How we move through this world

I had lunch with a friend today. When you’re self-employed and work from home like I do it’s always a treat to meet a friend for lunch somewhere lovely: today it was Jamie’s Italian in Bath. When our starters arrived I whipped out my iPhone, stood up and took a few shots of the bruschetta slathered in olive oil and crushed borlotti beans—luckily Hanne knew not to start eating until I’d got my shot. The same thing happened when our pasta arrived, and our coffees too. It’s not often I get to eat in restaurants so taking photos to record the occasion makes sense. But I also do this when I’m at home. And when I’m in the supermarket. And when I’m eating breakfast with my 18 month-old nephew. I take photos of the fallen leaves at my feet and broken doorways and daisy circles. I take photographs to anchor myself more firmly in the moment and use my cameras to capture the potential photos I see everywhere I look. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing—for as long as I am able to take a breath and lift my camera to my eye, I will be creating images with pixels and film. Do you have this urge too?

My constant—some would argue obsessive—picture taking is simply the way I move through the world. Photography is like a form of meditation for me and when life is feeling harder than usual I take myself outside and look at the world through my lens. There’s always a new way to see things—it’s uncanny, really. When I was grieving the untimely death of my partner it was my camera that helped me reconnect with myself and my world, and it’s the reason why I know that creativity is the fastest way to access our truest selves.

Next month I’m leading a brand new e-course sharing everything I know about photography. Photo Meditations: Infusing Your Images with Soul is a five-week exploration of the inspirational and the practical for anyone who wishes to sink deeper into their own photographic journey. We’ll be diving into compositional theory, self-portraiture, shooting for your blog, story-telling and so much more. I should probably mention right now that I’m not a very technical sort of photographer—I’m going to be sharing some important basics in the first week, but I’m not concerned with histograms and what have you. What excites me, and what I hope to pass on to my students, is a passion for creating pictures that tell stories. That move the viewer. That convey what I feel. That hold layers of meaning. That delight the eye. That’s what we’ll be exploring in Photo Meditations. 

Would you like to join me? 

Please leave a comment here between now and Friday (midnight EST) for a chance to win a complementary registration for Photo Meditations!

Images and words by Susannah Conway; photographer, writer and the creator of the Unravelling e-courses. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, her first book, This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart (Globe Pequot Press), launches in June 2012. You can read about her shenanigans at SusannahConway.com. Registration for her new class, Photo Meditations, opens this Saturday, October 15th.

**Congratulations to Julie Fairchild for winning a spot in Susannah's class! Thanks to all for commenting.

Comments

[kamana]

i would love the opportunity to do one of your ecourses. combining photography, story telling and soul searching ... what a journey that will be!

[Esther]

I'd love to join you and I loved this post. (And yes, I have this urge, too)

[Amy Palko]

My relationship with my camera, I'm sorry to say, has become a little sporadic. But a couple of days ago I shared a couple of photos I'd taken on FaceBook & Flickr, and received such lovely comments on them. It made me realize how much I take my photography for granted - how I don't appreciate it with the depth that it deserves.

So I just love the idea of photo meditations - a chance to develop a deeper relationship to me camera and, through that, the world. Gorgeous!
Amy
xx

[Marcie]

I love how you describe photography as a meditation..and a way to take you out of your life and beyond. That's exactly what it's like for me. And - sometimes I find the oddest things that move me:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/10/12/hole-in-the-wall.html

[Brandi]

I've had your class bookmarked since you first announced it! I can't wait to take it, one way or another, and it's going to be a birthday present to myself. I'm just starting my photography journey, but I love holding my camera and capturing the life around me. The thing I'm most excited about is learning how to tell stories with my photographs. I'm not particularly interested in the technical side of it (or, I am, sort of, in that I want to know how to operate my camera) as much as I am the emotional side. Can't wait for class to start!

[Caryn]

Thank you for this opportunity...I would be thrilled to win a spot in your new e-course! :-)

[xanthe]

HI... how lovely to see you here (you know I love your food shots) x.

[Sage]

Lovely photo and I totally get where you're coming from. Sometimes I worry that I'm missing life because I'm so consumed with capturing it, but I can't seem to put away my camera.

Your class sounds wonderful, I'd love the opportunity.

[Janice]

This would be an extrodinary opportunity!

[LeAnne]

So much of what you wrote resonates with me. I'd love to participate in your e-course. Count me in.

[Christineellen]

Oooooo, sounds like a great class!!!!

[pthurmond1]

It would be my very first on-line photography class. What an exciting time that would be for me!!

[Pam]

This is a wonderful opportunity. I know every person commenting here, hopes they are chosen. And while we all want to win, It is an exciting feeling to wait for the name to be announced, and that is also good for the soul.

[Lori P.]

WOW! Photography (my forever passion) and meditation (a fairly new passion) combined?!?! Sounds heavenly!

