A friend recently encouraged me to enter a few of my miksang contemplative photographs in a local art show and after some “friendly prodding” I agreed - a first for me. I’m in no rush and it seems like a good project for new year 2024. So, I’ll select 5 from 50 I’ve photographed over the past 10 years, the time I’ve been on a miksang photography path. I’ll need to print and frame the 5.  So, what’s miksang contemplative photography?

Miksang contemplative photography is contemplative expressions of seeing the visual world in the absence of our usual thinking mind, independent of the past (memories), the future (plans, expectations, imaginings), opinions, beliefs and judgments - simply moments that seemingly arise from nowhere of direct, unconditional, pre-conceptual and pre-linguistic perceptions of the visual world. The Tibetan word "miksang" meaning "good eye" refers to such experience, common to all of us naturally by virtue of being human. Learning to recognize and express such moments photographically is as much concerned with how the mind influences our experience than about the mechanics of taking “good photographs” if not more so.

If you’re interested in seeing the 50 photos I’m considering here they are. They’re best viewed slowly (let them come to you) and full screen. I hope you enjoy them. (All images ©2023 worldwide by Ronald Barnett.)