Contemplative Photography

August 4 2026

A few months ago, I wrote a blog about a practice of 15 Second Contemplation, [1] and I promised that I’d write about contemplation itself. But there are so many ways to contemplate that instead I’m limiting this blog to one specific way of entering into this spiritual practice, that is through contemplative photography.

What is contemplation? Carmelite William McNamara defines it as “a long loving look at the real,” [2]. Occasionally when I give this definition, people ask “but what is real?” Usually I respond by saying “whatever is real for you.” But sometimes I shorten the definition of contemplation to “a long loving look.”

Photography is one way to that helps me to slow down to take a long loving look at what's around me. Most often it’s flowers, trees, or other parts of nature, but sometimes it involves looking at architecture, doorways, my dog Kona, people, or whatever comes into my visual field.

Contemplative photography is a lovely spiritual practice that is accessible to most people since many of us have cameras on our phones. I feel privileged to have learned about this practice many years ago. You probably won’t be surprised to know that the blog photos are from my practice of contemplative photography.

Photography as a contemplative practice is different than “taking” or “capturing” photos. It involves shifting our attitudes so that we don’t worry about the final product, but instead simply receive whatever is being presented to us, [3]. Sometimes this can even include things that we would normally call ugly.

Artist and educator Joshua Lutz describes contemplative photography as similar to mindfulness photography, [4]. He says that using one’s camera to stay anchored in perception of the present moment is a beginning, but that photographic contemplation invites us into a deeper experience. That it can allow us to consider what’s happening inside us, in the world, and how everything is interconnected, [5].

The Buddhist practice of Miksang is another way of engaging in photography as a spiritual practice. Miksang means “good eye,” in Tibetan and this practice invites us to see the world in a pure way, in a fresh way, [6]. In Miksang one uses the camera without our overlays of meaning and value, pleasure, dislike or disinterest, [7].

Author and educator Christine Valters Paintner has an online retreat and a book outlining the use of photography as Christian contemplative practice, [8]. She provides a detailed background for this spiritual practice and invites us into using our cameras to foster a different way of seeing, [9].

Valters Paintner calls this “transfigured seeing." It is a way of perceiving that can allow us to see the world as it really is, which in turn enables us to encounter the Holy in the world, [10].

Because God’s presence is always before us, Valters Paintner says that this type of photography can “shift our vision from seeing the obvious and expected with our physical eyes to beholding the sacred within any given moment with the eyes of our hearts, [11].” In this way, cameras can become portals to seeing the sacred around us, [12].

Today’s invitation is to go on a contemplative photographic journey as outlined below, and to follow up with journaling and/or a visio divina meditation:

Prepare yourself to go on a contemplative walk, (inside or outside).

Before setting out, spend some time centring yourself. Move your attention from your head/mind into your heart space and set your intention to stay in this heart-centered place as you “receive” photos.

As you begin your slow walk, bring a soft gaze out into the world. Be present to whatever is calling your attention, [13].

Once you feel that your contemplative walk has come to a close, return to a quiet space and journal about your experience.

Here are some potential journaling questions, [14]:

a. Were you able to let go of perfectionistic tendencies and just enjoy the process?

b. Did you have any places of resistance? How might you let go of these resistances?

c. Were you able to enter into any moments of timelessness? How did these feel in your body?

d. Were you able to enter into times in which you could see with the eyes of your heart? If not, then what might you have to let go of to allow this to happen, (e.g. habits, beliefs, messages, other blocks)?

e. Did you have any experiences that felt sacred, holy, mysterious, and/or that brought you joy?

Choose one of the photographs from your contemplative walk to use for a visio divina meditation. You may choose to print off your photograph for the meditation. This is the link to my visio divina blog for a meditation that you could use: https://www.vancouverspiritualdirection.com/single-post/visio-divina

1. https://www.vancouverspiritualdirection.com/single-post/15-second-contemplation

2. Christine Valters Paintner, Eyes of the Heart: Photography As a Christian Contemplative Practice, Sorin Books, Notre Dame, Indiana, 2013, 17.

3. Ibid, 19.

4. Mark Bertin, Mindfulness and Contemplative Photography, Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/child-development-central/202410/mindfulness-and-contemplative-photography, October 31, 2024.

5. Ibid.

6. What is Miksang? True Perception, True Expression: Miksang Contemplative Photography, https://www.miksang.com/miksang/

7. Ibid.

8. See: https://abbeyofthearts.com/programs/self-study-online/eyes-of-the-heart/ and Christine Valters Paintner, Eyes of the Heart: Photography As a Christian Contemplative Practice, 2013.

9. Valters Paintner, Eyes of the Heart, 14.

10. Ibid, 15.

11. Ibid, 16.

12. Ibid, 12.

13. Ibid, 38.

14. These are mostly from Valters Paintner, Eyes of the Heart, 39.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Maureen Fowler, a beloved spiritual mentor.