[Cheri]

This course sounds fantastic... maybe what I need right now to help me deal with some issues I'm facing... I would love to win a seat!

[Colleen]

It would be such a dream to win this class! I love your work and your approach to story-telling, soulful photography. Thanks for this opportunity :)

[AmyG]

a chance to take an ecourse? with you? To learn about adding soul to pictures? Sign me up! it sounds heavenly!

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

I've been following some blogs recently that incorporate story telling in their images and I find myself moved by those types of posts. I tend to shoot what moves me but would love to incorporate more of the story telling aspect in my Photography.

[lucy]

I agree -- photography is my meditation, my prayer, my centering, my way of seeing the world. It gives me hope and joy. Thanks for offering a wonderful opportunity to take the e-coourse -- I'd love to join you!

[Heather]

I am on a quest to capture and share my world the way I see it. I've been working on improving and following my instinct. I also want to use those photographs to tell a story. A photographic story teller. Being able to photograph a moment and wrap a story around it is the legacy I want to leave for my children. I would love to have a seat in this class.

[melissa]

thank you for this exquisite and generous offering. yes, it would be pure delight, deep pleasure and a profound honor to join you on the journey. abrazos y amor. xo

[Doris]

Photo Meditation. Wow, I've never thought of it like that. But, you're so right. That's exactly how I feel too.

I'd love the opportunity to participate in this e-course. It sounds like a lot of fun!

[anngeedee]

I would love to join this class. My camera helps me move through the world and it's time to make that a bigger part of my life.

[Michelle (Mamadunk)]

I would love the chance to participate in your course!!

[darlene]

This course sounds just right for me, i would love to win the opportunity to participate in your e-course.
I am on a journey through Breast Cancer right now and have been documenting my journey with photos - photography is my passion and it soothes my soul.

[Lisa Robinson]

I would really enjoy being part of this course. Combining inspiration with the practical sounds wonderful, and I'd like to explore this.

[Emma]

I would love this opportunity! It sounds amazing. I'm not particularly technical, being fairly new to photography and this would be a wonderful chance to learn more with like minded people.

[Barbara]

Your courses aré amazing!!:-)

[Angela]

Your course sounds wonderful!!!! Just what I need!

[Rebecca]

Wow - what a wonderful class! I would love to have a spot in it! I totally get how you feel. Thank you so much for the chance!

[autumn sun]

i would love the opportunity to be a part of your e-course. what a wonderful experience that would be.
thanks for the offering !

[Diane Downs]

What a wonderful journey that would be! I would love to take your course. Thanks for the chance to win.

[patricia]

I also feel that my camera is a tool for meditation. What a great idea for a class-----I would love to learn more about it.

[marina]

this is such a beautiful post and the photo with your shadow does feel like an image coming from a moment of presence. your words are so inspiring and your new e-course seems awesome! I would love to participate in it, thank you for this chance!!!

[Brenda]

In my post-retirement life, watching pennies is part of the deal. I lust after taking your class but had decided that the penny-watching had to take precedence. So I will throw my hat in the ring and hope against hope, that my number comes up for the complimentary registration spot.

[Sher Mattison]

absolutely! I am on a quest to be 'present' - to really 'SEE' the world around me. I am very interested in your class and what you have to share.

[Kathy O]

I wish I remembered more often to take more pictures of just stuff... The mundane can be made so special.

[Danielle]

Yes please! With a cherry on top ;-) What a fantastic concept, I love it!

[tara on the wander]

i so get this. i'd love to join you!

[Sonja (a.k.a. Boots)]

As I sip my morning coffee after pulling an all-nighter with a feverish child, nothing could sound more wonderful than your new class description.

[mama-pan | mary frances]

what a gift this class sounds like--fingers crossed....

[MaryK]

I could really use this course I think. I'm in a search for myself after a great loss and photography has always been a passion and one I want back in my life.

[Meghan @ Life Refocused]

I so love Susannah's view on photography. Would love to be in Photo Meditations.

[Kristen]

struggling to work through loss i found you and began to peel back the layers and heal. i'm excited about this new ecourse you're offering and hope to particpate! not everyone feels a connection to an instructor, things don't always resonate. with you, everything resonates and i find myself saying "yes! yes." as each lesson comes. you are amazing. and this is just going to be one more of your brilliant, amazing ideas come to fruition.

[gail]

I would love to take your class...I have many of the same feelings about what photography does for me.

[Carrie]

I am new to your blog (AND JUST LOVE IT!) and would love an opportunity to win a free class.

[lisa cox]

wow! i would love to win a spot. it sounds like great fun!

[Stephanie]

Thanks for the wonderful opportunity, I could learn SO much!

[Lynn]

I would love the chance to learn more about my photos and myself!

[Ellen]

I'm in a rut, I need a jump start - your e-class sounds perfect.