Gratitude Photography - December 2024 Theme
#gratefulforthislife
A depiction of what it might be like to live on Mars - AI generated.
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance."
Eckhart Tolle
Celebrating the good things of the heart
This month is about the celebration of life, the inner joy that comes from what we see and hold tight emotionally - and the delight of living on this incredible planet. I want to encourage you to spend time every morning settling down and meditating on the good things in your life and in so doing, opening up new visions of the beauty and love that surrounds us, even through the painful times we face.
And then comes the task of visualising it through artistic imagery - the photography
Mars
Today I saw a video of a scan of the barren yet majestic surface of Mars and that got me wondering about my own life on this planet. (The photo above is Ai generated, I haven’t been to Mars yet).
If you lived on Mars, what would you miss the most?
Let’s play a little game of “imagine if…”
I would miss driving on the coastal roads of our peninsula, and seeing sights like this — stopping and taking it all in. I would miss remarking about the quality of light wherever we go, the reflections, the lengthening shadows, the blue and golden hours. I could not live without that joy.
If somehow you were forced to go to Mars and live there, what would you miss the most on earth and on this planet?
Would it be the love of family members, people, pets. animals, bugs and insects, whales and sea creatures, what would make your heart yearn? What would bring tears to the eyes if you were without them?
Would it be nature's beauty? — the little pathways in the forest, the beauty of ice and snow, the clouds of the skies with all their drama?
The Task
This month I want you to spend some time imagining that you are on Mars and separated from all you love and know. In that context look for the things you would miss the most on earth. Photograph them in order of importance, almost like a documentation of your life on earth, preparing photos and writing about them.
Let’s show each other the things that we value in life, — paying lots of attention to light and shadow and creativity.
This image was taken at Cape Point, a reserve on the tip of Africa. It is a fairly barren peninsula but the beauty of its flaura and fauna is immense. And then the storms come, the sense of the power of nature inspires me tremendously.
Three photographers who celebrated the (sometimes hidden) beauty of this life. And notice that they all faced huge challenges even through they searched for meaning and beauty.)
1. Sebastião Salgado
Why:
Salgado’s photography is deeply rooted in an appreciation for both humanity and the natural world. His projects, like Workers and Genesis, are visual odes to the resilience of people and the untouched beauty of the Earth. After documenting harrowing human suffering in Migrations, Salgado suffered emotional burnout but rediscovered his passion and gratitude for life by restoring his family’s deforested land in Brazil. This act of renewal, alongside his focus on the planet's pristine landscapes in Genesis, shows a profound appreciation for the interconnectedness of life
2. Dorothea Lange
Why:
Lange’s work during the Great Depression, particularly Migrant Mother, reflects her deep empathy and respect for the human spirit. She saw her subjects not merely as victims of hardship but as individuals of strength and dignity. Her photographs are imbued with an understanding of the value of every life, capturing humanity’s resilience with a sense of reverence and gratitude for shared existence. Lange often said her camera was an instrument of learning and connecting, which shows her appreciation for the lives she documented
3. Ansel Adams
Why:
Adams dedicated his life to celebrating the majesty of nature. His landscapes of the American wilderness, particularly Yosemite, convey his awe and gratitude for the natural world. Adams not only appreciated the beauty of life on Earth but also worked tirelessly to protect it, using his art as a means to inspire conservation. His ability to see the divine in nature, paired with his technical brilliance, makes his work a profound expression of gratitude for life’s wonders.
These three photographers exemplify gratitude for life through their subjects, whether humanity or the natural world, reflecting a profound appreciation for resilience, beauty, and connection.
I hope that in this month of December, you will find the beauty of this present life, treasure it — and be restored through cultivated gratitude.
Submit your images to our PhotoCoach Community Facebook Group
If you are new to the group, please read the blurb before you join and are warmly welcomed.
My best thoughts are with you
Charles the Light Coach
PS: Sign up for newletters (below) and to see the chosen images from the previous month.
PPS: Or if you just want to say “hello”, please use the box below.
