Awe and Wonder

In our cynical lives these days we seldom experience awe and wonder. That is a very sad. We can change that. Photography is one of the things that brings me closest to these feelings.

Wonder

Wonder is probably easiest to talk about. It is an emotion associated with surprise. We find something unexpected, but in a good way. A happy occurrence. It is often associated with curiosity and exploring our interests.

Plato and Aristotle believed that wonder is the basis of philosophy.

Wonder can happen when we encounter something entirely new, or when we find something unexpected about what we were familiar with. Either event astonishes us.

©Ed Schlotzhauer

Awe

Awe, though, is significantly different. One definition of awe is “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by overwhelming greatness (as in beauty, power, or size).” The underlying idea is being in the presence of something so great and significant that it is frightening in a way.

People often describe awe at things like the birth of a baby, or viewing the vastness of space, or contemplating God. Other examples that I can think of are being in a large thunderstorm, or viewing the Grand Canyon, or standing in an ancient cathedral in Europe, or being out in nature.

When we discover we are in the presence of greatness or power that is beyond us, it tends to produce awe.

©Ed Schlotzhauer

Not our everyday experience

I fear, though, that modern society tries to squeeze the awe and wonder out of our lives. The News is all bad. Our jobs are often an unending sequence of soul sucking monotony. TV and movies are just time fillers. The next day we can hardly remember what we saw. Social media makes us feel bad because everyone else seems to have perfect lives and really exciting vacations. All or our time is filled, but we don’t seem to accomplish anything.

Sorry to be depressing, but that is what I observe in a lot of people I encounter. One psychologist describes our society as “awe-deprived.” There is hope, though.

We are expected to “grow up” and view everything coldly and analytically. Of course we must grow up, but that does not have to be at the cost of losing our sense of wonder.

Without changing your job or the News or much of your calendar, we can introduce awe and wonder back into our life.

©Ed Schlotzhauer

Open to awe and wonder

Awe and wonder are feelings. Something that comes from inside us. They come from putting ourselves in their way and being open to seeing and feeling them. You don’t necessarily need to go to the Grand Canyon or a great cathedral. They are all around.

When is the last time you went out on your porch during a big thunderstorm? Just to stand there, flinching from the lightning bolts, being shaken by the thunder, feeling the spray from the blowing rain. On one hand, you are a little afraid, hoping it does not get too bad. On the other hand, though, you are in awe of the untamed power unleashed here. We know we are in the presence of something much greater than us. It is something that changes us and leads us to think new thoughts.

Or when have you spent a little time doing some research into something you are curious about? Sometimes it turns out to be interesting, even surprising.  There might be more there than you ever imagined. This is a type of wonder.

©Ed Schlotzhauer

Through our camera

I know it is partly just a psychological tool, but picking up my camera is a signal to myself that I am now going to be open and receptive. I am consciously switching to a mode of looking and seeing rather than just drifting through life from one moment to the next.

This simple move is a declaration that I am open to awe and wonder.  And by just expecting it, it is amazing how many times they happen.

I consider it giving myself permission to look and feel. This is not something we seem to think we have in our day-to-day lives. But holding a camera, I am in a different state.

I don’t notice when I’m making myself look foolish going after a shot. I don’t care. Something is triggering wonder, maybe even bordering on awe. It is that feeling like being out in a storm. I have to experience it, participate in it.

Holding my camera, I am much more likely to notice the way the light is playing across this scene, or that fascinating rusty old truck that I have passed by dozens of times without noticing.

Awe and wonder help pull us out of the ruts we tend to fall in. In this “zone” it is easier to be curious and find out what happens if I do it like this instead of the way I normally do it. I place a high value on creativity. But creativity cannot grow without following our curiosity and being led by the wonder we find around us.

©Ed Schlotzhauer

Play

As kids we played a lot. BTW, I hope you let your kids have lots of unstructured time for play. Not with socially relevant or educational toys, but with a box or some paper or a mud puddle or … Anyway, adults can play, too. It is good for us. Very good.

One good way we can celebrate these feelings we have when we experience awe and wonder is to play. Yes, like a kid. With our camera, we can do the equivalent of splashing in puddles and chasing butterflies. Instead of taking the same, safe pictures we always take, do it different. Use a different framing, maybe not even level, use a lens we don’t normally use, make some shots where we’re thinking “this may not work, but if it does, it will be cool.” It might work.

Play keeps us loose. We stay in an exploration mode. We’re in a higher emotional state. And it is fun. Don’t discount fun. If we are having fun, we are probably doing good work.

Learn to tune into those opportunities that come to you for awe and wonder in your life. It makes us better. I cannot think of any occasion where I experienced wonder or awe and then thought “that was a boring waste of time; I wish I was mowing the yard.”