Sacred Witness: An Interview

Marian Van Eyk McCain of Elderwomanblog interviews photographer/blogger Carla Royal.  February 2010.  Original article found in Elderwoman Newsletter, Issue #26.

Carla started blogging only recently. But already she is attracting the attention of many people with her beautiful pictures and the thoughtful, soulful posts that go with them. So I asked her some questions.

M. Carla, what inspired you to take up photography or is it something you have always enjoyed doing?

C. I always thought I would enjoy photography but didn’t really get around to it until about 6 years ago.  At that time I bought a nice point and shoot digital camera and fell in love with photography.  About a year later I bought my first entry level DSLR camera, which I still use.  I am not a professional, and I still use my point and shoot camera often.  I actually know very little about photography and shoot primarily from my gut.

M. Your pictures seem to have a special quality. To me, it feels like the quality of love. As though your feelings for your subjects are coming right through into your photographs. Am I being fanciful here, or is this how you approach your work?

C. I think you are absolutely right.  In fact, when I think of your question tears fill my eyes.  I’m not sure why…maybe because you are able to see the love in my photos or maybe because I do feel so much love.  The hummingbird is very special to me and a friend once told me that I seem to approach my subjects like a hummingbird might; that is, I get up-close and personal with my subjects.

M. Are there any special ‘close encounters’ with other creatures that you would like to describe for the readers?

C. So many!  I would love to tell you about all of them, but I will restrain myself.  I will be recounting stories in my blog over time, so keep an eye out for them there.  Since I mentioned the hummingbird, I will tell you about a particularly touching encounter.

At the time, I was working as a psychotherapist at a residential treatment facility for adolescent boys.  I loved those boys but the job could be quite stressful.  For much of my life I tended towards anxiety and this job escalated those tendencies.  I felt anxiety much of the time.

To relax, I would spend as much time as possible walking through the woods and sitting on my porch watching the birds.  I had many hummingbirds coming to my feeders.  One day I decided to stand on a chair with my face a few inches from the feeder, just to see what would happen.  After a few minutes, a hummingbird flew up to the feeder and began drinking.  I was ecstatic!  I stayed as still as I could and watched.  Several came!  After a few minutes, one of the hummers turned from the feeder and flew right up to my face and hovered there, looking into my eyes!  She hovered and flew gently from one eye to the other, peering into me as I peered into her.  All of my anxiety melted away.  I was deeply touched and something shifted in me at that time. I did this many times after that when I felt anxiety; the hummingbirds would always come and the anxiety would melt away.  That happened about four years ago.  Today, I rarely feel anxiety any more, and I believe the hummingbirds were a part of teaching me how to let go of it.  Hummingbird is teaching me still, and I am deeply grateful.

M.. What qualities make a good photographer?

C. I’m sure training is quite beneficial (and I really hope to take some classes at some point), but I think connection is most important.  I can imagine someone being able to take a technically good photo without connection, but I can’t imagine that the photo would be compelling to me.  I think people see my photos and connect to something bigger than me, or the subject, or themselves, even though I’m not a professional photographer, and they forgive me for my technical weaknesses.  Yes, it is that quality of love.  What do you love?  With what do you connect?  What connects with you?  Photograph that.

M. What made you decide to start blogging?

C. I’ve been winding down my psychotherapy practice for some time and trying to step into my role as Sacred Witness.  “Sacred Witness” is what someone called me awhile back because of how I pay attention to life.  But stepping into this has been a difficult process for me because this culture doesn’t seem to value a witness (one who is present to life), while a psychotherapist is seen as legitimate (of course one can be both!).  I couldn’t find deep validation so it took me a few years to be able to validate it for myself, let go of the role of ‘psychotherapist’, and embrace Sacred Witness.
A few weeks after formerly letting go of my role as psychotherapist, the idea for a photo blog popped into my mind.  As you can read on the About page of my blog, I want to inspire people to be more present in their lives and become a sacred witness to life, thereby bringing about some healing for themselves and the world at large.  I thought a photo blog might be a really interesting way to do this, and provide me with a fun and creative outlet.

M. What sort of blogs do you most admire/enjoy?

C. I most enjoy blogs that are authentic and written by those who are deeply connected.  I particularly enjoy blogs about nature, animals, photography, and spirituality.

M. How do you envision the next stage of your life?

C. I turn 50 in a few months, and I must say that I am looking forward to what unfolds for the world and for me.  We live in tumultuous times, and something seems to be afoot.  I envision becoming more conscious and awake, more present and connected, more available to the world.  I hope to be some sort of a bridge for people who want to wake up and be more connected.  I intend to work toward the evolution of my soul and that of the world’s soul. I intend to continue my love affair with the natural world.  I intend to be open to whatever Life has in store for me. I have no idea how all of this will unfold, but a photo blog is what is before me presently

M. What advice would you give to someone who wants to take photos like yours?

C. Spend time getting to know your subject.  Find a connection there.  Try a different angle, light, or focus.  Think outside the box.  Love.  Connection.  Time.  Openness.

M…. and what advice would you give to women who would like to become ’elderbloggers’?

C. Jump in and try it.  The water is nice!  What are you passionate about?  What do you love?  Where do you feel connection?  What have the years deeply taught you?  Write about that.  We’ll be interested.

Yes, we certainly shall. And I hope that everyone who reads this will pop on over to Carla’s website and take a look at her exquisite pictures and the thought-provoking words with which she accompanies them. If you like what you see – and I am sure you will – then leave a comment there for her. This is a blog that deserves wide recognition. It is called Sacred Witness: Photography as Presence