Transcendence

Please welcome first-time contributor Sarah, a 21-year old student who has struggled with generalized anxiety for most of her life and panic attacks since the beginning of college. She has long used photography as a way to focus and calm herself during panic, as well as a spiritual practice. She is inspired by the work of Matthieu Ricard, a Tibetan monk who uses photography as a supplement to his meditation practice. Sarah is now considering pursuing photography as a profession after college.

About this photo: “‘Transcendence’ is a street photo taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota in October 2013. This is my favorite photo that I’ve taken. It’s an image of the area underneath a dirty bridge in urban Saint Paul, but somehow the beautiful light and colors point upward and suggest a heavenly quality. It’s transcendence – out of the mundane can come pure beauty. It’s a metaphor for my experience – out of mental suffering can come deep wisdom and strength.“