Self Portraiture as Contemplative Practice
Class - Photography | Available
Traditional self-portraiture often focuses on identity, image, or performance. Contemplative self-portraiture, however, invites a different question: Who am I in this moment of seeing? Rather than presenting a fixed idea of self, this practice explores presence—self as fluid, responsive, and in relationship with the world around us. In this 5 week workshop we explore these concepts in a safe, creative, and self affirming manner. I see myself and this how I want you to see me too.
Methods include:
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Using reflection—mirrors, windows, and shadows—to reveal the transient and ever-changing sense of self.
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Photographing oneself within everyday environments to explore belonging and interconnection.
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Pairing images with words—poems, fragments, or haiku—to deepen reflection and meaning.
Inner Work:
Contemplative self-portraiture can awaken vulnerability, compassion, and acceptance. It invites gentleness toward the self, reveals unseen aspects of identity, and creates a visual diary of inner life and awareness.
Participants may use any camera—from smartphone to DSLR—and no experience with poetry is required. The emphasis is on openness, curiosity, and attention rather than technical mastery.
Timothy Auman
I am an ordained lay Buddhist, certified mindfulness teacher, and former university chaplain dedicated to the application of Taoist and Zen thought to the issues of everyday life. As a visual artist, my approach to photography focuses on learning (or perhaps we could say re-learning) how to see. My work is influenced by the Miksang (the Tibetan word for “good eye”) movement, having studied with John McQuade and Miriam Hall for many years. In contemplative photography, we focus on taking the time to actually see, to become aware of and present with what is actually happening in the phenomenal world, and then create an equivalent image with our camera. The main difference between Miksang Contemplative Photography and other forms of photography is that Miksang is based on clear perception before an overlay of thoughts, interpretations, preferences, story lines, likes and dislikes, what we think might make a good image and so forth arise. Meditation, dharma teachings and contemplation are woven into all I teach. If you want to know more about contemplative photography, please sign up for a class.