Through the Lens: Photography for Wellbeing

  Joy Finds Us When We Pay Attention - A moment that made me stop.  While out for a walk during my break from work, I laughed out loud at a bulldog standing in a muddy puddle. It wasn't doing anything extraordinary. It was simply standing there, looking completely content, surrounded by ripples as if it had discovered the best place in the world and it owned the space. I wasn't looking for the perfect photograph either.  That was the first unexpected gift on my walk. Within that time I laughed at a bulldog standing proudly in a muddy puddle. I followed the smell of cinnamon into a bakery that had just opened on the nearby corner, and bought a warm cinnamon bun that was every bit as delicious as it smelled. A few blocks later I stopped again because the scent of flowers drifted toward me before I even saw the garden. None of these moments were remarkable on their own. But together they changed my day. They made me realize something I've been thinking about ever since. Joy ...

The Gift of Noticing It has been a long time since I wrote here.  Nearly ten years, actually.  When I started this blog, I was curious about something that had been quietly becoming important to me: the relationship between photography and wellbeing.  I wondered whether taking photographs could do more than capture a moment. Could the simple act of looking—really looking—help us slow down, become more present, notice beauty, or see something we might otherwise miss? I wrote about mindful photography, nature, anxiety, awe, and the ways that paying attention to the world around us can sometimes change how we experience the world within us. And then life got busy; family, work, a new job.   The blog became quiet.  But photography never really left me.  And lately, I've been thinking about coming back. Maybe photography isn't about the photograph. One of the things I've come to appreciate is that photography isn't always about creating a beautiful picture....

Does the change in season from summer to fall excite or depress you? Sure, the days are shorter and the air cooler, with winter just around the corner but I suggest you embrace it. That's what I did this morning when I woke up with an anxious pit it in my stomach with no explanation why, except the usual mix of what seems like a million items on my to-do list and my favourite energizing season - summer-slipping away. So I put on my jacket and headed out for a walk, but instead of my usual camera I only had my cell phone to take pictures. It doesn't matter what kind of camera you have, just get out there and get inspired. When you take this walk mindfully and meditatively, you just notice what is around you and experience it all fully. Hear the crunch of fallen leaves under your feet. See the vivid colours of the changing colours on the trees, feel the warmth of the sunlight on your face, yet a cool crispness to the air as you breathe deeply.  Once again, as with other explorati...

Self portraits have the ability to really make you think about where you've been, where you're at, and where you're heading, all which can lead to some realizations. When thinking about my life what keeps coming up for me is the constant juggling of life's demands. Home, work, family, friends, school, or whatever it is, it can feel like a juggling act trying to fit it all in. Although I thought I had gotten better at prioritizing how I spend my time, letting go of the need to be perfect and always do better, saying no and not feeling guilty, I'm still doing it. I'm still overfilling my schedule and that is when I feel stressed. I'm sure many others can relate. This assignment helped me to see more clearly how I am doing this to myself so I can make changes.

"After a storm comes calm" - Matthew Henry I love photographing the sky; clouds on sunny or stormy days, sunrises and sunsets, sun rays beaming through clouds, lightening if I am lucky enough to capture it with my camera, the shape and form of clouds, and the rainbows that appear after a storm. Photographing these heavenly scenes always brings me to a sense of wonder and awe. Sometimes clouds just float gently by and sometimes they appear to build and thus create some cold windy rainstorms. But it always clears up eventually. When we experience anxious worrisome thoughts, they can build up inside of us and create a stormy feeling within. Photographing sky scenes reminds me of this and a metaphor I once learned about worries being like clouds floating through the sky. We all experience anxiety some time in our lives; it's natural. However, anxiety can cause problems for many people. One strategy to help reduce anxiety is to use that cloud metaphor when anxious thoug...

This photo is called Circle of Life. I photographed this last spring while laying on my back in the middle of a majestic forest in BC. I was out with a group of other photographers getting eaten by mosquitos and taking photos of the area. It was very enjoyable, (well not the mosquito biting part) and of course that is therapeutic being with and enjoying other people. What I really wanted to share with you tonight is an awesome website that I stumbled across. In an article called "7 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health" by Danielle Hark  on the Beliefnet website, I read the suggestion to "try art" and even take pictures with your cell phone. "The key" Hark states, "is not what you create, it is how you create it. Its about being in the present moment and enjoying the process of creating."  Of course this caught my interest because I have also been encouraging this.  Hark provided a link to her website Broken Light Collective. I'd encourage ...

