There are some good things to be said about walking. Not many, but some. Walking takes longer, for example, than any other known form of locomotion except crawling. Thus it stretches time and prolongs life. Life is already too short to waste on speed. I have a friend who’s always in a hurry; he never gets anywhere. Walking makes the world much bigger and thus more interesting. You have time to observe the details. The utopian technologists foresee a future for us in which distance is annihilated and anyone can transport himself anywhere, instantly. Big deal, Buckminster. To be everywhere at once is to be nowhere forever, if you ask me” ~ Edward Abbey, from The Journey Home (1991)
Photowalking is a joy precisely because we take our time, we walk mindfully, aware of our surroundings, looking deeply. This is such basic work of mindfulness — we should practice it constantly. Friends and students often ask me what equipment I recommend they purchase next. I often respond with, “do you have a tripod.” Now, a tripod is annoying to carrry, and perhaps not useful in all instances, but it has its virtues. One of those virtues is to slow you down. Slow down, take your time, look around you. A good photowalk does the same. It facilitates our slowing down, looking at our surroundings, savor the moment.
Thoreau called it sauntering. Here’s a wish that you find more time to saunter this year, and bring your camera along!
