This isn’t true of everywhere in the world, but where I live, eye contact is highly valued.  It establishes connection, trust, honesty, attention and care.

Growing up as a shy introvert, this was tough for me. It’s ironic that years later, it became part of the skills I taught in my English as a Second Language / Foreign Language classes. That along with firm handshakes.

No matter if you’re taking selfies or creating portraits, eye contact (and expression as a whole) is important.

It doesn’t mean that a subject looking away isn’t equally powerful. It’s just different, as shown in these 3 portraits of me by the Czech photographer Christine Radnich.

What’s important IF you’re doing an eye-contact shot is that you tell your subject where to look (the lens and not the screen on a smart phone.

By the way, the best location to take a portrait is in the shade to avoid harsh shadows under the eye and nose. That also reduces the chances of squinting.

If the sun is behind them, force your flash to fill-in the face with light or tap on the person on the screen of your smart phone to tell your camera where to focus.

If the sun is in their face, have them look down and count them in to lift/open their eyes. 

For animals, it isn’t as easy (although they’re definitely less critical of the results).

Make a high pitch squeal and have your camera ready at your mouth/ eye level to have them look in the lens.

If you’re in an environment where that would be disturbing to the animal or others, talk to them telepathically. Trust me, they understand if you communicate with pictures in your mind. I recently had a crow jump from a bush to the top of a pole after I politely asked it to do so. But when I asked it to turn around for a better composition, it thought I was exaggerating and flew away.

What you’re trying to get is that catchlight in their eyes – that little white dot that adds life to an image. Again, forcing your flash even in daytime might achieve that if there’s no natural catchlight.

It also establishes a connection between the person looking at the picture and God’s creature – something that is so often sought out by humans as with the cat, dogs, or squirrel in these photos…. or dreaded, like with the giant fruit bat hanging outside a restaurant in Bali.

Eye contact is not essential for a great person or animal portrait, of course, but it is powerful.

As you can see with the bluejays, eye contact between subjects is great too.

This week, pay particular attention to both your eye contact with others and the eye contact between those around you – in real life or in the movies.

The eyes express so much. Are you sensing a smile through those eyes or anger, threat, concern, etc.

Play with both people and animal portraiture. Discover the truth & beauty in those eyes. See if you can’t pierce through the shyness or awkwardness to seeing through the eyes of your soul into the eyes of theirs.

And if you’re feeling particularly open or brave, here’s a great trust exercise. Sit with a willing stranger or friend and breathe into relaxation. Simply gaze into each others’ eyes until the facial features become a blur and you’re connected on an energetic, heart to heart, soul to soul level.

I’ve done this several times in spiritual and theatre workshops. It’s powerful!

 

There’s great joy in exploring the many facets of any subject, whether in life or photography. Here’s your invitation to open new ways of seeing by looking at your object of attention from many points of view.

Welcome to Spiritual Tip 9 – Point of View. This is the first of 10 Elements of Photography following the first 8 Tips on Composition.

Do you walk around taking photos from your usual way of seeing things – either standing or sitting and looking straight ahead?

Discover the power and beauty in witnessing a fuller picture.  

There’s no need to rush – stick around a while.

Look up, look down, get high, get low. Move a little to the right or left.

How would your subject look if you were crouching or lying on your stomach? Have you ever put the phone right down on the ground to take a picture? What about lying on your back looking up?  Using your selfie mode to shoot below flowers up into the sky can be a lot of fun, not to mention dryer if the ground is wet.

Then look at that same subject from above looking straight down. Stand on a chair, monkey bar or set of stairs to get even higher.

How would a squirrel, a dog, a child, or a bird see it?

There are so many ways to look at the same thing. Have fun with this.

By changing your point of view, you’ll find the best composition. You’ll also explore how each shot exudes a different emotion.

This not only increases your creativity and understanding of the subject, but offers your viewers unique perspectives they rarely see walking around looking straight ahead and in their heads – a plight of modern society.

By spending the time exploring the many angles and facets of a scene, you’ll produce a variety of great shots. You may not be able to choose a best one. You’ll simply have different ones.

Take a look at how the subjects below were explored. Try to imagine where I or the camera were to change the point of view.

For example, I photographed the yellow Laburnum tree from right below it and then from a bridge overlooking it.

See how changing my point of view on the toilet sign adds a bit of humour to one of the shots?

Do you like one shot more than the other? That’s a matter of personal preference. Perhaps you appreciate all of them for different reasons. Remember you can click on one to scroll through them full screen.

 

Isn’t that also true when sharing different points of view on a subject in conversation with your family, friends, and colleagues? 

It’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s about seeing the situation or the person from all angles.

