Look Again
Image by 莎莉 彭
‘The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.’
—Dorothea Lange
A few years ago, I attended a 10-day meditation retreat. On the eighth day, at the close of a morning session, I opened my eyes. The room looked new. Although I had been sitting in the same spot for over a week, it was as though I was seeing it for the first time. Something shifted, and I felt more deeply attuned to my surroundings.
The experience stayed with me. It was a reminder that there’s always more to see, and that when I slow down, the world becomes brighter, richer, and more textured.
Now, when I pause, I notice what’s there. The dance of light and shadow beneath the canopy of an oak tree. A wilted bouquet of hot pink wildflowers. Drops of paint scattered across a concrete floor. A perfect circle left by the base of my coffee cup. I carry my camera as a tool for looking.
Look again
I’d like to give you something to try today. It’s the first prompt from Experimental Photography, the course that begins on Tuesday. It’s a chance to tune into your environment and sharpen your senses.
Time
15 to 20 minutes
Materials
Your camera phone or another point and shoot camera
Instructions
Move through your home, your street, or your usual route with no other purpose than to look. Slow down your pace, tuning into your environment,
Notice what you normally walk past without registering: an object, a surface, a corner, a mark, a sign, a gap, a space. Photograph it.
Then move, find something else, and snap a photo. Aim for ten images.
Don't worry about the outcome.
Join Experimental Photography
For 28 days, each prompt asks you to look again in a new way. Widen your view, sharpen your focus, and share your perspective. All you need is your phone.
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