Today's Picture to Ponder Photo
Heather, a cousin's daughter, joyfully playing and communicating with family members around a table.
I spontaneously captured this image, and Sam printed it, over 30 years ago. It came to mind during the teleclass call on Wednesday when Rufina when she was speaking of "connection" and "eye contact." Since the photographic image came up so strongly for me, I decided to share it with you today. I think it "speaks" for itself.
Self-Reflecting Queries
So that you all are included I will share the portion of what Rufina spoke that so powerfully brought back the image of Heather in this photo.
With regards to photographing people, she stated, “You always want to go with the emotion, because with that you want to capture the authentic moment. You don’t want people to pose. You want to capture them when it’s real, when it happens; so you have to be ready for it.”
“How do you recognize it as an authentic moment?” she continued. “For me, it’s when an emotion sweeps over me and I go ‘how cute!’ or ‘How amazing!’ or anything in between. And with people it generally starts in the eyes, so you want to make sure that the eyes are well focused and that there is something going on in the eyes; because that’s where you get the connections with people.”
And, how does this translate into your life, particularly if you do not use a camera?
I invite you to do a query, or observation, on yourself and then on others. Are you one who establishes, then maintains eye contact with someone once you or he/she starts speaking? This might even be an alien concept to many of you.
I had been a student, teacher, plus and successfully fulfilled on a variety of roles before I was introduced to the "act" of creating eye contact. It was an important part of sales training, a path I moved into after a decline of enrollment and elimination of my teaching position many years ago. It was a whole new world for me and one that ultimately contributed to my embracing my own identity and finding power in my comfort zone.
For one who may not be accustomed to eye contact, it may feel strange and uncomfortable and, again, I invite you to try it on. Once you become aware of it for yourself, start observing others, those who "connect" and those who don't. Is there a connection, if the eye contact is missing?
You might even play with this when you talking to someone on the phone. Are your eyes on "them" or wandering around your own space?
Try both ways. Is there a difference?
And, to complete for today, let's briefly go back to Heather's exuberance.
I invite you to experiment with play and joy in your body movement and facial expressions, even if it's simply in the mirror with yourself. What differences do you feel.
Remember to have fun!
Special Offers-
resulting from "Using Photography to Make Connections with Nature and People" Teleclass Intereview with Rufina James, facilitated by Sheila Finkelstein.
Click on this OFFERS page for:
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Sheila
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