Paying Attention to Pigeons - a mindful photography walk
Join us for our next mindful photography walk! This time we're turning our attention, and our cameras, towards the city's most humble, resilient, and possibly most talented resident - the pigeon. To help us appreciate the finer details, we have a pigeon expert joining us who will share some of the extensive history of the pigeon in London, and nudge us with some wild pigeon facts.
What to expect on our walks:
To warm up our senses and open our minds, we have a series of playful prompt cards we always use. The beauty of doing this in a friendly group is that we can inspire each other to look in fresh new ways. There's always a different theme, and this time it's all about pigeons and appreciating an everyday wonder that most of us usually walk straight past.
Location:
Trafalgar Square is the busy, beating heart of London, and that's exactly the point. Where some of our walks take us somewhere wild and hidden, this time we're noticing the overlooked in plain sight. Beneath Nelson's Column, the fountains and Landseer's four great lions, the square's most faithful residents go about their day largely unseen: the pigeons. Once so famous that crowds came just to feed them, they remain the constant, characterful locals amid the tourists and the traffic. It's the perfect place to practise really looking at something everyone else walks past. (Location to be confirmed.)
Vibe:
Notice your own attentional biases
Practice beginner's mind in what you see
Work with three experiment cards
Create images and push your boundaries
Be inspired by others
Everyone is welcome:Beginners, experienced pros, all are welcome.
You can walk a little or a lot: we start and finish in the same area
No technical expertise required, this is about the mindful process, not perfect pictures.
Your Guide
Menka Sanghvi is the creator of Just Looking: a project to celebrate slowness and curiosity in the everyday. She is an experienced photographer and facilitator and, since 2017, has been hosting mindful photography walks and workshops.
Special Guest
We are so excited to be joined by Billy Holt on this walk. He is a historian exploring the strange ecologies and social worlds of the London pigeon over the last two centuries. His research delves into the changing city as an urban ecology, using photography, film, and written records to reconstruct the lost worlds of the London pigeon, and to ask how and why human attitudes towards columba livia have changed over time. Currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Bristol, he has a background working as a researcher in social housing and the charitable sector.
Equipment:
A proper camera if you have one (it really adds to the experience), but a smartphone is absolutely fine
Fully charged battery and spare if possible
Weather-appropriate clothing
Small plastic bag to sit or kneel on
Tripods not needed
Water bottle
How to find each other?
A phone number will be sent to all ahead of the event, for emergencies. Most importantly, please be on time, as it can be hard to find each other once the walk starts.
What about the weather?
The walk goes ahead rain or shine, unless there are severe weather warnings.
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