Changing Places » photography

Tao of Photography: Sting, Goethe, and the Creative Process

Donna — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:20:31 +0000

In describing the movement of metamorphosis in the foliage of a flowering plant, Friedemann Schwarzkopf (in his The Metamorphosis of the Given: Toward an Ecology of Consciousness), suggests that “…if one could imagine a person walking through the snow, and leaving the imprints of its feet, but with every step changing the shape of its feet, and if one would behold not the trace in the snow, perceptible to the sense-organs of the physiological eyes, but the living being that is undergoing change while it is walking, one would see with the inner eye the organ of the plant that is producing leaves.”

And what of the lesson for the photographer? If only we could see the world as Schwarzkopf – and Goethe – suggest we see a plant! The inner creative process that drives what we do (why and what we choose to look at, what moves us, what grabs our attention and demands to be expressed) is just as much a living force as what we train our lenses on in the world at large. I would argue that in order to become better – more impassioned, more sincere, more artfully truthful – artists, requires a more Goethian approach; it requires us to learn how to dwell in our subjects. Don’t focus on objects or things; focus instead on process.

via Tao of Photography: Sting, Goethe, and the Creative Process.

Happy Halloween!

Donna — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:55 +0000

Musee Rodin

Donna — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:25:01 +0000

In some ways the Musee Rodin was my favorite — the former Hotel Biron where Rodin actually worked, the beautiful gardens full of Rodin’s sculptures, watching people interact with the sculptures — it was all beautiful and fascinating. There’s also an excellent little garden cafe here which was very pleasant. It’s very fortunate that Rodin’s plan to save this place as a museum for his work succeeded — I think he would have been pleased at the result, watching people interact with his sculptures in such a great setting.

The gardens are really stunning, and very enjoyable to wander through and visit with the sculptures.

Even the Gates of Hell become beautiful in the right setting…

More Musee Rodin photos here.

Listen with your eyes

Donna — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:59:29 +0000

Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guizhou Province.–the 3rd largest waterfall in the world.

“It has to be felt deeper, below the surface, at the very point where all senses merge. Merge with them right there like a fleck of foam falling into a stream. Just by listening with your eyes you can fold back on yourself and merge into that primal stream of awareness like a river is swallowed by the immensity of the ocean. Only then will you know what point to live from. Only then will you be sure.”

- G. Bluestone
Journeys on Mind Mountain

via Whiskey River

It was almost dark on an early summer eve, and the forest was never more enchanting than now, at dusk. At dusk the mountain begins to withdraw its force back into itself and become quiescent. If you too can become quiescent, so still that you can’t think of your name, you can feel this as a palpable fact. Just become so still that your mind won’t be bothered to remember the mundane, and then you’ll feel it like you feel the shifting of the winds. Then you’ll know when the mountain changes from exhaling to inhaling. That’s not so important in itself, but the mind that is quiet enough to notice is. The mind that is not always caught up in detail is your only treasure. Stop chasing details and become still to feel it. The mind that sees details clearly but is not caught by them is like a vast borderless mirror. That mind does not oppose itself.

The half-light of the forest seemed to reveal the essence while it obscured the parts. Sometimes that’s easier, for when the pieces become too important, the essence becomes hazy and seems to withdraw. When the pieces become obscured by the half-light of evening, or better yet, by the light of detachment, the essence becomes clear and shining again. The splinters melt back into the whole. The branches grow back into the tree. Plunge in and swallow what before was merely nibbled, piece by piece. Let both life and death arrive and depart suddenly. It’s not a matter of acquiring but rather of losing. Losing your hold on all that you’ve acquired. Just making room so the profound can enter and stretch its legs.

- excerpted from Journeys On Mind Mountain,
G. BlueStone

Via Daily Zen

Red and yellow and
Pink and Green
Purple and orange and blue

I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow for you

Listen with your eyes
Listen with your eyes
And sing everything you see

You can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing along with me…

(Although it always did rather bother me as a kid that the colors of the rainbow in the song were not in the right ROYGBIV order…)

I’m such a Rebel

Donna — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Not sure what species exactly he is, but he was very excited to see me today!

We had a fun day at the San Diego Zoo with the new Rebel XSi — another 25th anniversary present!

Yeah, I’ve decided to keep the hubby. He buys me stuff and takes me places. Tomorrow — Glen Ivy Hot Springs!

Valley Spirit

Donna — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:43:02 +0000

The Valley of Flowers, in northern India’s state of Uttarakhand

The valley spirit never dies;
It is the woman, primal mother.
Her gateway is the root of heaven and earth.
It is like a veil barely seen,
Use it; it will never fail.

– Tao Te Ching, 6

The Valley Spirit is deathless,
It is called the Dark Mare.
The door of the Dark Mare,
Is called the root of heaven and earth.
Continuous, it seems to exist,
Yet in use it is inexhaustible.

– translated by Ellen M. Chen

( I like this use of “Mare”, which could be a female horse or Ocean. It brings in the image of the dark ocean, open and receptive, which really fits into the idea of the Tao. Interesting. )

“Taoists use the metaphor of gu shen, “the valley spirit.” A valley supports life, feeds the
animals who live there and provides fertile earth for agriculture. It can do this only because
it is empty. It accepts the flow of the river because it is most low and most humble. It
receives the warmth of the sun because it is wide and not filled with anything to block the
light. It brings forth life because it supports all who come to it.”
- Deng Ming-Dao, Scholar Warrior, p. 182

“One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.”
– G. K. Chesterton

“A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?” — Kahlil Gibran

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for I am the meanest son of a bitch in the valley.” — Joel Rosenberg

Camera advice

Donna — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:57:43 +0000

So, I’m looking to get a new digital SLR camera (unless someone has one they want to give/sell me… would love to pick up a used Rebel or something if you’ve bought a more recent version…) I want something pretty light, easy to use, not a lot of features but fast, and not too terribly expensive….

Suggestions/advice/comments/ideas, anyone??