What we’re about
Have you noticed how holding a camera in our hands can help us to slow down and discover wonder everywhere, even in the most ordinary and unlikely places? How does that happen? We meet up to experiment on ourselves and explore this phenomenon together. The purpose is to build a community of people curious about combining mindfulness and photography together.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Photographers, philosophers, meditators, and anyone interested in attention, curiosity, perception, and everyday wonder.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
You’ll need a camera. But it doesn’t matter if it's a fancy DSLR or a phone camera. This is about using our eyes and minds differently. Our walks usually go on whether it's rain or shine - so you might also need waterproofs!
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE WALKS?
Each time we meet we will explore a different way of looking at the world, based on a philosophical thought experiment. These are mini-contemplations with the potential to hack our default perception settings. The results are variable, which is why it’s intriguing to swap stories and photos at the end (usually over a coffee or hot chocolate!)
WHERE?
Our meetups will all be in and around London.
GROUND RULES:
• We spend more time looking, than clicking
• We look alone, even though we are in a group
• We use cameras (phones in airplane mode)
• We check photos later (no reviewing or deleting)
• We are serious about not taking ourselves too seriously!
MORE INSPIRATION:
Newsletter: https://wearejustlooking.org
Instagram: @wearejustlooking
Upcoming events (2)
See all- "Walkshop" in Kentish Town, London - joining in The World Wide Wander 2023Kentish Town, London
Let's dial up our imaginations! Street Wisdom and friends are hosting a World Wide Wander for those who believe in the goodness of humanity and in living a creative and curious life. Given that's probably everyone in this Meetup group, I thought it would be fun for a bunch of us to join in this global event with a "Walkshop" in Kentish Town. As part of the walk, we will be visiting the Studio where the whole global event is being hosted all day. It will be led by Rachel Crowther. Click here to find out more and to register directly for this walk.
"Just imagine if even a walk round the block could leave you feeling more inspired and in love with life?"
- David Pearl, Founder of Street Wisdom
SCHEDULE:
10.00 - Meet up outside Kentish Town station
12.00 - Walkshop ends, and we can head to a local coffee shop to discuss (optional!)
12.30 - Finish up
WHERE TO MEET:
We will meet the organisers of this event outside Kentish Town Underground Station London.EVERYONE IS WELCOME:
- All are welcome to join in.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Your camera if you think the exhibit might inspire you to go on a photowalk straight after!
YOUR GUIDE:
Menka Sanghvi (that's me!) is the creator of Just Looking: a project to spread mindful curiosity and wonder in the everyday. She is an experienced photographer and facilitator and, since 2017, has been hosting mindful photography walks and workshops.COSTS
This is a free event. If you've been to a few of these Meetups and would like to support the Just Looking project please consider becoming a "Friend of Just Looking" (£35/year).You can also donate to the World Wide Wander event (this is optional) which you can pay directly when you register on their website. Please register here with the World Wide Wander to join.
Instagram: @wearejustlooking
Newsletter: For monthly inspiration, subscribe to the free newsletter.
Future events:
- Group Trip to the Tate Modern's "Capturing The Moment" ExhibitTate Modern (Outside Turbine Hall Entrance), London
What does it mean to "capture the moment" to painters vs. photographers?
This event is not a photowalk but a chance to visit an exhibit together with like-minded photographers and discuss it afterwards. It explores the influence that painting has had on photography and vice-versa. Both the brush and the lens are often used to so-called "capture the moment". From a mindfulness perspective, this is particularly interesting because painters are arguably much more intentional than photographers about what they are pointing out.
Full list of artists: Michael Armitage; Francis Bacon; Georg Baselitz; Pauline Boty; Lisa Brice; Cecily Brown; Miriam Cahn; George Condo; Njideka Akunyili Crosby; John Currin; Peter Doig; Marlene Dumas; Jana Euler; Lucian Freud; Andreas Gursky; Richard Hamilton; David Hockney; Candida Höfer; Dorothea Lange; Louise Lawler; Marwan (Marwan Kassab-Bachi); Alice Neel; Paulina Olowska; Laura Owens; Pablo Picasso; Pushpamala N.; Christina Quarles; Robert Rauschenberg; Paula Rego; Gerhard Richter; Wilhelm Sasnal; Joan Semmel; Lorna Simpson; Thomas Struth; Hiroshi Sugimoto; Salman Toor; Luc Tuymans; Jeff Wall; Andy Warhol.
SCHEDULE:
10.15 - Meet up outside the Turbine Hall
10.30 - Enter the exhibit
11.30/11.45 - Regroup at the ground floor cafe to share
12.15 - Finish up
WHERE TO MEET:
We'll meet at 10.15 am outside (or just inside if it's raining!) the Turbine Hall entrance of the Tate Modern. Please get tickets for 10.30 am for the exhibit. As usual we'll wait for 5 min in case anyone is slightly delayed, and then make a move with whoever has shown up.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME:
- All are welcome.
- You can walk a little or a lot: we start and finish in the same place.
- Children above the age of 10 can also attend if with an adult.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Just your ticket for the Exhibit: Tickets: https://shop.tate.org.uk/capturing-the-moment
- Your camera if you think the exhibit might inspire you to go on a photowalk straight after!
YOUR GUIDE:
Menka Sanghvi (that's me!) is the creator of Just Looking: a project to spread mindful curiosity and wonder in the everyday. She is an experienced photographer and facilitator and, since 2017, has been hosting mindful photography walks and workshops.COSTS
This is a free event. If you've been to a few of these Meetups and would like to support the Just Looking project please consider becoming a "Friend of Just Looking" (£35/year).However, this time you will need to get your own exhibition ticket that costs £20. If you happen to be a Tate Modern member and are happy to take in an extra person for free, please mention it in the comments in case anybody would like to be your guest!
Instagram: @wearejustlooking
Newsletter: For monthly inspiration, subscribe to the free newsletter.
Future events:
