposefully so we could include a photo walk to the historical (and magical) Allegheny Cemetery (a great location for creating photos!) where we put the info provided in the lecture into practice. We had a beautifully inviting space, great food to partake in during the lecture and delightful champagne and more snacks to enjoy after the photo walk. Thank you, Christine, for hosting and providing such a beautiful space for us, and thank you to all the workshop attendees for participating – I am grateful that you spent your Sunday afternoon with me!
The workshop was full and weather held wonderfully for us – it was a bit cold, but the sun graced our presence and allotted some great afternoon light for creating photos. Photos and “Ah Ha Moments” from the participants will follow soon, and I’ll add them here after all have been submitted. In the meanwhile, enjoy some of the details of the day!
You’ll notice the Zen Photography Exposure Triangle + Photography Guide smack in the middle of the image above…it is my gift to all attendees of workshops or 1:1 coaching sessions and is a great field reference to guide you as you practice and apply both the technical and creative photographic principles that I offer instruction on.
I can’t wait for the next workshop! xoxo
Namaste, Joanne Bartone Photographer
blog post: 2013 fall foliage workshop
“Knock on the sky and listen to the sound.” — Zen Saying
Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the profound colors, pungent fragrances and autumnal foods this time of the year, but mostly I feel that Autumn it is an opportunity to reflect on the events and goals that previously occurred in Spring and Summer, and consider resting and regrouping through the Winter months to (hopefully) face the changing seasons once again.
I see beautiful colors throughout the Winter, Spring’s colors are bountiful and Summer moves from chartreuse to forest green, but Autumn? …visually there is no other season like it!
So to help you create from this most visually stimulating time of year I’m offering a 3-hour Photography Workshop on October 12th + 27th, from 6 AM to 9 AM and then again on October 13th + 26, 3 PM to 6 PM at Mingo Creek County Park.
The goal? …is first, to help you envision your photos and then secondly, help you create from all the potential that will surround us.
You will learn:
- ISO, Aperture + Shutter Speed: the Exposure Triangle and head home with your own Zen Photography Exposure Guide
- To apply the principles of composition and how to view scenes differently.
- Understand how those camera dials can help you achieve what you envision.
- Learn to shoot comfortably in M (Manual) Mode.
- Understand how different lenses will affect your exposure and composition.
What to bring:
- Your enthusiasm + questions
- A Tripod
- Your DSLR Camera
- All the Lenses you have
- Compact Flash Cards
CLICK HERE to register – pre-pay/pre-purchase required. Once you register, you’ll be given the meet-up location.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 70 mm | ISO: 200 | f/8 | 1/8 | Falling Water, Farmington, PA | Image refined cropped 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: learning for fun
“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
I recently spent some 1:1 time with one of the Zen Photography Safari attendees (Arron H.) helping him learn about the resources available for processing the images he had taken at one of our Safaris.
It was great to hear the enthusiasm in Arron’s approach to learning about photography, but it was even more wonderful to see him smile as we went through his images, hear how proud he was of the images he created and it was exciting to know that Arron has continued to experiment with what he learned since his first Safari.
Arron’s level of photographic experience could be defined as enthusiast / beginner, but it is obvious that his level of excitement and desire to continue to improve his skills will continue to fuel his success.
Arron did something for himself that was fun; something he’s been wanting to do for a long time that inspired him as he moved towards goals he has set for himself.
It was really enjoyable and satisfying to know that we have helped Arron become more proficient and have more control over his camera.
Helping people grow into their photographic skills is exactly what we love to do.
Join us on a Zen Photography Safari and put a little more joy into your life.
Here’s a quote from Arron about his experience:
“Hi Joanne! I cannot thank you enough for the awesome experience at Carrie Furnace. I learned so much during our outing, and the opportunity to shoot such an interesting canvas fueled my passion for photography even more. I really appreciate the insight and detailed instruction and seeing what my camera could do with different settings and lenses; I can hardly believe I took some of these photos. I may not be ready to independently shoot on my own, but I am definitely taking better pictures than before, and I can’t wait until we can go out and shoot different places. 🙂 ” ~ Arron H.
I can’t wait either Arron! the photo above and the ones below are examples of Arron’s great use of depth of field and composition:
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
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 70-200mmmm L f/2.8 @ 100mm | ISO: 100| f/5.6 | 1/1000 | Boston MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: nourishment
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — Chinese Proverb
If i tell you how to do something without showing you, without teaching you the hows and explaining the what-fors, what will you learn? you will learn that i am full of myself only.
