In a recent newsletter, photographer Cole Thompson (@colethompson) encouraged his readers to apply to Kat Mahale’s open call titled HERE I AM. The images, he said, would be evaluated by panelists solely from the felt sense. I was intrigued.

Here’s how Kat described it:

Curated entirely on the felt sense, HERE I AM is an international photographic acknowledgement of our existence in the now from a physical, metaphysical, spiritual and/or existential place. It is a declaration of our presence. It’s location, environment and who we are at this moment.

I submitted my image Smoky Mountain Sunrise [see the image below] and it was accepted. It was then chosen to be featured in an article in Digital Camera World about photography from the felt sense.

To see the exhibition guide from the HERE I AM exhibit, click here.

Aha moment! My emotional connection to the idea of felt photography did not end with that submission. I have often heard that our photographs are biographical snapshots of ourselves. After learning more about this concept from Kat Mahale (@feelmorecreative) and Nanette Gordon (@nanettefayephotography), I am even more a believer.  

This image, entitled Lakeside Dreamscape, reflects the philosophy of Feltful Photography:

Mindful photography is the practice of slowing down, connecting with yourself, your environment and being fully present. . . It’s all about finding where you’re drawn to look, without having to know why . . . The impact on mental health and wellbeing is significant, especially when combined with nature and the outdoors.

Yes! I made Lakeside Dreamscape on a beautiful summer day – one of the first cooler days that invited me to explore a nearby lake. I was not rushing to shoot as many images as I could. Instead, I stopped when I saw this scene. The whole of it drew me in completely. The colors. The lily pads. The frilly green tree. The hints of nature’s gorgeous colors throughout.

To learn more about Felt Photography, or to find out about classes in seeing and writing from the felt sense, check out Kat’s website feelmorecreative.org and Nanette Gordon’s website nanettefayegordon.com.