Mental Health & Photography

Is there a connection between Photography and sustaining good Mental Health?

I believe there this and a strong argument for it.

When I made the choice to give up my career and look after my mother, my state of mind took a massive hit.

I was not prepared for the full impact becoming a full time carer would bring. Going to bed every night over the last three years left me feeling like a complete and utter failure.

This feeling of hopelessness still haunts me now that my mother has transitioned to the other side.

My daily respite was……..going for walks with my Camera.

The act of walking, breathing, looking, seeing The Light, creating images accessed a part of my brain that was fully creative. This creative area is the part of me that kept me strong, stable, peaceful and courageous.

Even creating images of my Mother bonded us.

It was during this period I started learning about Studio Lighting & On and Off Camera Flash. Again, this study kept my mind occupied and healthy.

I still went to bed feeling like a failure; I accepted it simply because being a carer was a new learning for me.

Each day I become more accepting of this new role and learning in my life. I slowly become effective at managing the daily task and got through each day with little wear and tear on my mental health.

I feel blessed that I have cultivated an interest in Magic, Photography, Psychology, Philosophy and Life. All of these subjects informed my thought process about my own mental health. I saw areas where my feelings of not being good enough in many areas of my emotional and psychological development needed addressing.

My time at Landmark Education gave me rock solid tools to deal with myself. Right now, my daily issue is learning to live again…..without my Mother.

Live for ME.

She has gone.

I am here only because she once was.

Life goes on.

My life now is a daily effort to protect my energy, heart, mind and spirit.

Photography is my spiritual protection.

Photography supports me in seeing beauty everywhere and a daily reminder that life is a beautiful privilege.

A privilege to love, create and make a difference.

Thanks for reading

“The following terms all mean one and the same thing: God, goodness, mental health, truth, decency, happiness, freedom, reality, peace, love, sensibleness”.

Vernon Howard