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The Little Book of Contemplative Photography

Howard Zehr

paperback | 80 pages
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches
 

US$4.95
ISBN10: 1561484571 | ISBN13: 9781561484577

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The Little Books of Justice and Peacemaking

DESCRIPTION:

Restorative justice pioneer Howard Zehr is also an accomplished photographer. He begins his latest book with a confession -- “I have written this book in part to encourage myself to slow down, to heighten my imagination, to renew myself while I gain a new view of the creation and the creator.”

With this book, Zehr makes a gift to anyone who would like to couple photography with seeing and thinking more deeply. In each chapter he offers a Purpose, a Problem, and an Activity with a camera in order to “practice mindfulness.”

You’ll not need a fancy camera, but if you have one it won’t hurt. Zehr’s chapter-by-chapter exercises are aimed at heightening visual awareness and imagination—all while doing good and working for justice.

Zehr knows the risks of spending oneself:  “This book is part of The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding series because seekers of justice and peace are often so committed to their cause that they take too little time to reflect and to appreciate the world around them. These ideas and exercises have given me a framework and encouraged my own ongoing spiritual discipline through the medium of photography.”

The author gratefully acknowledges the numerous authors and publishers who granted permission to reprint excerpts in this book.

Excerpts from The Mind’s Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers © Henri Cartier-Bresson are used by permission of the publisher, Aperture, New York, 1999.

Excerpts from The Shape of Content by Ben Shahn, pp. 63, 70, are reprinted by permission of the publisher, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, Copyright © 1957 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, © renewed 1985 by Bernarda B. Shahn. An excerpt from Crossing Open Ground by Barry Lopez reprinted by permission of SLL/Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. Copyright 1988 by Barry Lopez. Excerpts from Why People Photograph © Robert Adams are used by permission of the publisher, Aperture, New York, 1994.

Every effort has been made to trace and contact copyright owners. We apologize for any inadvertent omissions or errors.

CONTENTS:

1. Getting Started 3
Why this Little Book? 3
About this book 5
Equipment and knowledge 6
Journaling 9
Exercise: “Tuning Up” our eyes 10
Exercise: I see/feel/think 12

2. Changing Our Lens 14
Exercise: Photograph without viewfinder 19
Exercise: Receiving an image 21

3. Practicing Mindfulness 23
Hindrances to receptivity 25
Exercise: Exploring the ordinary 27
Exercise: Break the rules 29

4. An Attitude of Wonder 31
Exercise: Exploring abstraction 36
Exercise: Finding mystery in the familiar 38

5. Seeing the Light 40
Characteristics of light 41
Exercise: Playing with light 48
Exercise: Meditating with light 50

6. Exploring Metaphor 52
Exercise: Finding metaphors 57
Exercise: Exploring your metaphors 59

7. Making Meaning 61
Exercise: Where is the energy? 66
Exercise: Disciplined seeing 68

8. With Respect and Humility 71
Exercise: Taking stock 73
Endnotes 77
Readings and Sources 81
About the Author 82

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Howard Zehr is internationally known for his pioneering work in restorative justice. His book Changing Lenses: A New Focus for Crime and Justice (third edition, 2005) is considered a foundational work in this field. The Little Book of Restorative Justice, the first in this Little Book series, provides a short overview of the theory and practice of this field. Zehr’s vocational and avocational passion in addition to justice is photography. He has worked part-time for many years doing a variety of freelance and journalistic photography projects, including international photo work for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). He also enjoys landscape and portrait photography. His work has been shown and published in a variety of venues. He is particularly interested in documentary photography and interviewing. Recent books in this genre include Doing Life: Men and Women Serving Life Sentences and Transcending: Reflections of Crime Victims, both published by Good Books. Zehr is Professor of Restorative Justice and currently also Co-Director of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

 


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