The Art Of Attention — Kim Manley Ort Learns To See With Her Camera

Kim Manley Ort shares her approach to contemplative photography including exercises you can try using your camera or smartphone. She also discusses the challenges of sharing photos on social media and why they’re worth navigating.

Reviews

Very insightful. A new way for me to look at taking walks and photos. Thank you. 😊

I was quite excited to hear this interview, as The Art of Seeing was one of the first contemplative photography books I obtained a few years ago. I have had a relatively consistent practice of it ever since, and I find that my time in photography school and working professionally (albeit briefly, thanks to military moves) really allows me to forget about composition deliberately as I only take those images that speak to me during my practice - I know that my "light painting" will come close to my intended image, whether it is crisp and simple or busy and dreamy. I too find that relationships within the frame and without, as well as shapes and textures speak more to me now than ever before, and I can tell by reviewing older photos what state of mind I was in as a result.

Around a year ago, maybe more?, I started a group for contemplative photography here on Insight Timer. More and more people are joining, though due to a number of serious and long-term personal and health issues, I had to suddenly step away from pretty much all social media for a time.

Shortly before my unexpected absence (I am working up to active engagement, but there may be more activity now with the release of this interview!), a question was posed that I am still grappling with. It may be that group members have set something up independently already, I don't know, but "officially" no decision has been made yet on this....and opinions would be welcome indeed.

The IT group is text-only. I liked this because it removes the distraction of viewing images, the potential for knee-jerk opinions by others, conerns about quality of photos, equipment, how often photos are posted, etc. A couple group members asked about setting up a photo sharing page, so others could see examples of contemplative photography. I have thought about this at length, and raised concerns that the IT group might shift focus from the meditative underpinnings to more output/visual realism and attempts to interpret the work of others. Contemplative photographs are, to me, like dreams - only the person receiving them can interpret them accurately, if at all. A photo of solid most that changes colors from bottom to top as it was taken at the beginning of a sunrise is meaningful and representative to me but may not be so to others. It is opening one's inner self to others in a way I'm not sure all would wish to do. I have plenty of photos I will happily share, but few of those.

I am curious, therefore, about the idea of such a thing. I have only been on Instagram twice, both times to view photos a friend shared of her newborn. I do not like the "likes" and "loves" and emojis, and thought perhaps there could simply be a "no responding" rule, but as a student of psychology, I know people do respond to the feedback they get from others when they have shared a photo or post. Perhaps I am overthinking this. I imagine as long as it is known it will not be policed, it could be feasible. But I am still leery to a degree. I have mentioned The Art of Seeing in the group as a resource, along with multiple other books on the practice (Zen Camera is another favorite of mine, as are Adventures in Seeing and the rest of Freeman's work, among others). Examples of contemplative photos abound in these resources and elsewhere online. I just have some concerns about a number of aspects of adding a linked photo sharing page to the group. (And which platform to use, but that is a whole different matter.)

Thank you for sharing this interview, and to Kim, thank you for all the effort and dedication you have put into making contemplative photography more recognized and practiced. I see the light in you. 🤲🏻❤️🤲🏻