Two years ago, to unprecedented acclaim by SSCC members, Tuan Pham did a presentation for us on “photos of nothing.”What he meant, he explained, was photos of the insubstantial rather than of majestic mountains, dramatic seascapes, vibrant urban views, or beautiful faces. In fact, one of Tuan’ photos was the painted traffic lines in a parking lot. Abstracts, yes! But abstracts coming from a place of deep understanding inside.

Though Tuan had a distinguished career in international banking, since retirement he has immersed himself in the practice of meditation. This perspective carries through in his photography. This month, Tuan comes back to us with a presentation he calls “Gift of Beauty and Peace.” Here’s how he describes it: This presentation is for anyone with a camera, any cameras, and an interest in the non-technical side of photography. The goal is use the camera to enhance the quality of life by strengthening the capacity for visual discovery. You will learn:

• True joy of photography lies in the process, in visual discovery and freedom of expression, not in tools and imitation.
• Everything has beauty when preconceptions and “elfing” stay clear out of the way.
• Yes, you don’t have to travel long distances, climb mountains, or wake up before sunrise to bring home the bacon – photographs that make the heart sing.

The presentation is between 60-75 minutes in length and consists of two parts. Part one is a hands-on “Relaxed Awareness”exercise to foster a mind-state known as the Zone in sport, Flow in positive psychology, and Samadhi in meditation.

Part two, a PowerPoint presentation entitled “The ABC of Visual Design,”is about the pictorial space and the relationship of objects in the visual landscape to one another, to the space they are in, and to the viewer. About 30 images, abstract and representational, taken with regular cameras in and around the Washington metropolitan area will be used to make the points. The Presenter: Tuan Pham is a member of Northern Virginia Photographic Society and Joe Miller’s GRC (getting it right in the camera). He trains in the tradition of Freeman Patterson and Zen Master/photographer John Daido Roshi, a student of Minor White.

Tuan likes to take pictures the easy way. His stylistic hallmarks are subjects that cameras often overlook. He calls them “Beauty of Imperfection.” He had five images in the recent 2014 Nature Visions Photo Expo, including a nomination for the People’ Choice and a special award. Retired from careers in banking and conflict resolution, Tuan now teaches Mindfulness Meditation and Photography as Zen Art at the Arlington Adult Education center and other venues. For more information, contact zenttl02@gmail.com or (703)855-8999.