When I went to Kobers studio, a sunny building set up behind his Studio City home, I was surprisedbyhow much fun the process was. Unlike most sterile photo studios where you passively have a photo taken of you, this one wasalternatelyrelaxing and collaborative. Kober explained that since this antique form of photography has a super-short focal length (i.e., image area that can be in sharp focus), and since the photo plate needs a long time to be exposed, subjects have to sitvery stillfor way longer than the usual iPhone shutter click. (For me, it wastenlong seconds.)

I sat on a stool in front of a backdrop, Kober focused the camera on my eyes (the part of the photo we look at most, he said, so that area that needs to beas sharp as possible), then placed a wire neck support behind my head so that I wouldnt be tempted to sway during meditation. After meditating for a few minutesit could have beenfive, maybe ten, who can tellwhilemeditating?I heard the shutter snap, and Kober swept the exposed plate to the back of the studio to develop it. AfterZen-ing out for maybetenminutes more, I opened my eyes and Kober took my photo again.

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Before-and-After Meditation Portraits Will Show You a Whole New Side of Yourself - PureWow