Reaping the benefits

“To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

On Thanksgiving Day this week, I went for a quick photography outing during the afternoon before it was time to prepare dinner. I am so glad I went out. The day was beautiful, calm and the light was gorgeous at my favorite local haunt. It was only a brief outing, yet it reminded me why I fell for photography in the first place, and thankfully it has remained my passion to this date. Sometimes I feel like pinching myself for being so lucky to have found a hobby that suits my personality and I have been reaping the benefits for all these years.

Photography is a wonderful way to document my change through life. Often times, when I look at the photos I have taken over the years, I am amazed at the changes I have gone through both physically and emotionally. Many times, I noticed something in a photograph that wasn’t apparent when I took the photo. Sometimes it is the beautiful light, sometimes it is a simple hand gesture that would have been lost in memory if I did not take the image.

Photography has also been a great stress reliver for me. I cannot concentrate on that all-consuming problem when I turn my focus to the petals of a flower, the light glistening on the ocean water, or the majestic mountain in front of me. Obviously, the problem will not simply go away and there is still plenty for me to take care of in life, but I am always grateful I have been given this one tool that provides me with a sanctuary space to retreat too when I can use a break.

When I look at something, it is impossible for me take in every aspect that is within my vision at one go. For instance, a beautiful sunrise lasts such a brief time at the beach, I may not have the time to process how the colors play on the water, the light glowing on the sand changes as the sun continues to rise. All of these aspects are much more evident in a photo especially when the camera sees a lot differently than our human vision.

This last benefit is of particular importance to me as I get older. I am lucky where I live, I have easy access to nature galore. As I look around at the wonders of nature. I can’t help but feel a stirring at the beauty surrounding me. I realize how very small I am in this vast space of the universe. I frequently come away having this feeling there is something much bigger than me at work. Unknowingly, photography has been giving me this sense of spiritual enrichment that makes me appreciate the richness of my life ever more.