Photo Profile: Kim Manley Ort

Photography is a hobby, an addiction if you will, for millions of people around the world. That’s a lot of pixels floating around.

What does one do with all of those images? And is the perfect image really why they do it? I don’t believe so.

I first thought of photography as a form of self-expression but not anymore. I’ve discovered that, like many others, I love the process of photographing even more than the final product.

Photography helps me to connect with the world and appreciate it so much more. Photography gets me out of my head and allows me to experience what’s happening right now. In that way, it’s a form of meditation.

My mission in life is to live contemplatively, observing and experiencing the world at a deep level. I’m only here for a short while and I don’t want to miss it. My work is to make this type of living a daily practice and to share how I do that with others. Photography is my tool and I use it every day. The end product is important but only if it shows what I actually perceived or experienced. It does not have to be something that will sell.

I teach online and in-person workshops. Photo By Design explores the elements underlying visual design for photography. It is the first step in really learning to see. Adventures in Seeing is my newest workshop. It is designed to cultivate habits for living a contemplative life.

My influences are many and I am continually being inspired. Before I became seriously infected by the photography bug I read a book about Ansel Adams’ life. His photographs of Yosemite and the American West showed me that quality images could express the feelings of the photographer. But I was most impressed by the way he lived his life, with passion and integrity. He was above all else a communicator. Freeman Patterson is a Canadian photographer and workshop leader. At his workshop in New Brunswick, he first taught me visual design. Then I learned to really see. His love for photography and his authenticity were something to emulate. Frederick Franck was an artist and author of the classic book, The Zen of Seeing. This book showed me how art can be a form of meditation. Thomas Merton was a monk and author, who introduced me to the contemplative life through his extensive writings. The camera was also his tool for cultivating close attention. Mary Oliver is a poet who expresses in her poetry what I would like to express with my photographs. Miksang contemplative photography has taught me to be aware of my perceptions and the filters and baggage we usually bring to them.

My aspirations – I want to be part of a community of people who are exploring the contemplative life together. My community project for next year will be reading and exploring the book, A Year With Rilke, with others online. Rainer Maria Rilke was a contemplative poet and his writings will provide rich inspiration for discussion and artistic creation.

I would like to continue learning to see with people all over the world.

Links:
http://kimmanleyort.com/
http://kimmanleyort.imagekind.com/
http://twitter.com/kimmanleyort
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventures-in-Seeing-with-Kim-Manley-Ort/211085408934748