Learn how to have more fun taking better pictures.

This article is part three of my series on the Zen photographer.

In part 1 I introduced some concepts of mindfulness and how they apply to photography and in part 2 I talked about Silence and Trust. Reading the articles in order may yield a better understanding of the subject.

The article series is part of a larger series on better photography. I hope to answer some questions on inspiration and stimulation of the brain with this series.

Letting go - non attachment

The thought of a place is not the place.

Our minds are like magnets that catch every thought passing by. We ponder what was and what will be, what we have said, what we should have said or what we will say.

Thoughts create new thoughts, which feed other thoughts. Our mind spins endlessly faster and faster until we get distracted with new thoughts.

There is no way out of this maze, but our mind will not recognize this. We often cannot solve our problems by thinking about them, but we keep thinking.

We are always preoccupied. Many thoughts do not even make sense, but we think them anyways. Can you focus completely on this article or are other thoughts going through your head RIGHT NOW?

We need to break this endless cycle and learn how to let go, how to recognize our thoughts for what they are and let them pass without clinging to them.

We cling

We cling to our thoughts and ideas. We paint a picture in our minds about an upcoming event, a trip or a meeting. We envision how things are going to be and we cling to this idea, even when things start turning out differently. We only get frustrated if things do not go our way.

People who are involved with us, maybe fellow travelers, have preconceptions too. Theirs often clash with ours.

Things rarely turn out how we imagine. We need to approach every moment fresh, without judgment and we need to let go.

Let go

For my photography, this means that I take every situation with a clear mind. I am getting better at improvising and making the best of each situation. You can do the same.

Simply look at each moment and each location as if you were just born into this world. Identify what you like and forget about everything else.

Benefits

You will not be disappointed if the weather is not the way you envisioned it, if tourists have overrun a place or if the landscape looks different from what you thought and you will learn to maximize the potential each situation awards you.

Behind every lost opportunity is a new unique opportunity waiting for you. If you can let go, you will be able to see it and capitalize on it.

The universe is neither for you nor against you. If you can take the way things fall into place and just roll with it, you will be a winner, I guarantee it!

Non striving

Photography is very competitive. It is easy to underestimate our capabilities. Discussions in internet forums revolve around technicalities, but many of them completely fail in most other regards.

We often forget to focus on the most important aspect of photography, having fun. If you try too hard, your pictures will show it. Accept your strength and recognize that you are already perfect in many ways. Not everyone will like your work and not everyone will see the world you do.

We are constantly striving for a better future or for some elusive goal that we hope to accomplish later.

You already are in the future. Your current place is the result of all the previous thoughts and actions. Why wait and postpone everything just to find us looking into the future when we get there.

Slow down, take time and be yourself. Enjoy this moment as the culmination of everything that was and enjoy the fruits of your hard work. You are standing at a wonderful place, with a camera and you can enjoy the beauty of the world. You were born with two eyes that see wondrous things.

Acceptance

Learn to accept things for what they are and do not burden yourself with problems all the time. We constantly wish for something we think need to be happy, but we never accomplish true happiness. Learn to be happy regardless of your circumstances.

Enjoy every moment and learn to accept yourself and your feelings, positive or negative. Let the feelings wash over your, but do not cling to them. Take things for what they are, not what you want them to be.

Accept the world and the people in it, nature and the weather.

Act out of mindfulness and not out of fear or other short fused reactions.

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