The Mindful Photographer

by Sophie Howarth

An inspiring guide to contemplative photography and a slow creative process, including hands-on assignments, and inspirational stories, illustrated with fifty photographs. In a world where millions of images are shot every day and fast-paced environments can exhaust and stifle creativity, The Mindful Photographer proposes a simple slowing down. Through twenty concepts as varied as “Confidence,” “Gratitude,” and “Compassion,” combined with hands-on assignments, author Sophie Howarth invites readers to reflect on their photographic practice and learn to pause, pay attention, and become more attuned with the world around them. Ranging from the canonical to the contemporary, The Mindful Photographer features the work of photographers including Edward Weston, Kali Spitzer, Nadav Kander, Thomas Merton, Sarker Protick, and many more. Their photographs are accompanied by quotes, stories, and anecdotes to both inspire the reader, and broaden their photographic knowledge and creative perspectives. Putting aside preconceived ideas and the competitive pressures of picture-perfect Instagram posts, this book rewires our relationship to photographic practice as one to be understood as unconditionally joyful and rewarding. Howarth’s insightful texts work as a guide to both a mindful approach to photography, and as a photographic approach to meditation. Offered in an affordable format, this will be the must-have companion for anyone seeking a more mindful approach to engaging with their world through photography. 50 color illustrations

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Art

144 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2022

Reviews

[Pieter Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that I didn’t even know I missed. If you have an interest in photography and mindfulness this is the perfect combination. Great interesting book, beautiful images and very practical.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently discovered a Canon from 1980 in nearly perfect condition in my dad’s closet, I’ve wanted to learn more about the artistry and intention behind photography before I start shooting. This was a sweet read combined with meditative practices to encourage living in the moment and allowing art to speak to you. As much of a book on worldview as it is on photography. Time to go spend all my money on film.

“You don’t have to go looking for pictures. The material is generous. You go out and the pictures are staring at you.”
-Lee Friedlander

[Geoff Maddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Inspiring and inspired. I will return to this book again and again.

[Sammy Burrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. Excellent at providing a present and mindful outlook on life. A very beneficial read, especially if you feel like life is moving extremely fast these days.

[Esther Hong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure about the text but found a handful of interesting photos. Spring gets one in such a mood for photographic and sartorial experimentation.

[Jiaying · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for any (street) photographers who are just starting out in this genre. I didn't think that photography and mindfulness can come together that well until I picked up this book! It also comes with some mindful activities you can consider applying in your life too. I can foresee myself picking this book up again and getting back to a meditative, mindful and amateur state of mind whenever I find myself being harped on how the images are supposed to turn out.

I especially love the chapters on "Curiosity", "Receptiveness" and "Appreciation for your camera". Throughout my street photography oeuvre thus far, these traits were the ones that brought me this far and this book sums up my sentiments on "Letting go and simply receive" rather well! Sharing few of my favourite quotes here too:

"We can refine curiosity through practice; it is really a matter of unlearning than learning."

"The metaphors we use around photography are revealing. [...] It's predatory language that not only describes but sometimes encourages aggressive behaviour. Mindful photography calls for a different approach. Rather than chasing our subjects like prey, we relax the grasping mind and let the fullness of the world reveal itself to us. Instead of understanding photography as taking, we can envision it as receiving."

"Your don't have to go looking for pictures. The material is generous. You go out and the pictures are staring at you."

"Photography is not documentation but intuition, a poetic experience. It's drowning yourself, dissolving yourself, then sniff, sniff, sniff - being sensitive to coincidence. You can't go looking for it; you can't want it or you won't get it. First, you must lose yourself, then it happens."

My photographs went through quite a bit of change in the year 2023. When I first started out in 2022, I struggled to create a cohesive narrative, until I started practicing letting my mind loose and the photos reveal itself. I have never thought about nor plan for my captions or what I wanted to shoot for the day. The only thing I ever planned was location and I allow the rest to fall into place depending on how the location presents itself to me. That's when I slowly realise there's actually more than meets the eye even in the familiar places.

[Mindaugas Oželis · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first - oh, one more mindfulness book. But it’s about photography and oh well - I deep dived.
And it was inspiring awareness trip. It slightly improved how I see things before shutter release and on click.

The book is well structured, with great examples, mentioning specific photographers and their way of taking photos. Afterwards I googled some of them or their books.
Practical exercises for mindfulness in action in different situations. This one I found very useful.
And of course - photos, quotes.

