Mary Jo Hoffman: Mindfulness Through Daily Nature Photography

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Mary Jo Hoffman, a photographer and creator of the blog 'Still', discusses her journey from aeronautical engineer to photographer and the evolution of her daily photography project. She shares insights into her creative process, including the use of white backgrounds and the challenges of composition.
Mary Jo Hoffman discusses her photography practice and techniques, including her choice of equipment and shooting settings. She emphasizes the importance of minimal equipment and using just enough to capture her subjects.
Mary Jo also talks about the mindfulness practice that photography has become for her and the knowledge she has gained about her bio-region through her daily practice.  She also talks about her appreciation for the beauty in dead animals and the inspiration she draws from nature.
Mary Jo shares her approach to choosing subjects on days with an abundance of options and discusses her influences, including photographer Karl Blossfeldt. She mentions her plans for future projects and the possibility of publishing another book.

Takeaways

• Photography can be a creative outlet and a mindfulness practice.
• Working on a daily photography project can help develop skills and knowledge about one's environment.
• Choosing a specific background, such as white or black, can create a consistent aesthetic in a photography project.
• The art of composition can be challenging to master, but experimentation and practice can lead to growth.
• Travelling with a photography project requires planning and flexibility to ensure continuity.
• Editing techniques can be developed over time to achieve desired results in post-processing. 
• Finding inspiration in nature can lead to unique and captivating images.
• Choosing subjects can be challenging on days with an abundance of options, but focusing on specific elements or themes can help narrow down the choices.
• Being open to influences and exploring different visual arts can enhance creativity and artistic growth.
• Planning future projects based on personal interest and enjoyment can lead to fulfilling and rewarding creative experiences.

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