Photography and Mental Health Healing

Anyone who knows me also knows that i suffer from mild depression and anxiety. I have done for most of my adult life and it is something that i worked very hard at controlling without resorting to medication ( done that !!! ). Anyway, the autumn of last year, 2018, was a very dark period for me. I lost two people who meant the world to me, one of whom was a friend since i was 5. It projected me into one of the darkest periods of my life and never seemed to end.

However, for Christmas, my lovely wife bought me a camera. Not a big DSLR but a compact travel zoom. The kind of camera that fits in your pocket but produces pictures of amazing clarity.

I tell you this because that gift, that camera, un-beknown to me, was the start of my recovery. It was the catalyst to aiding my mental well being. It re-ignited my love for photography. A love that hadn't been around for over 10 years. Ten long years when i hid my cameras away, almost selling everything at one stage.

Now i am passionate about my photography again. I am learning new techniques. I have bought new cameras and equipment. I am full of ideas and i am even starting to shoot film again. I am excited about taking pictures for me, not a client of customer. I am working on a personal project entitled " healing waters", a self-published book and i am working towards a distinction with the Royal Photographic Society.

This blog has sat dormant for almost 10 years. In fact, i forgot it existed until today. I am resurrecting it and going to use it to document my photographic journey, hopefully offering plenty of help and support, in mental health and photography, along the way. Please feel free to join me in this journey. You can follow the blog automatically of just feel free to drop by ocassionally. The metaphorical kettle will always be on. Tea or coffee ?

This image was the one the re-ignited my photographic passion and is the first in my Healing Waters series of images.