Photographic projections: How not to be in the moment

Last Updated on September 15, 2016 by Patrick

I’ve realized recently how not to be in the moment, how not to be present. I just identify myself with what is going on in my mind knowing that they belong to me, that they’re part of me. And then I run with them, running from myself.

When I’m out shooting, two things can happen to me within, so to say. First, my mind shuts up and I’m alert, present, fully dedicated to the experiences I’m having. Or second, my mind wanders aimlessly and I’m not present, I’m not there awake, alert etc., and I’m not living in the moment. These two things don’t happen to me at the same time, of course, but separately.

When I’m in the moment I enjoy what’s being given to me, every situation, every scene, every aspect of the natural world, so to speak. I am paying attention to what’s going on and I find that there are really many things going on at the same time or separately, and even my understanding of things is activated. I meditate in every moment.

But when I’m not in the moment, I don’t live in the now. I am off somewhere else and even in some other time, thinking about what had happen, as I recall it, or about what could happen, still, as I can recall it. It’s a memory trigger. I drift away with no purpose whatsoever and I don’t enjoy being there, in the places I was.

When I’m in the moment, living now and not then, whenever it may be, I respond spontaneously to the environment and I don’t feel negative emotions but rather the opposite, positive ones, mostly, as I said, of enjoyment and I don’t fear what may happen or wonder if I should feel that way or the other etc. I just am, period. :) It’s a natural state of being. One doesn’t need to think about it, just is and that is it.

When I’m not in the moment, drifting with my fantasies away, taken by my thoughts (which are not really mine, by the way ;) ), I am not what I should be, but many. My mind fills up with yesterday’s thoughts and I lose the moment, I lose track of who I am, of what I do etc. It’s like an amnesia. I forget, I ignore what is going on around me. I am not conscious of the world, let alone conscious of myself. Programmed thoughts come and go in my mind that are not really mine just borrowed from someone else and used because of not having any other options. But who’s fault is it!? :(

In photography you learn to be in the moment…

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