Mindfulness Photography Practice

As stated in my most recent blog entry, I am currently writing and teaching a creative book study based on the book "The Gifts of Imperfections" by Brene Brown.  I felt so strongly about this week's class assignment that I am writing for class that I wanted create a blog entry out of it.

Mindfulness meditations have been a very important component  in my own ability to overcome my own anxiety issues.  It's not that I am living anxiety free these days (not at all) but it's more that I am living in constant awareness of it, not as a feeling to run away from but as a feeling to learn from.  When I start to get an anxious thought, I am better equipped to be more mindful of the emotions and physical signs when anxiety appears in my lovely, sometimes confused little noggin.  The practice below is a lesson I wrote in response to Guidepost 8: Cultivating Calm and Stillness: Letting Go of Anxiety As a Lifestyle.  I have found photography and writing to be the best way for me to tap my inner world.

This week's lesson and prompt was inspired by this write up on Mindful Photography
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Becoming Friends with Our Anxiety

Brene Brown highlights a very important thought by psychologist Harriet Lerner in this text; it is one that played a big role in overcoming the negative impact of anxiety in my own life. Lerner states that in order to overcome anxious feelings, it might be smart to learn to “identify the emotions that are most likely going to spark reactivity and then practice non-reactive responses.”

One of the things I have learned through writing and photography over the last year has been learning to use our emotions to teach us how to understand the history of why we feel anxiety.  

What are some non-reactive responses you can take when feeling anxious?

Using Photography to Be Mindful

This week as we participate in our photography practices, I urge you to approach photography with an increased awareness of what you are truly seeing in front of you.  Try to quiet your mind and begin to observe what you are seeing through the camera lens.  Mindful photography is intentionally letting go of inner voices in our head that wants us to control the final outcome of the photo.  It is really viewing the moment for what it is, as a meditation practice.  As you take the photos consider observing your thoughts as you complete your photo assignment this week:

• What emotions are you feeling in the moment of capturing the photo?
• Do the colors of the object increase or decrease your ability to be calm and still?
• What attracts you to this object or person you are viewing?
• 
  

Mindfulness Photography Practice

1. Go on a 10 minute photo walk by yourself in your neighborhood. Photograph things that evoke a feeling of calm or stillness. Try limiting yourself to 2 photos in 10 minutes. Remember to be mindful of each emotion that comes up after each shot. Observe your thoughts without judgement. Welcome each thought but do not discern your thought as either good or bad as the truth of the experience. Do not look at your photos until you have completed the photo walk.
2. As you look through your photos, observe the thoughts that come into your head as you view them without judgement.  
3. Reflect on this process in a 10 minute free writing session. When writing, avoid using statements of judgement.

Photoshoot: Kiley and Brix

I love photographing my friends and their kids.  As I have stated in past entries, the concept of photographing mothers and their babies together is one of my favorite types of shoots---only second to photographing a mom's pregnant belly.  My friend Kiley has an extremely deep love for her son, one year old Brixton, and the two together were a complete delight to photograph.  Kiley is extremely creative, a deep feeler with a passion and  heart for God and her family.    I hope you can feel that part of her in these photos.

IOS Photo App Review: Pic Tap Go

I am absolutely loving the new iOS photo app 7's camera updates in general!  Also, there are some new amazing photos apps that have been developed in the last few months that are just top of line in terms of editing capabilities, filter options, and sharing!  One of my favorites is Pic Tap Go!

Developed by, Totally Rad, Inc, Pic*Tap*Go gives users multiple and customized editing options:

                                           

In the screen shot above, you will see that  the app keeps track of your favorite filters that you have used for editing in the past and saves them for reference for future photo editing.

                                          

The app also saves filter recipes from past photo edits as well.   In this screen shot, the app was able to tell me that in the past I had used a combination of the "Terra" and "Contrast" filters in past edits.

                                        

Finally, the app also has a large library of apps that I love!  You can easily layer multiple filters to see how they look and then choose the"undo" option if it is not the look you want for your photo.

                         

If you love this app, please go show the software developers some love and "like" their facebook page.

Quick Tips on Photographing Kids

1. Capture their personalities in the moment
I think there is a reason why documentary style photography has become so popular over the last decade.  People want to capture real moments with their family and friends.  Parents want to have pictures of their children and their beaming, funny personalities caught in a photograph forever.  To capture these moments, I suggest, if you have a Smart Phone, put your camera app icon on the front menu page so you have easy access to your phone when those magic moments appear.  If you are like me and love the feeling of holding your DSLR, take it with you everywhere and start shooting the second your child starts making memories. Bottom Line: Keep your camera with you at all times!

2. Consider the rule of thirds.

 This is the most important rule of photography.  This is probably the reason some photographs work and some do not.  When you shoot, imagine separating your frame by at least two evenly sized vertical lines running across the image with several evenly placed horizontal lines crossing into the vertical lines.  These intersections are often called "power points." The rule of thirds says that the "viewer's eye tends to naturally go to these intersections when viewing image (Mosher, 54)." This makes images more powerful and visually stunning when your child is placed in these power point intersections. See image below:

3. Use Textures and Patterns

Texture adds visual layers and contrast to your photographs and should attract the viewer's attention to the subject.  When I am photographing Shyla and Asher, I love to use different patterned blankets, grass, baskets, or pieces of clothing to add texture.  I love to go to the fabric store and explore the varieties of fabric. I love to buy big samples and take them home to use in my photographs.
4. Love is in the details

I love photographing the details of people's lives.  They are the things that we remember about them.  I often photograph Shyla's tutu and shoes because her style is so much a part of her personality.  To capture detail shots, consider having your child play in dirt, pick flowers, berries, etc.  The combination of meaningful objects in a child's hand(s) can create powerful images that are symbolic of all the good that lives in the world.

For more tips and tricks I suggest buying Heather Mosh's book: Photographing Your Kids Like A Pro.

Limited Editions Photography Show (in photos, of course)

Self Portraits: Top 5 Literary Quote Breakdown

This week has been about these headphones, earrings, and my headscarves.  You know I am in creative mode when my headscarves are on my head-everyday.

The "things" that have influenced me this week: vision boarding, Diane Di Prima, prints, and patterns, Shauna Niequiat's Green Well Salad

We had a snow day today.  I went through my favorite books of all time and pulled my favorite quotes!! I find that the best self portraits are found in imagery, but also literary forms.  I get so much inspiration from the words and art of others.  Here are my all time favorites:

“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness.”
― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

"Once you become a parent...you automatically carry around, for the rest of your life, an increased likelihood of having your heart broken. And it’s a constant fear that we struggle to put to rest. We can choose to be afraid or we can choose to live. And I choose to live. Because an increased liklihood of having your heart broken also carries with it an increased likelihood of finding yourself the happiest you’ve ever been in life."
-Kelle Hampton, Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected, Chapter 13

“Something that is yours forever is never precious”
― Chaim Potok, My Name Is Asher Lev

“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

“I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.”
― Bob Goff, Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World

“Keep all your passions in your life.”
― Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Self Portaits January 25-Feb. 1: Liebster Awards Pt. 1

One thing I have absolutely love about this space is the blogging community. The amount of support and positive attitudes is just amazing. I keep on meeting beautiful women who are artists, crafters, writers, Mom, students, designers whose hearts I absolutely love.

Here is another reason why...

My blog was nominated for a Liebster Award by Michelle at Miabella. The Liebster Award is nominated to blogs with less than 200 followers to help promote them.

The Rules

1) Nominees must link back to the blogger who awarded them
2) If nominated, write 11 Random Facts' about yourself!
3) Answer the 11 questions the person who nominated you wrote for you
4) Come up with 11 new questions to be answered by 11 new nominees

A Few Fun Facts About Me:
1. I hate scary movies.
2. I am getting the desire to travel back to Ireland with my kids when they are older.
3. My passions are social justice for those living in poverty in the inner city and photography.
4. My favorite time of day to photograph is at dusk: the magic hour.
5. I am in the market for a macro lens for m birthday.
6. My favorite TV show is Parenthood.
7. My daughter and son are 2 awesome little creatures.
8. I love yoga.
9. Farmer's Markets are awesome!
10. I want to live an inspired life.
11. This blog was named after a Mary Oliver Poem.

Questions from Michelle:

1) What is your favorite thing about blogging?
The community and using this blog as a creative platform for my life as an artist.

2) What are the blogs that give you the most inspiration?
Casey Leigh-www.thewiegands.com
Enjoying the Small Things-www.kellehampton.com

3) If you could meet one blogger in real life, who would it be?
Kelle Hampton from Enjoying the Little Things

4) If you could master any skill, what would it be?
Hoop dancing or acroyoga

5) Who is your celebrity crush?
James Franco

6) Define your perfect day (weather, activities, time of the year...)
Perfect day: Yoga class, Cardamom Soy Latte from Foundation Grounds, 60 degree weather, independent gallery visits, thrift store shopping, and dinner at a fun restaurant

7) What's one thing that makes you CRINGE?
When people cannot take responsibility for their actions.

8) What's your all-time favorite food or recipe?
I love Hummus and Flaffel Sandwiches!!

9) What do you think is your best accomplishment?
Marrying Luke. He's a keeper.

10) Are others' thoughts of you important to you? Why or why not?
it is good to be aware of how you are perceived by people, but not become obsessed
With your reputation. It's more about having good character.

