Through the Lens: Photography for Wellbeing

Let us leave behind sadness, regrets and painful moments and have a new start full of joy this year. - Unknown author Happy New Years Eve This past year has been a busy yet exciting one for me. The best part was having more time to practice using my camera in many creative ways. Tonight many people will be attending parties with others and ringing the new year with a glass of champagne and perhaps a kiss.  If you have no plans for partying, there is no need to feel blue. This is the perfect time to go try some night photography. Here is my first attempt at creating a sphere of light with a long exposure on my camera. It isn't perfect but it sure was a lot of fun trying. If you do a google search for night photography or light painting photography you will find so many tips and youtube videos. Check out the tutorial for light orbs at this link for PhotoExtremist at   http://photoextremist.com/orb-light-painting-tutorial .  This fellow can do amazin...

Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution. Ansel Adams A photograph, through the visual symbols embedded in it, can reveal so much about the artists inner life; emotions, values, and a whole host of unconscious messages. I chose this photograph to post because when I look at it I am reminded about some of the Christmas traditions I was brought up with. The decorated tree, Santa Claus, and gifts, were some of those traditions, and of course pets are always in the picture.  Family members are part of Christmas for me too of course, and so much more.  Pets bring so much joy in life and these 2 little guys are so cute, looking in their stockings for stuffed toys to play with. It's hilarious and including them in a photograph just captures memories of joyful times. Today, and over the rest of the holidays, I hope you take lots of pictures of the events and all the little details that ...

Today is winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year; the time when the earths axis tilts farthest from the sun. For anyone who experiences the "winter blues", or some degree of seasonal affective disorder (SAD),  spending more time outdoors and getting light is one option (among others) to help treat the winter blues and photography is the perfect excuse to get out into the light. If you live where there is snow and it is cold, just bundle up and get out there making photographs. Not only will you get more light, but it is a great opportunity to photograph the beauty of the season. And remember, starting tomorrow the days are getting longer and spring is on it's way.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward. - Kahlil Gibram I've been thinking a lot about joy lately and I concluded that we experience millions of joyful moments in various forms and degrees of emotion, and that it is subjective. We are all different and find joy in different things, yet there are some similar themes. Also, it doesn't have to be the really big things that make you jump and scream with excitement, like winning the lottery - it can be little, everyday things that happen that bring the feeling of happiness. Joy can also feel like comfort, satisfaction, gratitude and feeling blessed, or feeling at peace and connected to a higher power or faith. I reviewed a lot of information in books, magazines, and the internet to see what others said about joy and I found several themes - people, spirituality, pets, nature, helping, gratitude, success, seeing joy in others, activities & events, being creative, and other (i.e. chocolate).  The people ...

Joy is not in things, it is in us. - Richard Wagner What is joy? It could be described as a feeling of intense happiness or satisfaction. Many people, who celebrate Christmas, might say that this is a season of joy but not everyone is feeling it. The Christmas season can be quite stressful for some, with shopping, extra expenses, and all of the expectations that people have us, or that we expect of ourselves. Others may be struggling with poverty, illness, relationship difficulties, or other challenges that have zapped the joy from their lives. It makes me want to know more about joy; what it is, how to find it, and how photography fits in. Since this is the season for joy, this month I plan to learn more about joy and I'm taking my camera with me. What brings you joy? What has brought about that intense emotion of happiness within you? Is it something that happened to you, or something you did, something small or big? Where have you found joy and how do you find joy in your l...

"The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it." - Thich Nhat Hanh When we pick up a camera it is done with a purpose in mind, which in most cases is a thought about the future and the purpose of capturing an image in a photograph. What if we instead thought of the camera as a tool for mindfulness meditation like some people use a candle, music, or the vibrating tone that lingers when a wooden mallet rubs along the rim of a Tibetan singing bowl or it strikes a bell? Perhaps the camera can be that tool that allows us to practice mindfulness meditation and experience the present moment. So many people say that they struggle with mediation because their mind wanders off in all sorts of directions. Now I don't pretend to be an expert on mindfulness or meditation and I  sometimes struggle to let go of competing thoughts and just be in the now.  I just know that, from what I have read about mindfulness meditation, I have experienc...