Seeing Beyond The Surface with Memphis Barbree

When photographing a scene it is easy to be so immersed in the business of our minds–the judging, the calculating, and the planning–that we miss the real and authentic image that's just below the surface. No one is immune from it. It happened to me just yesterday ... and the day before, in fact. To really see, we must disengage our thinking for a moment. That's when we can make our most powerful and authentic images.

How do I do this? Here's a few simple ways:

I start with time. To get below the surface of a place and moment I give myself permission to spend time with it. I don't mean I spend all day working with a spot. I just take an extra moment to allow possibility and magic to enter. Give yourself, and the world, time.

Then there's clearing my mind and settling the ripples of thought. I do this by simply focusing on my breath for a few minutes with my eyes closed and not thinking about anything but my breath. Just follow the in and out–clear the agenda, and just relax and breath.

If all else is failing me, I close my eyes and hold my breath for just a few seconds. (Don't make yourself pass out now … and maybe squat or sit while doing this … and not in traffic … safety first!). When I open my eyes I can sometimes see things completely differently.

Most of all I find that by relaxing, opening my heart and falling in love with the world around me, the scene before me allows the world to come and meet me and my camera!

Learn more from Memphis in her workshop

The Autumn Landscape: Capture to Print

 October 6-October 9, 2010

Visit Memphis’ web site www.memphisbarbree.com to see what she’s up to.