We all see & understand our world from different perspectives. Our cultures, personal histories, and personal development give us a unique way of experiencing and understanding those experiences.

As a teacher, I loved knowing that not one student in the room perceived me the same way. It helped me let go of control and brought my attention away from myself and to the students, where it belonged. All I could be is the best version of me in any moment to foster the best in them, whatever that might be.

Are you open to different points of view? Do you take the time to listen to what or how others think?

Be open to sharing, not judging or imposing your way of seeing things on another. Who knows?! You may learn something new.

What would a subject look like if you were of the same species? at the same level?

This might mean getting higher or getting lower with your camera.

When I used to teach English Second Language, I had my students role play. First they’d be one person and then switch roles, examining both the language and perspective of everyone in a situation.

When you come upon a challenge or disagreement, pause and ask yourself “How would I see this situation from the eyes of this person? That person?” Try to see the big picture. If possible, ask them.

You’ll find that your degree of understanding and compassion increases.

Your curiosity will lead you to greater inner peace as well as peace with those involved in the conflict. Ask, actively listen, and open to new ways of seeing.

Sometimes, you’ll end up seeing eye to eye. Sometimes, you’ll agree to disagree. Either way, you’ll all be richer for the openness to share.

I’ll never forget the day I was hiking in Portugal Cove in Newfoundland, taking photos of the ocean. Then I looked down and gasped. I was standing on the most beautiful rock, a true work of art! It’s the first photo below.

Walking in European cities, I loved looking above the 2nd floor for architectural details. You miss that at street level with all the shop signs. It’s the same in nature. Looking up is fascinating, offering something you don’t look at every day.

Being mindful of your environment means being present to all that’s around you, but don’t forget what’s above and below.

On your next solo walk (or with a photo buddy), I invite you to pause often to look in all directions.

Appreciate the beauty all around you – then capture a few photographs to share your expanding way of seeing the world.

 

This is the last Composition tip before diving into the Elements of photography.

Size in Frame is all about what you prioritize and the impact it has in your photos and your life.

Welcome to Spiritual Photo Tip 8 – Size in Frame – opening new ways of being & seeing.

I remember the first time I came upon a banyan tree in Vanuatu, symbol of immortality with aerial roots that grow down from its branches forming additional trunks and anchoring the tree to the ground. The sheer size of this stringy trunk took my breath away. That’s the feeling I wanted to capture by filling up the frame with it.

It was the same with an Alaskan mountain I watched from the deck of a cruise ship. I needed to capture its majesty, so I only included a tiny bit of sky and sea along with a huge chunk of rock.

As for the black bear in Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert National Park before tourist season,  I didn’t know wether to put my car in reverse or to sit still. So I took a picture out of the window with my zoom lens, filling the frame, and then sat in fear behind the thin pane of glass, hoping it wouldn’t damage my rental…. or me. Every time I see that photo, I remember the feeling of watching it thump its way in my direction.

These are examples of when to fill the frame with your subject – conveying a feeling.

Other times, you might want to bring attention to the details of an interesting object or focus on one person within his or her environment. What’s important is the object/ person, not it its place within that environment.

Take a look at these photos. Imagine how different they would be if the subject was small in the frame – if I’d stepped back or not zoomed in. How would they feel differently to you? Would the subject lose impact?

For example, if I’d photographed the ice tree to include its entirety with the sky and house beside it, would you get what I was photographing? Would it show how cool its ice robe was?  How about a crowd of mummers? Would you have noticed a detail like mismatched footwear?

Of course it’s great to have Context when presenting a series of photos from one location – but for a single shot, make sure it conveys your feeling about it.

Now look at your monthly or yearly budget. Where is most of your money going? Does it reflect your values?

If your dollar power were truly aligned with your priorities, what would you change? What would you spend more on? Less on?

For example, I spend a lot on organic groceries because I value eating healthy. I also value living in a beautiful environment, but don’t value home or car ownership. So I rent space in someone else’s house and we share her car. Having found the right housesister to share a space with made this possible. It’s also why I’ve been able to transition from salaried work to less stable income (so far) as an artist.

How about your time? Are you filling up your time frame with what matters most? If your children or your marriage are top priority, does your schedule reflect that? If your health ranks high, are you putting big time into healthy eating, exercise and proper sleep?

Reflect on how your earning and spending time & money fill your life frame. What feeling does it give you? Are you focusing on the right things for you?

Go over your budget and schedule to eliminate or reduce what’s not aligned with your priorities, making space for what you value most.

Making your subject small in your frame doesn’t mean it isn’t a priority.

Something tiny can have a huge impact in the big picture, depending on its placement, colour, and other factors.

What changes is the feeling you’re portraying.