As you seek to create your own definition of what you feel success is, we must guide you in a way that provides you with information and opportunities combined with exploration and dialog. this will involve respect, honesty, ethics and an open and flexible mind on both the part of the teacher and student. it is a mutual dance we share that will lead to personal and professional enlightenment.
Team Zen will impart skills that you can take, use and blossom from by teaching you “to fish” at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats. come join us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D | Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 35mm | ISO: 400| f/8 | 1/100 | Provincetown MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: yin + yang of exposure
A super-simplistic primer on exposure meant for individuals who are in the early stages of learning photography.
Reciprocity. noun. [res-uh-pros-i-tee]: a mutual exchange. it happens in life, and it happens in photography.
In determining exposure when you are photographing, it’s helpful if you remember to recall the principle of reciprocity: “if i take a stop from here; i must give a stop there. take two stops; give two stops, etc.” nothing earth-shattering, but beautifully balanced by making adjustments that are are merely doubled or halved.
The yin + yang symbol and what it represents is a great way to illustrate the concept of finding the balance in exposing an image. the yin + yang symbol itself, traditionally black and white, could even be used to represent 18% gray! the interconnectedness of all things is wonderful.
For now, we are going to keep this example generalized and in super-simplistic terms so you won’t become too confused. let’s keep our ISO fixed, since its adjustment is dependent on the light that surrounds us as we are photographing, whether that light is ambient or being created with our own lighting equipment. the type of camera we are using, the focal length of the lens, or whether we are using a flash or the light available to us is not going to come into play right now. instead we will concentrate on the reciprocity of our f/stops and shutter speeds bearing in mind the statement above. our hypothetical setting will be that we are creating a portrait of a person outside and we will start with the theory that we have just created a good exposure with the following settings: f/5.6 at 1/250th (of a second)… oh, and one more side note here…you are shooting in Manual, yes, the dreaded “M” setting on the camera. why? because that “P” you always shoot in? it does not stand for “Professional” it stands for “Program,” which means the camera is controlling you.
So, with f/5.6 at 1/250, you’ve managed to create a well-exposed image where everything from the highlights (lightest parts in the image) to the shadows (darkest parts in the image) are looking even – no marching ants indicating your highlights have been blown out in this image! although you are satisfied, your creativity is begging for a sharply focused individual with that painterly-blurred background that you see so often in the magazines. what to do…what to do? …i know…RECIPROCITY.
That blurry background occurs at f/2.8 or lower (in number, but in reality is a bigger lens opening [aperture] – yes, the smaller the f/stop, the bigger the lens opening – opposite, yet still reciprocal). so, in super-simplistic terms, if you’ve adjusted your f/stop from f/5.6 to f/2.8, you have effectively made the little wheel on your camera move six one-third increments to get to f/2.8, thereby increasing the opening in your lens and allowing more light to come through it. how much more light? we don’t need to get into that for now, just know it’s more light and count the times your wheel clicked to get you to f/2.8. now, if you were to leave your shutter speed at 1/250, what do you suspect would happen? take a guess here…would your images still be properly exposed? underexposed (too dark)? or overexposed (too light)?…you are correct; it would be overexposed because you are allowing more light into the camera with a larger lens opening (aperture). so, it stands to reason then, that you have to dial the the shutter from 1/250 to 1/1000, again moving the wheel that adjust the shutter speed six times to make the adjustment that will effectively reduce the amount of light you are allowing into the camera by making the shutter speed faster. and, VIOLA! there again, is your properly exposed image, but now it has a pleasantly blurred background with a subject that is in focus. Believe me, those are very simplistic terms and they can change dependent on the lens you use, but for now do yourself a favor and experiment so you can use your camera on the “M” setting which will give you more control over the camera, rather than letting it control you.
Make sense? let me hear from you. again, there is a lot more to adjusting f/stops and shutter speeds than this brief explanation, but we’ll leave the brain-expansion for those of you who want to really delve into the depths of this conversation, let’s open a bottle of wine at a Zen Workshop or Retreat and have a go at it, shall we?
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone
ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D | Canon 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS @ 200mm | ISO: 100 | f/8 | 1/1250 | Boston MA | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5
blog post: pursue your path
“Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.” — Henry David Thoreau
The “path” of photographing has so much significance for so many people…it can be an outlet for creativity, a means to document life and loved ones, a way to earn a living…photography and the act of photographing is multifaceted! it’s a path that can instill immediate awe and excitement, both while photographing and through the visual rewards of the end result: an image that evokes emotion or memories. photography is a powerful medium of expression! no wonder so many people have such tremendous reverence for it.
Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats will assist you in refining the photographic path you have chosen, at any level of experience.
Take a moment to share what your favorite photographic subject is with us.
Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone