In an ongoing series, Keren Weinstein, our Guest Life-Balance Editor, took a much needed trip. More than the need to go on vacation to a new locale, she wanted to find her own sense of balance and thus Project Detox began. Last week, we took a swing at seeing things from another point of view and today we look at things through the lense.

I have always been fascinated with professional photography. The eternal capture of a moment! Yet, I have never actually taken a class…short of a few priceless tips from leading photographers I have met through the years on photo shoots.

Combined with my love of nature, hiking and learning Anything new, the Photography Hike on the activities list was clearly my picture perfect next step.

After the basic 35mm photography class (cameras provided by Miraval), the instructor, a 15 year Miraval veteran and Mindfulness Guru, took us on a hike of the beautiful resort grounds to utilize our newly learned photographic skills. They strategically take you out at the end of the day during what they describe as the ‘magic hour’ capturing the last moments of light as it casts a warm hue over the desert floor.

It is meditative.

Still embraced by the Cocktail of the Senses and enjoying the beauty of the Sanoran Desert. I was now hiking through the same scenery as Desert Oasis but with a fresh set of eyes and with my word of the moment in tow (ala Mindfulness). Some of the pictures I took are posted above.

As I have already established in A View of the Valley, Miraval was designed to be a journey into your self so clearly this Photography Hike is more than a nod to the art of photography.

It is the Art of seeing the big picture while zooming in on the details. Of balancing motion with stillness. Of finding beauty in anything. Of gaining a different perspective on things by using lighting, shadows, zoom, angles. Of understanding how two people can look at the same thing, yet see it differently. And of how one person can view the same thing on different days and see it differently. Of looking at things/challenges in your life in an abstract way in order to find outside-the-box solutions. Of using the 'magic hour' to reflect on your day, and determine what issues can you step back to view in a different light? Of seeing the world through different lenses.

Thank you Miraval for the cool new ‘shades’.

I am the photographer of my life.

Keren Weinstein is a seasoned professional in Fashion & Beauty with over 12 years in Integrated Marketing, Advertising and Celebrity Fashion Styling