Posts in Category: INSPIRA-ZEN

transformative ZenPhotography inspiration

blog post: nourishment

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — Chinese Proverb

If i tell you how to do something without showing you, without teaching you the hows and explaining the what-fors, what will you learn?  you will learn that i am full of myself only.

As you seek to create your own definition of what you feel success is, we must guide you in a way that provides you with information and opportunities combined with exploration and dialog.  this will involve respect, honesty, ethics and an open and flexible mind on both the part of the teacher and student.  it is a mutual dance we share that will lead to personal and professional enlightenment.

Team Zen will impart skills that you can take, use and blossom from by teaching you “to fish” at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats.  come join us.

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D  |  Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 35mm  |  ISO: 400|  f/8  | 1/100 |  Provincetown MA  | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5

blog post: yin + yang of exposure

A super-simplistic primer on exposure meant for individuals who are in the early stages of learning photography.

Reciprocity. noun. [res-uh-pros-i-tee]: a mutual exchange.  it happens in life, and it happens in photography.

In determining exposure when you are photographing, it’s helpful if you remember to recall the principle of reciprocity: “if i take a stop from here; i must give a stop there.  take two stops; give two stops, etc.”   nothing earth-shattering, but beautifully balanced by making adjustments that are are merely doubled or halved.

The yin + yang symbol and what it represents is a great way to illustrate the concept of finding the balance in exposing an image.  the yin + yang symbol itself, traditionally black and white, could even be used to represent 18% gray!  the interconnectedness of all things is wonderful.

For now, we are going to keep this example generalized and in super-simplistic terms so you won’t become too confused.  let’s keep our ISO fixed, since its adjustment is dependent on the light that surrounds us as we are photographing, whether that light is ambient or being created with our own lighting equipment.  the type of camera we are using, the focal length of the lens, or whether we are using a flash or the light available to us is not going to come into play right now.  instead we will concentrate on the reciprocity of our f/stops and shutter speeds bearing in mind the statement above.  our hypothetical setting will be that we are creating a portrait of a person outside and we will start with the theory that we have just created a good exposure with the following settings: f/5.6 at 1/250th (of a second)…  oh, and one more side note here…you are shooting in Manual, yes, the dreaded “M” setting on the camera.  why?  because that “P” you always shoot in?  it does not stand for “Professional”  it stands for “Program,” which means the camera is controlling you.

So, with f/5.6 at 1/250, you’ve managed to create a well-exposed image where everything from the highlights (lightest parts in the image) to the shadows (darkest parts in the image) are looking even – no marching ants indicating your highlights have been blown out in this image!  although you are satisfied, your creativity is begging for a sharply focused individual with that painterly-blurred background that you see so often in the magazines.  what to do…what to do? …i know…RECIPROCITY.

That blurry background occurs at f/2.8 or lower (in number, but in reality is a bigger lens opening [aperture] – yes, the smaller the f/stop, the bigger the lens opening – opposite, yet still reciprocal).  so, in super-simplistic terms, if you’ve adjusted your f/stop from f/5.6 to f/2.8, you have effectively made the little wheel on your camera move six one-third increments to get to f/2.8, thereby increasing the opening in your lens and allowing more light to come through it.  how much more light?  we don’t need to get into that for now, just know it’s more light and count the times your wheel clicked to get you to f/2.8.  now, if you were to leave your shutter speed at 1/250, what do you suspect would happen?  take a guess here…would your images still be properly exposed?  underexposed (too dark)? or overexposed (too light)?…you are correct; it would be overexposed because you are allowing more light into the camera with a larger lens opening (aperture).  so, it stands to reason then, that you have to dial the the shutter from 1/250 to 1/1000, again moving the wheel that adjust the shutter speed six times to make the adjustment that will effectively reduce the amount of light you are allowing into the camera by making the shutter speed faster. and, VIOLA!  there again, is your properly exposed image, but now it has a pleasantly blurred background with a subject that is in focus.  Believe me, those are very simplistic terms and they can change dependent on the lens you use, but for now do yourself a favor and experiment so you can use your camera on the “M” setting which will give you more control over the camera, rather than letting it control you.

Make sense?  let me hear from you.  again, there is a lot more to adjusting f/stops and shutter speeds than this brief explanation, but we’ll leave the brain-expansion for those of you who want to really delve into the depths of  this conversation, let’s open a bottle of wine at a Zen Workshop or Retreat and have a go at it, shall we?

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D  |  Canon 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS @ 200mm  |  ISO: 100  |  f/8  | 1/1250  |  Boston MA  | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5

blog post: pursue your path

“Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.”  — Henry David Thoreau

The “path” of photographing has so much significance for so many people…it can be an outlet for creativity, a means to document life and loved ones, a way to earn a living…photography and the act of photographing is multifaceted!  it’s a path that can instill immediate awe and excitement, both while photographing and through the visual rewards of the end result: an image that evokes emotion or memories.  photography is a powerful medium of expression!  no wonder so many people have such tremendous reverence for it.

Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats will assist you in refining the photographic path you have chosen, at any level of  experience.

Take a moment to share what your favorite photographic subject is with us. 

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D  |  Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 28mm  |  ISO: 200  |  f/11  | 1/30  |  DL Convention Center  |  Pittsburgh PA  | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5

blog post: knowing ourselves

“Knowing others is wisdom; knowing yourself is enlightenment.” — Lao Tzu

There are many people that touch our lives.  we learn from them in many ways; how to cook, how to drive, how to lawyer or doctor, even how to photograph.  we become busy learning and doing; very busy.  and in all this busy-doing we often lose touch with ourselves.  if we can be still and introspectively return to ourselves we will gain enlightenment, not just knowledge.

At Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats, we offer just the right balance of knowledge and experiences to help you gain wisdom, but most importantly, Satori (enlightenment). 

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D  |  Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 lens @ 28mm  |  ISO: 100  |  f/5.6  |  1/160  | Kentuck Knob Chalk Hill PA  | Image refined, cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5

blog post: priorities

“We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that wecan see.”  Taoist Proverb

 

Elusive time. we all need time, but too often we don’t make time to do the things that could make a difference for ourselves.  we need time to be still, to see, to learn, regroup, meditate, explore, exercise, laugh, be with people we love…  many people  remind us that we cannot buy back time.  where does time go?

 

When we are “still,” when we take the time necessary to nurture ourselves,  it will offer us opportunities that we couldn’t even begin to see all the while we are busy doing things.

 

Perhaps it’s about our priorities.

 

Only 3% of Americans make time to create goals that would advance their lives, be it their finances, careers or even their personal lives.  that is a shocking statistic!  what have your priorities been?  have they been leading you in the direction you want to go, or do you need to make, and then take, time to regroup and redirect yourself?  “but I don’t have time,” you say.  i disagree.  you can create and effect big changes for yourself in thirty, fifteen, or even in as little time as seven minutes; yes, 7 minutes.

 

We have a plan for you at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats.  we want to help you help yourself to prosper in all aspects of your life.  we know that it can be done.  come join us.

 

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D  |  Canon 70mm-200 L f/2.8 IS lens @ 100mm  |  ISO: 200  |  f/4  | 1/250  |  Hopewell PA  |  Image refined, cropped and enhanced for tonality in PS5

blog post: tortoise or hair

“It does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop.” —  Wisdom of Confucius

The fable of the tortoise and the hare comes to mind here…let me make myself an example: i move and think with awareness, so at times, i can appear to be slow.  my grandmother would always encourage me by saying “slow but steady; that is how you will have success.”  she was right.

At times we may wish that our success was quicker, but wishing does not get us closer to our desires.  the steady drip of water wears even the hardest rock over time.  consider allowing the process to unfold.

At Zen Photography Workshops + Retreats we help you to be consciously present in your daily deeds to help you move the mountains you were meant to move. 

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 5D  |  Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 24mm  |  ISO: 100  |  f/4.0  | 1/30  |  Falling Water  |  Mill Run PA  | Image refined, cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5

blog post: creating success

“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.”  — Chinese Proverb

It is easy to lose your way to creating your own success when you compare yourself with others.  comparing is an outward gaze; it negates the person you are – all of your many talents and fine qualities.  if you are trying to determine how to direct your passion for photography or how to create your photographic style, look inward and ask yourself: what are my values?  what do i love?  who or what inspires me? how would my friends describe me? these are a few of many questions that can lead you down the path of self-creation.

Trends are deceiving; they are exciting today, but pass by quickly.  if you seek to follow trends or duplicate another photographer’s style, your business will pass by quickly too.  take care to learn the time-honored principles surrounding the craft of photography, integrate them and they will help you to be true to yourself and build a strong foundation for your business.

Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats will impart inspiration and help you build your photographic foundation and style.  join us and offer yourself a rich opportunity to blossom. 

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:  Zen Photography Safari: Pittsburgh Night-Light
Canon EOS 7D  |  Canon 24-70mm L f/2.8 @ 24mm  |  ISO: 100  |  f/8  | 1/125  |  Pittsburgh PA  | Image refined and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5

blog post: inspira-Zen

“Inspiration is a different thing.  Through inspiration you start on the journey, not on any effort of copying.  You move on your own path.  Inspiration is just a challenge.  A thirst arises, and then you move.  Tantra says, ‘Be inspired, but don’t become imitators.’  Always remember that you are your own goal.” — Osho

Tantra” is akin to principles or ethics based upon Divine Universal principles.

Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats was created with the intention to inspire, guide and inform people who love photography, no matter what the skill level.

We can derive our inspiration in many ways…here, i simply want to focus on the inspiration for our photography.

Perhaps we find inspiration for our photography from the beauty of nature, or the repetition of patterns at an industrial site, or perhaps from the irony presented often in life, and we can even find it through the work of other photographers – all are beautiful and viable ways to become inspired as we move through learning to see and photograph all that we are seeing.  the challenge then, presents itself with taking the inspiration you have found and integrating it into your own creative process without copying what you have been inspired by.

Tricky.

Consider this:

When you can approach being inspired as a challenge where you integrate that inspirational source into your own creative process, instead of copying it verbatim, you will have stretched, extended and liberated your OWN creativity, and THAT is exciting!  this liberation will then extend further and move you to places of personal and professional growth that you previously only hoped for.

The various practical experiences and lectures available to you at Zen Photography Safaris | Workshops | Retreats are designed to help you get in touch with and integrate your inspirations into your own creative process. we look forward to helping you fuel your soul and direct your creativity towards your own truth.

For more inspiration to reflect upon, please refer to our INSPIRA-ZEN-AL BLOG posts where you will find inspiration for your personal, creative, technical and business needs.

Namaste, Team Zen | Joanne Bartone

ABOUT THE PHOTO ABOVE:
Canon EOS 7D  |  Canon 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS @ 200mm  |  ISO: 125  |  f/2.8  | 1/250  |  Provincetown MA  | Image refined cropped and enhanced for color + tonality in PS5