The book definitely not one time read.

Made from premium paper, highly touchable.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I savored this one slowly over a couple of weeks and appreciate dipping in and out of the short chapters and ideas that Sophie Howarth presents. This is a great book for anyone who is a photographer - whether you're a professional, an amateur, or just a hobbyist. It will help you reflect on perspective and creativity and challenge you to push the limits of your art.

[Alex Pler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gratitud, curiosidad, humildad, receptividad, alegría... En 'El fotógrafo consciente' Sophie Howarth propone un acercamiento pausado y reflexivo al arte de tomar fotografías. Con influencias budistas y destacando los valores que atesoran las obras de decenas de artistas. Un libro para revisitar en busca de sosiego o inspiración.

[Pawan Dubey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small book despite the heft, I was able to go through it in a couple of hours. It was an interesting one as it definitely delivers on the promise made on the cover, but I still found it a bit underwhelming. I was hoping to see something more enlightening - and there were certain unexpected sections for sure - but nothing seemed new. Perhaps it's because I am familiar with The School of Life (which the author cofounded) but I found myself flipping through sections quickly at times.

The images were also hit or miss for me in terms of inspiration, although this is neither a photography book nor a book about photography, so it's unfair to judge it on its photographic content itself.

On the flip side, this is a mindfulness book in essence, and so non-photographers can also benefit from it.

[Amalia Wompa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first photography guide I've read. As the title suggests, its' goal is to teach you to be a more mindful photographer, which it does. The mindfulness exercises it gives are unique however, nothing that I think I don't already know just because my specific kind of photography is already focused on "nothing". There is a lot of hippie-dippie-type advice in this book, but if you look through it deep enough you'll find one or two things that begs you to think a bit differently about who or what you're photographing. However, most things in this book are pretty basic, but I still enjoyed it, although surprisingly the photography inside didn't stick out to me as much as I thought it would.

[Bob Mendelsohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the rhythm of the book, the ease of following the ideas that Sophie shared. I'm not sure that I agreed with her theses that seemed more often than not to be a New Age view of photography and really view of life. That said, I appreciated her thoughtfulness. The photos themselves were disappointing in the production in the book. I wonder if the printer did the disservice to the book or to the photographers, but there was enough of the 50 or so photos to highlight the good work of each. Even so, I wanted more.

HOWEVER, the book is a good read, and helped me rethink much of my own journalism work through photography. I hope to employ some of Sophie's recommendations. In fact, I know I will.

[Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dunia berjalan sangat cepat dan banyak hal mendistraksi diri kita. Pandangan menjadi kabur, kita lupa memperhatikan hal krusial yang kita punya; kesehatan diri dan mental, kebiasaan, dan prasangka yang membentuk bagaimana kita hidup.

Mindfulness dan Fotografi ternyata berkelindan, keduanya sama-sama bisa membantu kita untuk "memperhatikan", tidak hanya untuk diri sendiri tetapi juga hal disekitar.

[Felisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true manifestation of genuine benevolence. It is a profoundly enriching offering of the noble perspective on how photography as an art form can be approached as a medium for spiritual nourishment to awaken the heart.

I wholly and deeply resonate with everything delivered in this beautiful body of work on so many levels―both as an artist and a human being.

[Kristina Dukes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read but I expected more out of it. Her practice suggestions are very time consuming, not for someone with a busy lifestyle.

[Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking, insightful, and offers many perspectives of how photography and mindfulness can intersect.

[Patrick Hanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief book but one with profound insights about the challenges of photography and plenty of room for the voices and images of the wiser practitioners of the craft.

[Jennifer Rokeby-Mayeux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while browsing in a museum gift shop. It is a wonderful marriage of mindfulness practice and the visual power of photography.

[Teresa Arana Migliassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermoso, disfruté cada página. Tiene un diseño increíble.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interessant boek met veel contemplatieve fotografie maar ook breder over hoe te fotograferen met een frisse blik.

[Matt Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book on photography in a long time.

[Vienna Prynkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Loved this. The mindful practices were great and I copied some down to reference for inspiration. I loved this quote that I believe came from Dorothea Lange: Humility is to find a middle, “not by thinking less of yourself but by thinking of yourself less.”

“Mindfulness helps us reclaim lost attention” (p. 121)

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking & inspirational approach to taking photos. I particularly enjoyed the examples of past & present photographers’ work to highlight the results of the principles discussed.