Cultivating stillness

Space and stillness is the light that illuminates the beauty of our soul’s being. –Adyashanti

One thing I appreciate the most with my photography is it provides an outlet to seek stillness in life. I appreciate the opportunity to slow down when I reflect on the moment before I push the shutter. Since most of my photography is done in nature, where I have no control over the elements, and I have to surrender to the moment. I therefore find it is in nature where I find my stillness, the vast space that gives me room to breathe. I see stillness in a blade of grass, reflections in the pond, the fog that hangs over the horizon.

We know how to work with shutter speed to capitalize on different motions, but how do we convey the sense of stillness? To me, it goes beyond just photographing an object at a standstill. In Chinese culture, with “Tao” philosophy, we talk about Wu-wei, the non-doing. Before we photograph “stillness”, we first need to learn to cultivate stillness and to live with silence. One of the easiest ways is to quietly sit and observe, not necessarily in a sacred place. It is easier said than done though. I learned it first-hand how challenging it was when I first started my meditation practice. I realized my mind was going 100 mph in all directions at the beginning of my practice. It took me years to learn to follow my breath, even then I know my streams of thoughts never come to a complete halt, but there lies the real practice, the moment I notice my thoughts are taking a wild turn, I have the freedom to choose to engage or disengage with my train of thoughts.

Over the years, I have found different ways to cultivate stillness in my life. One of the keys is to manage my media input. In this stage of age, we are easily overwhelmed by all kinds of stimulating sensory inputs. I think it is healthy to have some dopamine detox from time to time. I remember there were times when I was on trips where I had no access to any media, no internet or mobile phone access, somehow, I didn’t feel I missed out on anything. I found it enjoyable when I was completely detached from the onslaught of motion from modern civilization. When I had the opportunity to have moments of calm, I found the sense of well-being reflected in my work, and the feedback I receive shows my audience share my sentiment too.

When I close my eyes and enjoy the stillness for a few moments, I like to use my senses other than my vision to help me see before I take any photos. I like to smell the fragrance of flowers in the garden, feel the texture on the bark of a tree, listen to the running water of a stream, wind rustling trees. Without the moment of pause, I would not have given myself the precious opportunity to be engaged in the environment, hence I may not have the insight to best capture the essence of a place.

I also like to actively seek solitude, the time to be on my own without any company. I like to do my thinking while running, meditating, taking walks on nature trails. Many of my creative ideas come from those activities. I enjoy the opportunity to be in an environment without any voices. I enjoy the quiet time to listen to my own thoughts.

When I am in complete stillness, I can see more deeply. Seeing more deeply is a way to be more present in any moment and in any place. It is about taking time to observe your surroundings, see everything as new and follow your sense of curiosity. Before I take out my camera, I like to take time to observe without any preconceived ideas, and to contemplate what the moment conveys.

We all have our unique ways to cultivate stillness. It is within our grasp. What we seek is well within us. Each moment is a gift. Stop. Breathe in. Breathe out.