Christian Meditation & Contemplative Photography - Reflections on Contemplative Photography in the light of John Main and Thomas Merton - Part 3/6

Part 3: Exposure

To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart. 

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Third appointment with the series of video reflections on contemplative photography and the various connections with Christian meditation.

This time we will consider Street Photography might help us in being more connected with reality and with our daily environment. 

Hildegard from Bingen, the great mystic of the 12th century, a benedictine nun, said: “The things that I don’t see, I don’t know them.”

Let's have a look to the introductory video:

Video 3_1 - Exposure - Introduction - "Reflections on Contemplative Photography"

Video 3_2 - Exposure - BEING EXPOSED TO REALITY - "Reflections on Contemplative Photography"

In The selfless self (p. 47) father Laurence Freeman OSB reminds us that ”Hegel said that we come to identify by immersing yourself in the other. Until we are fully immersed, then fully committed, we will always be anxiously seeking ourselves.”

Video 3_3 - Exposure - Street Photography: Sharing a Common Life - "Reflections on Contemplative Photography"

We might want to start from the fact that meditation brings in our life attention and a greater clarity of mind and vision, but also more happiness and compassion. 

So, when being in the streets, we can take our time to connect deeply with reality and see the various connections and relationships between people and the city and between people itself.

Video 3_4 - Exposure - Henri Cartier-Bresson and Thomas Merton - "Reflections on Contemplative Photography"

Thomas Merton, one of our contemplative guides in contemplative photography wrote in his book, New Seeds of Contemplation:

“Faith is a communion with God’s own light and truth. [...] Faith goes beyond words and formulas and brings us the light of God Himself.”, c. 18, p. 128-9

Video 3_5 - Exposure - Wait and See - "Reflections on Contemplative Photography"

I’d like to suggest a very simple exercise. Sit and observe.

A picture from father Laurence Freeman, OSB

A picture taken from father Laurence's collection for the
Daily Wisdom - https://wccm.org/mobile/daily-wisdom/

Bibliography.

Beholding Paradise: The Photographs of Thomas Merton 

by Thomas Merton, Paul M. Pearson

Paulist, Mahwah; 2015

Follow the Ecstasy: The Hermitage Years of Thomas Merton

by John Howard Griffin

Wings Press, San Antonio, Tex.; 2010

The Practice of Contemplative Photography: Seeing the World with Fresh Eyes

by Andy Karr, Michael Wood

Shambhala, Boston; 2011

Zen Camera: Creative Awakening With a Daily Practice in Photography

by David Ulrich

Watson-Guptill, New York; 2018

Christian Meditation. The Gethsemani Talks

by John Main

Medio Media Pub., Tucson, AZ; 2001

New Seeds of Contemplation

by Thomas Merton

New Directions, New York; 2007

First edition: 1962

Meditazione e fotografia. Vedendo e ascoltando passare l'attimo

by Diego Mormorio

Contrasto, Roma; 2008

Fotografia creativa. Corso con esercizi per svegliare l'artista che dorme dentro di te

by Franco Fontana

Mondadori, Milano; 2017

This is a project for the World Community for the Christian Meditation - WCCM

Teacher Leader Programme - Cohort II - 2021-2022

Music by:

Davide Rossi