CONNIE FORESTNER | Walking Photographer
Be the Light
Connie Forestner is a writer and yoga instructor living in Cobb County, GA. Connie has a daily practice - walking along the banks of the Chattahoochee River and capturing what she sees with her phone camera. Knowing the area, I think we are most struck by the fact that Connie walks a common, often busy boardwalk, but clearly observes more intentionally than most folks. Following the light and taking time to notice the habits of creatures, she is able to take in the constant change that is all around us. Nature is full of striking landscapes and compositions. But you have to pay attention. Connie’s daily practice highlights the difference between looking and seeing - the key difference being awareness.
Please enjoy reading our interview with Connie about her practice. Then, we encourage you to slow down and really see Connie’s work: spend a few moments taking in the environments she has captured in each photograph.
What do you see…feel…hear?
“Yoga is the practice of paying attention. I read that recently and it really resonated with me. A heightened awareness, being present, paying attention to what’s around — and within — you is definitely a practice.
When you really pay attention, the world unfolds. Nowhere is that more apparent to me than when I’m at the river. I’ve always been drawn towards water since I was a child — jumping in puddles, playing in creeks, participating in sports, thriving at the ocean. It’s my element. I believe the water at the river has been an integral part of my ability to connect with the surrounding flora and fauna, to see the landscape around me — and within me — differently.
Walks at the river started as physical (and mental) therapy after surgery and quickly became an expression of taking yoga off my mat. It wasn’t an intentional endeavor at the start. I was simply noticing the beauty around me and wanted to capture it. Then, I began to share it. It is a journey that continues to evolve and transform. Looking back across the squares of my Instagram account over the past year, I can see the growth captured in images.
Part of the journey is the human connection. I’ve made new friends (besides the birds) along the boardwalk. My interest in photography gave me the courage to approach another photographer who crossed my path almost every single day. I introduced myself and he’s become something of a mentor. Encouraging and inspiring. Serendipity.
There’s a vulnerability to sharing. To me, it feels risky. Revealing a part of me, how I see the world and what inspires me. It’s opening to the critical eye and judgement of others. I’m very reserved and public sharing — seeking the spotlight — just isn’t in my DNA. It makes me uncomfortable. And I’m a perfectionist. Overthinking posting a photo would probably make others laugh…it’s just a picture of a bird or clouds for heaven’s sake. But for me, it’s much more. I also struggle over the captions. Wondering if they’re the right fit. Sometimes they come to me right away, adding a touch of humor to a beautiful image. Other times, I can never quite find the right words to fit. I think that’s one thing that appeals to those that enjoy the captures. The marrying of words and images.
It’s also very humbling to know you have a small impact on peoples’ lives. I’m always taken aback when friends comment on the daily photos…either on social media or through chance encounters.”
— Connie Forestner | see more of Connie’s captures on her Instagram
S-A: Do you consider your walks as moving meditation?
CF: Yes, some days more than others. Each day is unique, each vista unique. I do find when I listen to a podcast or music, I’ll often get caught up in my surroundings and realize that I’ve tuned out what’s streaming in my ears.
S-A: Do you usually listen to something or do some days call for silence?
CF: That is variable, depending on what I need. Sometimes I’ll listen to music or a podcast, other times I’ll simply take in the surroundings. You begin to hear the patterns of nature, the call of geese, the chattering of a kingfisher bird, the squawk of a heron. The scampering of squirrels and chipmunks, the cracking of branches. It’s a different kind of music.
S-A: Do you walk around the same time each day?
CF: It really depends on the day and the weather. Weekdays I usually go first thing in the morning after my daughter has left for school, weekends a little later. If inclement weather, sometimes I’ll go at lunch. It’s amazing how much the landscape and light changes based on the time of day…it can feel like a completely different place.
I also switch up my path from day to day. A different starting point, a different way to view the landscape. A new perspective of the same place. I never tire of being there.
S-A: What are your feelings surrounding the images you capture? Living in awe or have you come to expect these beautiful moments because they are so abundant?
CF: A little of both. I’ve made a conscious effort to start each day with gratitude. Even if it’s for a small thing, like the first sip of coffee. It sets the tone for the rest of my day. And when I drive to the river, I thank God for the beauty that surrounds us. I am constantly in awe of what unfolds…never knowing what to expect other than change. That’s the constant. One day there may be cotton candy clouds, while the next day angry storm clouds reveal a different kind of beauty.
S-A: When do you feel most alive? When do you catch yourself subconsciously smiling?
CF: When the sun is on my face, wind in my hair and I’m close to water.
S-A: Beautiful. Thank you Connie!
Poem of the One World — Mary Oliver
This morning
the beautiful white heron
was floating along above the water
and then into the sky of this
the one world
we all belong to
where everything
sooner or later
is a part of everything else
which thought made me feel
for a little while
quite beautiful myself.