For example, placing tiny people in the same shot as a big mountain, expansive rice field, or huge iceberg gives those scale. It also puts humanity into perspective – how small we are in the vast wilderness.

The tiny lighthouse in today’s top photo shows how easy it would be to get lost out on the ocean at night or in the thick fog.

The yellow rubber duck here may give off a feeling of loneliness or abandonment. Had it taken up the whole frame, it may have seemed joyous instead.

Take a look at the picture of your life again. Sometimes, making a small change in your diet, habits, or behaviour can have a huge impact on everything else.

You’ve probably heard about how putting a little money into your retirement fund every month can really add up with the years, especially due to compound interest.

It’s the same with all your choices. A bad habit also compounds over time.

Think about your health, work, community, personal growth, recreation, finances & life planning, relationships, and your environment. What one small change can you make that would make a huge impact?

For example:

• Is there a piece of art or decoration you hang onto because it was a gift, but it makes you cringe every time you see it? Get rid of it.
• Could you eat 1 less bag of chips a week or smoke 1 less cigarette a day? Could you eat one more fruit a day or park 1 block further from work?
• Could you save a % of all your pay checks to put aside for a rainy day and another % for fun stuff?
• Could you schedule 30 minutes in nature to contemplate every week?

You get the idea. Small changes can make a big impact. Have fun making life affirming choices. You’re worth it!

Start with what’s easy – take your camera and walk down the block around your house. Come back with at least 3 photos of something big in frame and 3 with the subject small in frame.

Can you understand why you chose to create them that way? What feelings do they convey?

Then make at least 1 small change in your life this week. How does that reflect your values?

Share your results with friends. Who knows? You may inspire them to do the same.

It’s natural to keep your camera vertical or horizontal to take a picture. You may find diagonal lines to include in your composition that way. But by turning your camera just a bit, you can create even more diagonal lines, making your image more dynamic.

The same can be true with life. We’re so used to doing things one way or another that changing things around a bit can be scary, unusual or even perceived as wrong.

Welcome to Spiritual Tip 7: Diagonal Lines – adding energy & creativity to your photo compositions & your life.

I addressed exaggerating the tilt of your camera in my post on Horizon Lines. Here, we extend it to anything within your photo.

I’ll often take more than one photo of the same subject. The first captures my excitement. Then, I slow down to appreciate all facets of it, cleaning the edges in my frame and looking for the best angle and placement of the elements.

A straight line can render the image static or boring.

A diagonal line adds energy to the design.

This line can be real (Left) or implied (Right).

If you’re close anyway, see if you can make that diagonal from corner to corner to make it even stronger. Or if it’s not a complete line, start one end in a corner.

If you miss the chance to do so when you’re taking the photo, remember you can always crop the image in a way to adjust that angle in-camera or on your computer.

Are you square? boring? bored? Do you always do things the same way? Walk in the same direction? Never waver from your routine?

Are you a victim of black & white thinking? I say victim because I know what it’s like to suffer from thinking my way is the right way and the only way. Your way becomes the straight way and everything else is plain crooked – which was a bad thing in my books.

Indeed, everything was either white (right) or black (wrong) with no room for grey (different perspectives, ideas, etc.). It made me a very effective autocratic leader & loner, but a terrible team player.

I remember when I broke that square into triangles when I was in my late 20s, leaving a lot more room for creativity and others’s ideas & opinions. 

If I extend the analogy, my straight lines gave way to a few diagonals in the mix, adding dynamism to the shape of my life.

I can’t remember what book or program helped me see how set I was in my ways and how fear-based my thinking was. I’m sure it was an accumulation.

But what freedom to realize that what I grew up thinking was only 1 possibility, one angle. What fun in trying something new, something outside my comfort zone.

When you let go of fear (of being wrong, of new situations, of being uncomfortable, of failure, etc.), you can take more creative risks.

I’m not talking about life-threatening decisions like getting into a car with a drunk driver. But I am talking about being open to new experiences.

For example, my decision to submit a proposal to CBNuit art festival in Corner Brook last September was a total stretch. I’d need to lead activities from morning until midnight, when my usual bedtime is 9pm. I’ll admit, I was scared. Driving 9.5 hours across the island to perform in a new setting during my sleep hours…. yikes!

But oh what fun, what fulfillment!

It went splendidly because I prepared as much as I could ahead of time, recruited volunteers, and took care of my energy levels the day before and the day after. Being a part of that festival made a real difference – in my life and for the hundreds who participated in my visionary art exhibition & activities.

I’d say that was adding a diagonal line in my usual straight routine.

Extend this week’s photo exercise by reflecting on your life. As you look for diagonals through your camera lens, see where you can add more energy and dynamism to your routine.

Try something new. Even walking in the opposite direction on your usual trail can open you to seeing with new eyes.

