Mindful Photography Resources

In the book you will find engaging practices that foster hope and inner peace. Unfortunately, the following statistics aren’t so positive and encouraging. 700,000 people die by suicide each year (World Health Organization). Men are particularly vulnerable, ending their own lives at nearly 4x the rate of women. White males accounted for nearly 70% of suicide deaths in the U.S. in 2021 (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). Nothing is as tragic as someone successfully taking their own life. That said, ponder this: for every suicide completion, there are 25 attempts (Merck Manuals). That means there are 17.5 million suicide attempts each year. Hopelessness and despair are all around us. Perhaps you are struggling too. If so, this book is for you. It is written by someone who was desperate to find relief from chronic dark thoughts.

Capturing a pretty photo and capturing the present moment are different. As you practice these methodical photography exercises, even your simple snaps will become more visually appealing. That’s great. However, that’s not the point of mindful photography.

Want to grasp the spirit of mindful photography? Ask a child to take several photos of things they are most grateful for. Observe them. Watch them get lost in creating, while totally unconcerned about perfection. Notice the “heart” in what they show you.

You have now witnessed capturing the present moment versus ego-centered photography. You may not be a kid anymore, but if you are teachable, smartphone photography can become an ever-present and powerful tool for inner peace.

In The Mindful Photography Field Guide, Joe Van Wyk shares 15 smartphone photography practices that can help bring you back to sanity when you spiral into depressing, anxious thoughts. Filled with full color photos, practical how-to action items, engaging stories, and solid research, this book reveals time-tested practices you can use to recenter your mind, embrace the present moment, and experience the full joy of living. You’ll find whole new level of love and commitment to your photography practice.

Photographing Mindfully
Creating for Connection
Focused on 5 Senses
Lost in Creation
Present
Aware

Photographing Non-Mindfully
Creating for Likes
Detached from Reality
Lost in Thought
Hurried
Asleep

These practices are specifically designed for smartphone photography. I do realize that mindful smartphone photography sounds like an oxymoron. On one hand, we have the mind-blowing advancement of smartphone cameras. On the other hand, we are balancing the fact that smartphones are society’s number one killer of presence (and advertisers’ top choice for controlling our minds).

However, with discipline, we can take a mindful approach to our smartphones too. As such, each practice in this book starts with the intentional act of turning your smartphone into a camera, turning on airplane mode, and cutting off your outside connection while you are practicing. 

The exercises in this book will help you master the amazing camera that’s always with you. You’ll practice photographic awareness, scenes, macro-photography, landscapes, abstracts, architecture, street photography, portraiture, approaching strangers, editing, organizing, and archiving your work.