F/8 and Be Here

When asked how they managed to get certain shots in the field, street photographers and war photographers are said to remark “F/8 and be there.”

With this comment, they offer the advice that being in the right place at the right time is more important than the camera settings, the science, and the equipment—with F/8 as a basic, middle-of-the-road aperture, you can capture any great moment.

But you need to be there.

Sometimes the world seems to move by very quickly. We can all tend to get busy, become mission-oriented, and forget to stop and appreciate what we have. We should remember to be present; remember to be here.

Most people visit the Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto to see the famous rock garden. But if you walk around behind the tea house, there is a small stone water basin. The inscription on the basin translates to “I learn only to be contented,” intended to remind the reader to embrace abundance and avoid the trap of desire.

Photography helps me stay present, slow down, and rediscover the abundance in the world. When I am focused and looking for good—when I am here rather than mentally somewhere else—I learn to be contented.