Shoshin: The Beginner’s Mind

In Zen, Shoshin means beginner’s mind - the openness to see the world as if for the first time.
It reminds me that photography is not about mastering technique or chasing perfection.
It is about staying awake to what is in front of me, to light, shape, spirit, and breath, and meeting it with curiosity.

When I pick up my camera, I try to return to that space.
To slow down.
To see without judgment.
To honor the truth of a face, the patience of a flower, the silence between moments.

Shoshin keeps me humble and grounded.
It reminds me there is always more to learn, more to notice, and more to feel, if I let the world reveal itself instead of trying to control it.

Whether I am photographing people, animals, or the quiet rhythm of the natural world, I try to approach each image as a conversation, not a conquest.
A moment of respect between the observer and the observed.

In this way, every photograph becomes a meditation.
An act of gratitude for being here, and for seeing, even for a brief second, the world as it truly is.

The light is always there - we just have to begin again.