Musing Correspondence - 11/17/2025

Musing Correspondence — 11/17/2025

My Dear Friend,

I came across the name again, Minor White, this time in a book about mindful photography. To no surprise the section inspired numerous ideas for expansion of which I will address in future letters to keep this brief. While White was the primary subject for the section the focus quickly shifted to a student of his that attended one of his workshops. In describing the experience I couldn’t help but long for the impossible opportunity he’d enjoyed. Cameras were not touched for the first couple of days, instead the group engaged in meditation and philosophical discussion. The workshop was set up to seemingly open the mind to stir the creative gaze before releasing it into the wild.

I have recently begun teaching photography but have yet to implement my ideal course for the students. I came close, an abbreviated schedule was agreed upon and the turn out was perfectly small. With four students to teach we found the two hour sessions to be a limitation on our ability to dissect the work presented and after our four sessions the group concluded that my original proposal of eight would have been ideal. The students were itching for more from my virgin voyage of teaching photography with a philosophical spin and clearly we opened up some eyes to the intuitive one commanding their cameras.

I have enjoyed teaching, I feel it has grown my confidence in the craft but upon reading about the workshop structure of Minor White, I feel I need more time as a student before I can be worthy of the title of teacher. I have been shy to implement the “woo woo” into my classes, even tip toeing around the ideas in conversation so as not to disorient my students but I am working up the courage to place more emphasis in my teachings on the art of seeing and the intuitive vision that aids it. Alas my path was not destined to physically cross this great teacher but his legacy has started to wrap around me like grapevine. Were I to be consumed like a chain link fence I would not mind in the slightest.

I have more thoughts to expand upon but for now I will leave you with this single seedling. I hope you are well and as usual please do not feel the need to respond unless you feel inclined. 

Best wishes,

Justin