“Seeing is more important than what we see” challenges our assumption about photography. Habitually, we ignore the “seeing” and value only “what we see.” Naturally, the seeing and the seen cannot be separated. They are one but not the same. Seeing is primary: There are no pictures without seeing. Similarly, there are no sounds without hearing, thoughts without thinking, feelings without feeling, experiences without experiencing, or colors without light.
The transition from “what we see” to “seeing” requires we turn inward. My book, Seeing With Your Own Eyes 1, a collection of short essays, explores this process in more detail.
In this article About Seeing, I want to share what stands out in this journey:
- The moment of joy and satisfaction is not the picture but the moment of seeing clearly. No longer distracted by thoughts and ideas, we feel energized and free.
- “Seeing” or the “flash of perception” happens when we discover our inner eye, which has as much to do with the picture as the other eye, which looks through the viewfinder.
- Emphasizing the vision of the inner eye changes the quality of our images, making it possible to have different photographic styles despite the inherent objectivity of the camera.
- There are no different kinds of photography, only different ways of seeing.
- All approaches to photography are equally valid. Some may emphasize technique; some may underscore post-production, etc.
- The process is more important than the outcome and the content.
- A contemplative meditation practice, such as zazen, facilitates the moments of seeing from within. Still, it is not uncommon for people to find unique, creative ways by themselves. You don’t need to be a Zen Buddhist.
- Our involvement is vital. When we are deeply engaged, we forget ourselves and are fully present2. This involvement helps us overcome creative blocks and improves our ability to capture the essence of a subject.
- Integrating the contemplative approach into daily life is possible, provided we allow ourselves to be “one” with whatever we do.
Notes
1 Mohelsky Helmut, Seeing With Your Own Eyes, Helmut Mohelsky, 2020.
2 aboutseeing.com/articles/what-does-it-mean-to-be present