Then share your findings with your friends & colleagues. The best way to learn is by teaching others.

Just as you’d frame a painting or photograph for your house, so too can you frame your subject within the image itself. That frame becomes part of the artwork, adding style & beauty while enhancing the main subject.

And just as with people and situations in your life, having a frame of reference or reframing first impressions can enhance both your understanding and the inherent beauty of the scene or scenario.

Welcome to Spiritual Photo Tip 6 – opening new ways of seeing & being in the world all the while taking better photographs.

Similarly to Foreground, the frame you use can help the viewer understand where the photo was taken – the surroundings around the subject.

There are all sorts of elements in the scene you’re photographing that can be used as frames within your frame – from architectural elements like windows, doors, and tunnels to natural elements like tree branches.

You’re looking for something to place around your subject to increase the focus on your subject and give it context.

One reason to add a frame is to highlight the relationship between the main subject and context.

At times, that frame – that story –  becomes as important as the main subject, either symbolically or aesthetically. They’re part of a whole, a package deal.

Isn’t it the same thing with the people in your life?

If you understood the frame of reference for those who annoy or anger you, wouldn’t you be more inclined to be more compassionate?

Often, being curious about a person’s history can open up greater acceptance.

If you listened to your child’s story before judging their behaviour, wouldn’t you be more inclined to love them unconditionally?

But sometimes, you need to look inside for the frame of reference – you were triggered by the mirror that person or situation provided. No one is responsible for your feelings and reactions except yourself. Nothing has meaning but the meaning you give it.

If you recalled the big picture before judging yourself, wouldn’t you be more apt to forgive yourself and grow out of such reactions and behaviours in the future?

We all have our reasons for being the way we are. It’s not an excuse, but awareness is key to

1. personal growth, and
2. love & compassion towards others.

Have you ever had a total paradigm shift after hearing why someone was behaving the way they were?

A frame of reference can instantly change your perceptions.

I’ll never forget hearing Stephen R. Covey tell this story in his audiobook “7 Habits of Highly Effect People”. It has stayed with me for decades, helping me grow more loving each time I remember & apply it.

“I remember a mini-paradigm shift I experienced one Sunday morning on a subway in New York. People were sitting quietly – some reading newspapers, some lost in thought, some resting with their eyes closed. It was a calm, peaceful scene.

Then suddenly, a man and his children entered the subway car. The children were so loud and rambunctious that instantly the whole climate changed.

The man sat down next to me and closed his eyes, apparently oblivious to the situation. The children were yelling back and forth, throwing things, even grabbing people’s papers. It was very disturbing. And yet, the man sitting next to me did nothing.

It was difficult not to feel irritated. I could not believe that he could be so insensitive as to let his children run wild like that and do nothing about it, taking no responsibility at all. It was easy to see that everyone else on the subway felt irritated, too. So finally, with what I felt like was unusual patience and restraint, I turned to him and said, “Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?”

The man lifted his gaze as if to come to a consciousness of the situation for the first time and said softly, “Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.”

Can you imagine what I felt at that moment? My paradigm shifted. Suddenly I saw things differently, and because I saw differently, I thought differently, I felt differently, I behaved differently. My irritation vanished. I didn’t have to worry about controlling my attitude or my behavior; my heart was filled with the man’s pain. Feelings of sympathy and compassion flowed freely. “Your wife just died? Oh I’m so sorry! Can you tell me about it? What can I do to help?” Everything changed in an instant.” 

Other times, framing your subject helps save what could be a bad picture.

For example, it can help simplify your image. The angel statue below, for example, was in a cluttered graveyard.  By crouching low and aiming my camera higher, I framed it with fall foliage.

Trees and other framing props are also perfect on overcast days to add character to white skies in your photos. It’s best to either crop those out or cover them up. Framing your image is one way of doing that.

With awareness and creativity, you can change both the mood and impact of a photo.

 

What challenge in your life can use a bit of reframing magic right now?

What if you saw that challenge as an opportunity? How would you feel, behave, or act differently?

It’s so easy to ignore the Truth because of all the internal clutter or lens we’re looking through.

Often, asking the question “What would love do now?” can help us reframe the situation or person. It can help us let go of our fear-based perceptions, changing the entire scene or scenario before us.

Go ahead. Try it with something that’s come up for you this week.

Do you want to spread love & beauty in this world?

Have fun with this week’s photo assignment. Find creative ways to frame your subjects. If something catches your attention, look around for a way to photograph it through something.

Then share those on social media or other ways.

Next, let this exercise guide you in looking at what comes up in your life.

Ask questions to understand the frame of reference and seek ways to be more loving in your approach.

Everyone in the situation will benefit from it – you included!