Photography: Tripods and Aspiration
The usual way to steady a camera is to mount it on a tripod or monopod. Another way — less conventional — is to attach to it a cord or strap which is then pulled tight, the other end being held by the foot.
The basic difference between the two methods is such as to affect the aspiration of the photographer — and thus of the resultant photograph.
To aspire there must always first a downwards direction — as, for instance, F. M. Alexander and Ida Rolf taught: you must first go down to then go up. And not only does this dictum apply to the physical but also to the spiritual: to aspire we must first go down — go down to the earth to then go up towards Heaven.
With the cord method, the photographer must pull up on it to steady the camera — there is no grounding, no first going down. Whereas with the tripod or monopod there is always a strong sense of being grounded, of being supported by the earth — and then the photographer is free to aspire, and for us to receive the gift of his aspiration.
We must always remember that what really matters with a photograph is its invitation to Aspiration.