11) What was your most life-changing experience? _
Moving to Seattle, getting pregnant, then moving 2 weeks to St. Louis after giving birth.
So much change in one year!


Tomorrow I will nominate 11 new blogs that I love!

January 17-24 Self-Portraits: Aspects of Community and Living Connected

The self-portrait photo placed at the bottom of the collage is of Lisa Guillon who blogs and writes One Big Luv. One of my favorite parts of being a photographer and artist is self-portrait photography. This is why I am super excited to be taking on my 2013 photographic challenge of photographing myself everyday of this year. How can I tell the story of 2013 through self-portraiture? I will be sharing my self-portraits from the week every Friday. I invite you to e-mail me your self portraits at julieann.johnson00@gmail.com throughout the week and I will post them here with mine. No matter what, self-portraits tell a story about the beautiful you that exists that very moment you hit the button.

Self Portraits are a reflection of every person that has ever made a dent in my life.  I love how this self-portrait series is slowly and organically building into a fun mosaic of amazing self-portraits of friends in Kansas City/St. Louis and my fellow creative blogging friends.

But it got me thinking of the idea of community in my own life again....

Yesterday my house was a literal revolving door of people from various communities in my life that wanted to come over to see Asher and hang out. I feel blessed to be a part of communities in this city and others where people long to live a life together, celebrate with us, and just be present when things are hard. Making the choice to live in community is paramount to growing in God and as people. To quote Bob Goff, author of Love Does, "God reveals himself to us by giving us each other." I have been feeling that 100% during this chapter of my life. However, it also reminds me that good things build slowly and organically. This is hard for people like me who get impatient and want to feel instant gratification. I forget that the struggle is a part of the story. I remember some seriously dark, isolating days when we first moved to St. Louis from Seattle. Coming from a community where you feel known and loved to a place where you feel unknown and disconnected, you begin to savor days like today-when you feel roots of your community go deeper.

Self portraits January 5 to 11th

So much life was lived this week. It was so fun to look back at the self portraits from the last week. Since Asher was my surprise, this week's post is especially meaningful. From the chalk art I did with Shyla this week to Asher's birth, there was a little piece of rebirth and life in even the littlest things this week for me. This week felt more like a collage of opportunities waiting to be documented visually.

One of my favorite parts of being a photographer and artist is self-portrait photography. This is why I am super excited to be taking on my 2013 photographic challenge of photographing myself everyday of this year. How can I tell the story of 2013 through self-portraiture? I will be sharing my self-portraits from the week every Friday. I invite you to e-mail me your self portraits at julieann.johnson00@gmail.com throughout the week and I will post them here with mine. No matter what, self-portraits tell a story about the beautiful you that exists that very moment you hit the button.

2012: Thriving in the Roots (my favorite photos of my own collection from 2012)

So 2012 was all about planting roots and thriving.  Seriously, remember when I said that I was going to have an intention word for this year?  Well, I had 2: Thrive and Roots.  In 2012, our family did THRIVE.  We got pregnant with Asher and also got our financial house in order to the point that we are in the process of becoming HOMEOWNERS and because Luke and I feel like we are thriving in our lives and careers here in St. Louis.  Thrive. Yes. It has been a long hard road of feeling as if we were just keeping our heads above water.  But, here we are. Thriving.

Then, it changed to ROOTS for the same reasons we began to thrive.  We dug roots in the ground here in St. Louis.  I became more involved in the arts community both locally and in the world of blogging and social networking.  I began recreating my photography portfolio after a 2 year sabbatical by taking Andrea Scher's online photography class:  Superhero Photo Class.  I love the photos that were created from this class.  What made it such a fun experience was taking this class with one of my great friends and fantastic photographers, Michelle Jarvis.  I also felt very blessed to get my artwork shown in 3 different shows here in St. Louis.  Getting myself back into the art world after my 2-3 year sabbatical has felt amazing.  My ROOTS  are always in the creative world.  To quote a movie I recently stumbled upon that was created in my hometown of Kansas City:  "Creating is How We Find Our Superpowers" from Art Saved My Life ( we will feature this very cool film project on this blog here soon.).

 Generating roots also comes with an aspect of the bitter and the sweet.  We lost Luke's dad after a 2 year fight with a rare autoimmune disease.  But, we count our blessings for the memories we have from knowing him and the stories we get to tell because of our relationship with him.  But we dig roots into the memories of Fred and story tell to the people we love the most about living in relationship with him.  That's how we thrive in the messier parts of our theme word of the year: ROOTS.


My favorite photos from 2012:

PHOTO GIVEAWAY: I will give away one print of any of the photos above to the first person that comments on the Life Astonished Facebook Page about how they feel that they THRIVED this year."