Photography as a Contemplative Practice – Christine Valters Paintner

“When we approach photography as a contemplative practice, we engage consciously in this movement from opaqueness to transparency, from shadow to illuminated clarity. We move from the idea of images ‘taken’ from the world as a property to be possessed to images received from the world as a gift of abundance and invitation. We move from looking at the world to see what we can gain to gazing on the world to see what gifts we might receive. These are all essential aspects of the contemplative path and are cultivated by our shift in vision.” 

 — Christine Valters Paintner, PhD Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice