Many years ago I happened to take up the sport of archery. What started as a weekend hobby, soon turned into a fundamental cornerstone of my photography.
I realised that learning the correct stance and the use of lower trapezius muscles could teach me how to remain steady and yet flexible while holding a camera. After a few months of releasing arrows from a stretched bow, my hands became more dexterous, which is a crucial skill related to manual focusing and pressing the camera shutter on the gentlest touch.
So I studied the technique of Kyudo, with its eight stages of shooting (hassetsu), and related this to my photographic sessions.
But most of all I was able to understand the essential factor in intuitive shooting, which is to trust my conscious and unconscious proprioception.
Proprioception – a sense of inner body strength and movements – is the key to choosing the precise moment when to release the camera shutter.
Therefore I encourage you to become a bowman in order to become a swift, hunter-like, almost silent photographer.