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Introduction

My journey into photography as a spiritual practice began in Poudre Canyon, northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. I traveled this gorgeous river canyon at a time when I was facing a major crossroads in my life. The joy of photographing Poudre River allowed me to let go of my concerns and struggles in decision making. I sank into the beauty of the scenery and the peaceful presence of the Spirit as I recorded images of the river. The photographic experience absorbed me completely that morning.

When I turned off the highway into a parking area, a narrow one-lane wooden bridge lay ahead of me. The bridge looked familiar, but this was my first visit to Poudre Canyon. Why did I recognize it? Suddenly, I realized it looked like bridges I have seen in my dreams. Narrow one-lane bridges always show up in my dreams when I am facing transitions in my spiritual life.

I stopped before crossing this particular bridge. I was currently out of work because my job had been eliminated. What other transition was I facing? I meditated on the bridge and the spiritual journey ahead of me. Finally, I heard God say, “It is time to take what you know about spirituality and spiritual practices and apply it to your photography.” I had been compartmentalizing the two pursuits—spirituality and photography. Even though I had applied spirituality to my photo outings, I had done so at a subconscious level. Now was the time to bring the two together and cross the bridge into a new adventure.

Photography as a Spiritual Practice

Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera is based on the premise that photography can be a spiritual practice. Spiritual journeys can inform photography, and photography can inform and deepen our spiritual journeys.

We will focus on the spirituality behind our journey so that we may better photograph what we see in front of us. This book does not deal with technical aspects of photography; many printed and online resources teach technique. Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera brings together our cameras and the spiritual beings that we all are.

I write from a Christian perspective because that is my background. However, you may adapt the concepts of God or Spirit for your own belief system. If your spiritual concepts differ from mine, change the language and fill in the gaps as needed. The point is that we are all spiritual beings; as such, we have the opportunity to record photographs with our souls as well as our minds.

One day in conversation with another photographer we both agreed on the excellence of the composition and technical aspects of her work. She commented, “Technically I know this is good, and yet something is missing. What is it?” I replied, “Where is the spirituality? Where is God?” Photography for meditation focuses on going deeper into our relationship with God. The practices can become a pathway that opens us to experience the thin place where our soul and the heart of God meet.

Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera

I base the title of the book, Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera, on a two-part photography journey. The first component of meditation behind the camera involves the idea of meditation before, during, and directly after a photographic experience. In meditation behind the camera we invite the Spirit to join us on the journey and apply spiritual practices to the act of photography.

The concept of photography as a spiritual practice does not end when we return home. Recording an image represents only half of the experience. The second component involves meditation in front of the camera. This concept centers on the images we recorded. Meditation in front of the camera uses the images themselves as a way to deepen our ongoing spiritual walk.

Who We Are as Photographers

Images like the one above remind me that I am created by God. The world is so much bigger than any one person. In awe I admire the beauty of creation and understand that individuals are only a small piece of the full picture. Psalm 104 speaks to this idea:

These [all creation] look to you

to give them their food in due season;

when you give to them, they gather it up;

when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

When you send forth your spirit they are created;

and you renew the face of the ground. (vss. 27-30)

Yet, we are an integral part of God’s creative process. Madeleine L’Engle, a prolific author and speaker, says, “We cannot create until we acknowledge our createdness.”¹ In Genesis 1–2, God creates humans and gifts humankind with the creative challenge of naming the animals and caring for the well-being of the world. Landscape photography in particular opens the photographer to human connections with creation.

Once we acknowledge we are part of creation, then as photographers we can focus on the idea that we are cocreators with God. Each time we pick up the camera, invite God into the process, and record an image, we cocreate a piece of art with God. L’Engle goes on to say, “An artist [photographer] is a nourisher and a creator who knows that during the act of creation there is collaboration. We do not create [a photograph] alone.”²

We do not travel the journey of meditation on both sides of the camera alone. The Spirit walks with us as we move out into the world as artists and storytellers.

We are also pilgrims on a journey that is not always easy. When we open ourselves to the creative presence of the Spirit, we uncover vulnerable places in our soul. Places of pain and hurt, places of deep joy, places of uncertainty and lack of confidence can all rise up unexpectedly in the creative process. Prayer and meditation help us walk through this part of our journey. The same Spirit who offers creative presence also joins us as a companion and comforter for the journey.

How to Use This Book

Part One: Meditation Behind the Camera, explores the act of photography as a spiritual practice. I arranged the chapters like a day of photography, although there is fluidity of practices throughout the day. The day begins with Centering, Listening, and Waiting (chapters 1–3) before we leave the house and right after arriving at our destination. Then by using the practice of Being Attentive (chapter 4), we sense where the Spirit is leading in the field.

Once we have the lay of the land, we approach the day as those Seeing the Story (chapter 5): what story are we being called to tell? We explore Practicing Silence (chapter 6) and experience Healing (chapter 7) toward the end of the trip. However, these final practices are significant components throughout the whole day. Chapter 8 focuses on reflection at the end of the day.

Each chapter has two concluding sections: Reflections and Ideas for Focusing Your Photography. The Reflections section guides us in using photography to inform our spiritual life. Ideas for Focusing Your Photography offers suggestions based on the chapter’s topic. All of the photography suggestions can be found at the end of the book.

Take time with the ideas and exercises presented. There’s no need to try every exercise on each photo trip! Work through the concepts one at a time. Becoming more familiar with the book allows the Spirit to guide you regarding the right exercises for each particular trip. Read chapter 8 alongside the others because it will deepen your reflections at the end of each chapter.

Part Two: Meditation in Front of the Camera, explores how to use the images we record to deepen our faith journeys. The chapters are Praying, Focusing, and Contemplating. Again, try the exercises one at a time. Each photography trip will emphasize specific types of reflection.

A note on language. Throughout the book I use words and phrases like record, write, receive, and journaling with the camera to describe the act of clicking the shutter button. I have purposefully not used words like take, aim, shoot, and capture in an effort to avoid combative language. My rationale for language choices receives fuller explanation in chapter 4, Being Attentive.

The language in the book also focuses on nature, landscape, and architectural photography—my specialty areas. If your specialty involves people, wildlife, or the street, make the transitions in your mind. The concepts in the book can be used with many types of photography. The presence you bring into your photography makes a difference in the quality of the experience and your spiritual journey.

The Journey

Meditation on Both Sides of the Camera is a journey of seeing, exploring, listening, and growing. The practices can lead to a deepened spiritual life. They can also make a difference in the actual images you record. Slow down; invite God into the process; follow the Spirit; and enjoy the journey ahead.