The Backyard Without a Screen

An hour outside can become an hour spent photographing being outside. There is nothing wrong with a picture. It is also worth leaving one stretch of the day undocumented. Notice the ordinary details that do not make a dramatic post: the sound of a gate, a neighbor passing, the light reaching a familiar corner of the yard.

A Small Way to Begin

• Choose a short period when you do not need to be reachable for a task.

• Put the phone away rather than asking yourself to ignore it repeatedly.

• Let the activity remain simple: walking, sitting, talking, or doing a small outdoor job.

Make It Part of the Day

You do not need to come back with a lesson. Having been there is enough. Take a picture later if you want one. Give part of the afternoon to the people and place in front of you before deciding how it should look to everyone else.

For a related October reflection, read The First Cool Morning.