Photography…In the Zone

Several years ago on a ski trip to Colorado, Gayla and I were cruising downtown Breckenridge when we came upon The Photo Shop, a small photography studio and decided to drop in for a quick look.  As we were admiring the work in the gallery, Gary Soles who took most of the pictures we saw, took some time to tell us about the places he went to capture these amazing images.  Gary is a fantastic photographer, and what impressed me more than anything was his ability to connect the image with the experience of being outdoors.  We purchased a stunning picture he took in Antelope Canyon of a beam of light coming down through the canyon walls, truly symbolic for me in sparking my interest of learning as much as I can about the world of outdoor photography.

I have always loved the outdoors and being connected with nature, finding a strong spiritual connection when in that environment.  Gayla says I am a different person when I am there.  I have always enjoyed taking pictures and usually had a camera when I traveled.  But, more often than not, when I took a photo in an amazing place my reaction when later seeing the image was, “eh, that is not what I saw!”  So, I set out to learn how to capture “what I saw”.  The journey started with actually reading the directions on how to work the camera beyond setting it on automatic and pushing the button.  Additionally, I started reading photography magazines to pick up tips and tricks from those talented folks that are good enough to get published.  Most importantly, I started making time to travel to those amazing places and start taking pictures…lots of pictures.

Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel Overlook

As my passion for photography developed and my skills improved, I considered the idea of making this passion a career.  What I quickly realized was that my passion for photography did not translate into a passion for the business of selling images.  While I realized photography would not be my profession, it was definitely more than a hobby.  I knew photography was something I wanted to continue to share but the goal was not financial gain.  It wasn’t about the physical image produced but rather it was something in the experience of capturing the image that I most sought to connect with and share.

The grand view looking east at sunset from Mt Shuksan, WA

As a fan of TED Talks, road trips are the perfect opportunity to pass the time listening to podcasts.  One particular series I enjoy is the TED Radio Hour where Guy Raz brings together several TED speakers based on given subject.  One particular show, “Maslow’s Human Needs” discussed Maslow’s concept of Self Actualization.  The speaker, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi elaborates on finding pleasure and lasting satisfaction in activities that bring about a state of “flow”.  This state of flow is often referred to now as “in the zone”.  Listening to Mihaly explain what happens when in the state of flow helped me understand the passion.

When I am out taking pictures, I naturally gravitate to those places where nature is on display.  Often it is in the mountains, along the beaches, observing wildlife, flowers, sunrises and sunsets, the amazing night sky.  Sometimes it is in my own backyard, or the priceless expressions on my grandkid’s face.  It is looking for beauty and expressing gratitude.  The challenge is to figure out how to take what exists and present it in a way that expresses the gratitude I feel using the tools a camera has to offer.  It is far less about the quality and features of the camera and much more focused on the creativity I can generate.  It’s all a matter of getting into the zone and enjoying the experience.

It’s happening upon this…

…but seeing and capturing this!

Getting into the zone can be so powerful that time has no meaning and the feeling of being spiritually connected is overwhelming.  This is the root of my passion.  How photography can lead us to these places is what I hope to share.

The simplicity and solitude of a sunset

Ultimately, photography for me is more than capturing what I see, my goal is to capture an image that projects how I feel.  A successful picture is one that people see and connect with beyond the simple aesthetics the image offers and mentally place themselves in the environment.  The ultimate goal is to inspire people to seek that experience themselves.

Here’s a link to Gary Soles’ site:  http://www.breckenridgephotoshop.com/

Here’s a link to the TED Talk this TED Radio Hour was referencing: http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow#t-407287