An author once said:
‘Great _____________ is
about depth of feeling …’
Emotional impact …
You feel like this is where
you want to be –
You’re inspired
And in the flow,
Is the author talking about
Intimacy? Being in love?
Quoted text © Robert Rodriquez, 2014
Is the author talking about
some other type of involvement with their experience here and now?
Does it matter whether the
author is referring to a relationship with a lover or a relationship to an
activity that they are engaging in? I would suggest that there is no
difference.
The quote is from Robert
Rodriquez’s book “Digital Fine Art Printing – Field guide for photographers.”
He is talking about his involvement as an artist, as a professional landscape
photographer.
Mr. Rodriquez’s statement,
with the opening line from photographer Peter Adams, applies to any situation
that we are living in and passionate about.
I have met many people who
work hard but work at a job that they are not feeling good about. I have met
many people who are in a relationship without joy. They intellectualize in order to try and
justify why they are staying where they are.
What holds us back from
feeling joy about being with a person that we love, from a task which we are doing?
John Gottman, in his book
“What makes love last,”[iii]
describes similar characteristics to Mr. Rodriquez’s statement. The quality of
the feelings, the desire to be there, to be in the flow, finding inspiration
are indicators whether a relationship is a pleasure, an “all in” experience and
whether it will last in a positive flow or not.
As a fellow artist,
photographer and spirit, I resonate with Mr. Rodriquez’s statement. He
describes the photographer becoming one with the equipment, with the
experience. It is not a question of “having to do;” it is a question of not
wanting to be anywhere else, doing anything else. The excitement, the passion
comes from capturing something special in nature, in people and wanting to
share the experience with others. Hopefully the other person will be able to
feel the passion, the experience that was captured by his photography.
Mr. Rodriquez’s comment is
strikingly important because it is about relationship to a person, to an
experience, and a desire to share that feeling, that joy. I believe when we are
in this state we are most intimate with ourselves and with our purpose.
[i] Rodriquez Jr., R. (2014). Digital Fine Art
Printing - Field Guide For Photographers.
[ii]
Actual quote is “Great photography is about depth of feeling not depth of
field’ Peter Adams. … what I’d like to call
emotional impact. … you feel like this is where you want to be --- you’re
inspired and in the flow, distracting thoughts all but non-existant.”
[iii] Gottman, J. and N. Silver (2012). What makes
love Last? how to build trust & avoid betrayal: Secrets from the love lab.
New York, Simon & Schuster.
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