As I wait for my eye operation I was thinking of seeing with awareness. When we sit and sketch or paint a scene that work will instantly connect you with that place in a way no photograph can. This is because we look with focused awareness. I have some ( very bad ) paintings I did in Chile twenty years ago and when I look at them I can remember the place name and the families who were having a picnic nearby. However when I look at a photo of the trip I can't remember where they were taken even though there are some memories. So being able to see is different to really seeing with full awareness. Obviously I am now very aware what a wonderful gift sight is and using it to paint and really see is a double blessing.This is another sketch from the Gerry Active 2011 Tour de France. I painted over the sketch just before the Ten Tomatoes work. As with my other sketches and paintings from that trip they are not my best work. BUT they are lovely reminders of the place and time. This is another nice little corner of St. Enemie sur Tarn.
I agree. There is something about actively participating in a scene by drawing or painting it and allowing oneself to be fully present (Witnessing life and being witnessed). I would, however distinguish between different kinds of photography. There is the lazy snappy one(there is probably an equivalent in drawing and painting) and then I believe there is also photography which has an equal level of engagement with a scene and equal degree of creativity. There appears to be a connection between this kind of full active involvement in a context and laying the foundations for insight. I suppose it's another way of describing absorption or dhyana and also seems to be a way of entering a mandala.
ReplyDeleteYes Ben, You are right, it is another way of entering dhyana and further more the boundary between self and subject disappears. I was of course talking about the lazy type ( my type ) of phtography. I am sure the keen photographer who waits hours for the right light experiences something similar
DeleteGood luck with the operation
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Ben. I saw the specialist today expecting to receive laser surgery but it has been postponed to next Thursday. However the prognosis for full sight is good I was told.
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Thanks for your kind comment Robert. It is very much appreciated.
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