https://www.artdoc.photo/articles/flourish
The Meditative Lens
In Artdoc Issue #2, 2025, The Meditative Lens, we present artistic photographs that emerge from a deeper resonance with natural surroundings. At a time when we are overwhelmed by fast images and the world is moving at a relentless speed, while anxiety and fear impact us deeply, serene images of tranquillity, created with mindful attention, invite us to regain our much-needed peace of mind. In this issue, we have selected strong and captivating images from the overwhelming number of fantastic submissions received from engaging photographers worldwide. They all practise mindful photography, the act of creating images shaped by awareness. This practice invites the viewer to pause and contemplate life today in all its forms and manifestations, much like Zen meditation. Featured Artists: Aya Okawa, Eckart Bartnik, Viet Ha Tran, Wlad Gustynowicz, Alejandra Nowiczewski, Justin Pumfrey, Kostis Argyriadis, Luca Ortis, Samuele Quaranta, Ulrike Pichl, Geralda Odinot, Sonja Priller, and John Riddy.
Flourish / Sonja Priller
“My approach to photography is shaped both by craftsmanship and by a deep, thoughtful engagement with the world around me. I’m a practical person – I love working with my hands – but I also enjoy observing, reflecting, analysing, and immersing myself in processes.
In recent years, my focus has shifted more and more toward nature. I have dedicated myself intensively to nature photography and have developed a unique visual language that I call nature portraiture. With this term, I aim to give nature – and my images – something alive, something personal. For me, nature is not just a backdrop or a subject. It is our foundation, our source of life. It deserves our respect and mindfulness.
My images attempt to reveal the beauty of nature in a way that conveys something positive. I genuinely believe that we only protect what we love, and we only love what we truly see. That’s why I want my work to invite the viewer to pause, look closely, feel a connection, and perhaps awaken a more profound sense of appreciation for the very foundation of our lives. Photography makes me happy – it is the passion of my life.”
About
Sonja Priller is a Vienna-based photographer with over 20 years of experience in commercial photography, particularly in the fields of food and still life. Today, she focuses on quiet, powerful nature portraits that enrich spaces as Healing Art and invite viewers to pause and reconnect. With a keen eye for light, structure, and atmosphere, she creates images that radiate calm and resonate on a deeper, emotional level. Her work is defined by precision, artistic clarity, and a refined sense of what truly matters: seeing nature, feeling calm, transforming people, and transforming spaces.