Photographer Freeman Patterson wrote, in  Photography of Natural Things  (1982), "The growth of cities has increased interest in nature photography as an antidote to the pressures of urban living, a readily available therapy, and a stimulating creative outlet". I totally agree with this statement as I have experienced this for myself. Stepping out into nature, with camera in hand, can provide uplifting and therapeutic experiences. While driving along the highway recently I noticed Trumpeter Swans flying and landing on ponds and streams in fields within the interior of British Columbia. So as soon as I had the chance took the opportunity to pull over to observe and photograph these magnificent creatures. Witnessing these beautiful birds, ones I have rarely seen before (except in photographs made by others), got my blood pumping and although I could have easily rushed over to start snapping pictures, that would have scared them away and would have been disrespectf...

Jan Phillips wrote, in God is at Eye Level, that "We heal ourselves in the act of photographing by being fully present to the moment at hand. When we stand on the edge of that which is, we are released from the yoke of what has been, detached from the fear of what might be. There is only the moment, the light, the matter of vision. All is peace in the eternal now". I feel this when I am photographing nature. My worries slip away, my heart beat regulates, and I feel calm. How does getting out into nature and photographing make you feel? I mentioned this in a previous post and I encourage you again to give it a try.

Like written diaries, where we document events of the day, our thoughts, challenges or vent our emotions, etc, and this being a therapeutic activity, self-portraits can be a sort of diary with therapeutic benefits. Christina Nunez, who wrote the article "The self-portrait, a powerful tool for self-therapy", in the March 2009  European Journal of Psychotherapy and  Counselling, suggests that creating an image of yourself can be like using a "punching bag".  You can take photos of yourself when you cry, dance, when you are angry, and this allows you to release your emotions and vent into the camera and express yourself. Jason Harris took a self-portrait every day for 12 years, even through his battle with cancer. Check out his video here. http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/self-portrait-every-day-for-12-years-capturing-a-journey-through-life/. You may also like this short clip of a girl who took a self-portrait each day over a 5 year period and then created a time lap...

I recently came across an article about an amazing photographer, Kirsty Mitchell, who used photography to help her deal with the grief she felt after losing her mother. Time and time again we hear about artists, whether photographers, painters, or musicians to name a few, who draw from their emotions and experiences to create amazing work.  Photography certainly has the power to heal. Check out this link. Wonderland by Kirsty Mitchell: heart-breakingly beautiful photographic series in memory of an extrao

Everyone goes through difficult dark times in their life at some point in time and when it happens it can be a real challenge to remain positive and hopeful. My photography instructor instructed our group to capture hope in a photograph for a friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer During this assignment I found myself reflecting upon personal experiences where I found and held onto hope. Here are a couple of the images I made. I challenge you to take some time to think about this word - Hope - and what it means to you. How have you survived difficult times in the past? Is there a special person, or people, in your life that you focus on? Does your faith bring you a hopeful feeling? Or is it something totally different that helps you to maintain hopefulness? You might do some brainstorming in a journal and then think about how you would capture hope in a photograph. I hope this exercise reminds you of all that you hope for, to draw upon for strength, t...

I spent the morning looking through some of my photos from the past year. These photos tell a story about my life during that time - some of the people in my life and the activities and events I engaged in. Reviewing these photos helped me to reflect on what is important to me, what I enjoyed about the past year, and what I want to change or what I want more of in my future. This is the time of year when many of us think about new beginnings and setting goals to help us be successful meeting our new years resolutions.  Try looking through your own photos from the past year. What do these images tell you about your life story from 2011 and what is the story that you want to create for yourself in 2012?  Not only is this a great activity - using photos to reflect on your life and creating goals, but you might also want to create a collage of photos from the past year and a storyboard or visionboard (a collage of images, words, phrases) to...

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...

"Mindfulness or being mindful is being aware of your present moment. You are not judging, reflecting or thinking. You are simply observing the moment in which you find yourself." --- Ozzie Gontag Do you find yourself juggling multiple demands on your time or multi-tasking several activities at once? You aren't alone. In this fast-paced world so many people are just trying to keep up. You may find yourself  doing homework while listening to music and texting friends, or at work taking phone calls while answering and sending emails and also jotting down notes about what else you have to do that day. Or you may be engaged in a conversation with someone but your mind is off thinking about the problems from the other day or future tasks you need to complete. It's hard to concentrate on so many things at once and do a stellar job with any of it. A good example is driving while talking on the cell phone or sending text messages. We all know the dangers of that combination....

Buddha told a parable in a sutra: "A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him. Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted! "(Reps & Sensaki, 1994, pp. 39-40). I found this parable within an article on the internet called Zen and the Art of Photography by Wayne Rowe. Here is the link if you want to check it out http://www.csupomona.edu/~jis/2001/Rowe.pdf.  This is just what happened for me when I was making this image of this rock sculpture that I found at Kalamalka Lake, BC recently, (well minus...