(upbeat music)
-: Peace.
I'm Adam Jabari, and this lesson is called Stir It Up.
We're going to explore and create abstract photography.
Abstract, in this case, refers to the lines,
shapes, colors, and patterns in our environment.
Today we will play explorers,
searching out the abstract in our environments.
There are no mistakes here.
Just play and observe without judgment.
As with all photography, you need a source of light.
Where does your light come from?
You will need your camera.
A smartphone or tablet with a camera app
is perfect for this practice.
You'll need a notebook and a pen,
so paper and pen, to write down your ideas.
And finally, I invite you to play
with objects, materials, in your environment,
that have interesting lines, shapes, patterns.
It could be a handful of beans, or flour,
or an item of clothing.
I'm using cowrie shells, I really enjoy their pattern.
Let's begin our practice with three deep breaths.
Sit nice and tall, heart forward, crown high.
And take a deep breath in through your nose.
(inhales)
Exhale slowly from your nose.
(exhales)
Maybe place one hand over your belly
and draw another deep breath in through your nose.
(inhales)
Into your belly.
And slowly exhale.
(exhales)
You might take your other hand, and put it over your heart.
And draw another deep breath into your belly,
into your heart.
(inhales)
And exhale nice and slow.
(exhales)
In your notebook, draw a big circle.
Inside, in big, bold letters, write the words I am.
Take about a minute to fill in all the nouns
and adjectives that you identify as.
(upbeat music)
Draw a second big circle.
And within it, write the words I feel.
Take a minute to write in that circle
the different feelings and emotions that you experience.
(upbeat music)
Choose one entry from your I am circle,
and one entry from your I feel circle.
Together, mine read I am inner peaceful.
I feel gratitude.
What does yours say?
At the end of this lesson, there'll be a challenge
for you to go out and create images
based on your I am and your I feel.
Look for the lines, patterns, colors, shapes
in your environment as you shoot.
You can get really close, or really distant
to see things very differently.
Japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchi said,
"When a picture happens, I just say thank you and move on.
"It is only afterwards that I become an editor
"and impose the meaning on the work."
So, go out and explore your environment.
Make 10 to 20 images.
Look for the lines, patterns, shapes in your environment.
Take your camera out in search
of the colors and textures that reflect
your I am and I feel.
Where do you see the patterns?
Shapes?
Lines in your exploration?
Make 10 to 20 images.
There are no mistakes.
Just play.
To center yourself before we go,
let's take one breath together.
(inhales)
(exhales)
Thank you for exploring with me today.
I'm Adam Jabari.
Peace.
(upbeat music)