How to Relax in Nature with Close-Up Photography

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I walk over the smooth black, pit holed crevices. All the time watching for trail markers and checking the nuances of light peeping through the canopy of the late summer canvas. I am looking for the right spot to do some close-up photography.

As I hop, skip and jump, encountering fellow sojourners, the enchantment of the forest descends. It is beautiful, a place of faeries and little people, if ancient beliefs still stand.

Picture the forest

The forest tunes out the erratic tones of modern life to sing its own song, a primordial symphony of bird song, insect chatter, and stealth movement which play like a doo-whop group to psithurism. That word means the sound of wind in the trees, it looks so interesting, I thought I would put it out there.

Exploring your own backyard is usually not the first choice. The familiar holds no excitement, or so one might think. In fact, it is quite the contrary, because looking at spaces close to you with a fresh approach allows you to appreciate things you my have previously taken for granted, and that is why close-up photography as a gateway to capturing the small things in nature not only helps you understand the intricacies of your chosen subject, but how it connects to the bigger things in your own life.

Equipment

There are lots of studies out there which back up the premise that being in nature is good for your mental health, add to this the bonus of photography as an intervention which helps aids recovery. It makes you want to grab the camera, tripod and go. Actually, there are a few other items you may want to add to enhance this experience. My go to is a good camera backpack, you want to have the right lens at the right time, as well as filters and cleaning materials.

The purpose of this experience is the experience. It is not about getting the best technical shot, the perfect aperture or shutter speed, however, if you do this often enough it will come. Don’t have the fancy camera and equipment? Don’t worry, you can use the phone camera. Smart phones have been a social game changer. With digital cameras anyone can capture anything, and post it on social media within seconds. Instagram moments for self, and future reflexion can be very therapeutic.

Use what you have, as smart phones have great optics these days. I don’t have a macro lens for my DSLR camera but I do have macro filters which do the job for me. I was able to get a great shot of a Monarch butterfly which had recently emerged from its pupa, and was gathering its strength for the great migration.

Research

Studies conducted by Dr. Liz Brewster of Lancaster University, and Dr. Andrew Cox from the University of Sheffield, into the daily use of photography for mental health benefits. They documented the following results “We conclude that this practice has multi-faceted benefits for improving well-being. “

Up Close Gains

Unlike landscape photography, where you capture great vistas, with close-up photography you are closer to your subject, allowing you to see things from an entirely different perspective. For example, the fine hairs on an insect, or the pollen on a stamen. This process enhances a connection with nature, brings an awareness and focus which is therapeutic.

Meditation

Finding the subject is just the beginning, you want the right angle in the right light. It is a meditation in nature. By definition, meditation has been used as a spiritual practice in the east for thousands of years, while in the west, it has become popular as a secular means to de-stress and quiet the mind to promote well being. The British born, American philosopher,  Alan Wilson Watts (1916 – 1973), put it succinctly, saying: 

“Meditation is the way in which we come to feel our basic inseparability from the whole universe, and what that requires is that we shut up.

Alan Watts

The goals of meditation align with that of using photography as an eco-therapy practice. It is a contemplative practice which allows you to focus your mind, with intention while you set the goal.

Breathe

Not only are taking in deep breaths good for your body, it helps you attune to your surroundings. What do you smell? Plants, animals? Hopefully, not a skunk. This is an important sense in any environment. Think about the smell of a fire. Is it a barbecue or danger? Breathing deeply as you walk will help you know when you are in the right place.

Find your spot

A great beginners exercise often used in close-up photography circles, is to find a place in nature which resonates with you. Make out a certain radius, sit yourself down and stay there for about one hour, and feel what you are drawn to. It may be a blade of grass which sticks out in a certain way, or an unusual leaf, insect, anything which resonates with your energy.

Time of day

There is a sweet spot in the day when the light is just lovely, framing an awesome backdrop for photos. Of course, you can take photos at any time of day, but find the time that is right. Try taking a photograph on spot at different times, and spot the difference in your subject.

Note, you can also do this inside with your indoor plants, especially in those cold winter months when inclement weather prevents outdoor excursions.

Try it Yourself

You may want to record the experience in a notebook for future reference.

• Colour
  
• Texture

• Patterns

• Function

Reality Awareness

Being in the forest not only provides sensory stimulation, in addition, there is a new reality awareness. How does it make you feel?

What do you notice while viewing your subject close up? how does this new perspective change what you thought previously?

What emotions do you experience and why?

Taking close up photos is a great way to capture and preserve your experience with nature, as well as an opportunity to share your images with others.