Mindful Photography, Sylvia Lockhart

MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY

SYLVIA LOCKHART

Over the years I have taken numerous photography classes but I am mostly a self-trained photographer. Recently I have exhibited in the UK and the U.S. Having lived in large cities for many years I’ve always gravitated towards nature photography as a way to create a contemplative space away from the frenetic pace of urban life. My work has led me on a journey from more realistic, representational art to more abstract works that defy simple categorization. While exploring different types of photography I was soon fascinated with the myriad of colors and patterns that nature provided and this exploration opened up a new world. After a friend gifted me a book on how to incorporate a more zen-like and mindful approach to photography I realized that by breaking technical rules it gave me the freedom to discover new ways of seeing. Experimenting with various techniques and playing with the camera settings allowed me to experience a more mindful photographic process and that led me to embrace an abstract style. These new techniques, such as ICM (intentional camera movement) and free-lensing (the lens is not attached to the camera) have allowed me to be fully immersed in the moment and to create something unique to that particular time and place. My attraction to this type of photography comes from my need for an outlet for expressing my creative freedom while aiming to be at one with that moment and capturing it in a very personal way. With minimal post-editing I try to remain true to the moment in time when the image was captured. My photography is influenced and inspired by some romantic painters such as Turner and some impressionist painters like Monet who so magnificently and deftly captured a mood in a landscape. This creative approach allows me to take minimalist images and eliminate distractions so the final photograph can portray a sense of calm and

wonder. In an era when billions of photographs are taken every single day I want to liberate the viewer from preconceived assumptions about what they are seeing or how they should interpret an image. This is the sense of freedom I like to convey in my images as well as the meditative nature of the scenes I capture. They say an image is worth a thousand words, and I would like my images to convey a thousand feelings of wonder, tranquility and peace – something much needed in this 2020.

BIO

After a successful career in the marketing industry in New York City, Sylvia Lockhart returned to University in the U.S. to pursue B.A. in Spanish Cultural Studies and Art History. Since moving to the UK in 2011 she has taken numerous photography courses, including the City and Guilds Photography Certificate. She is a member of the Royal Photographic Society and the Hampstead Photographic Society with whom she has exhibited her work annually. She is also a member of the Latinaria Collective, a group of Latin American artists. Her work is exhibited in the US, the UK and online at Saatchiart.com, artsy.com and artsper.com.

Her extensive worldwide travel has led her on a creative journey to a discovery of fine art photography. During the past few years she has been exploring various themes and techniques inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Her focus is discovering nature’s own abstract expressions and how to transform them into a minimalist photograph that allows the viewer to find a place for mindfulness contemplation. Her style is instinctive and aims to mirror a painterly approach.