Light, camera, take action
Be your own action hero!
Dried flowers in a coffee shop. For photography is all about noticing the little things in my day that call out to me, they aren’t especially great photographs but they make me smile.
Still: A Mindful Practice for Photographers
Back in Stock
My first book “Still - a mindful practice for photographers” has been on sale for a couple of months now and is listed as a bestseller on Amazon - which I still can’t believe. The feedback has been incredible, I am so grateful to everyone who has ordered a copy. If you don’t have a copy yet it is on sale in most good bookshops and via numerous online book retailers too.
“More than a photography book, Still is a must-have guide for anyone seeking calm and clarity in their creative life.”
Hi,
I hope you are well?
That is a question I ask myself everyday. My wellbeing is paramount to me, I am lucky enough to have survived long periods of really poor mental health, so checking in with myself is important.
I’ll ask you again, how are you doing?
This week is Mental Health Awareness week 11-17 May - now before you roll your eyes, sigh and delete this email I would like to hold your attention for just a couple of minutes.
The theme this year is ‘Action’ which is all about moving beyond awareness towards taking everyday practical steps to support your own mental health and wellbeing.
You can become your very own take action hero!
If any of you have heard me speak or read a copy of my book “Still” you will know that photography has quite literally saved my life, but more than that it has become a daily practice of finding something uplifting to photograph, even on those dark low days.
For me the practice is simple, what makes me stop, or catches my eye, what do I look at more than once, what has a beauty that whispers to me? These questions are about finding a balance in my life.
I am not looking for great, award winning images, I am looking for moments that slow me down, make me pause and take a breath.
These images are about curiosity, texture, shape, pattern, rhythm and joy - the image top right of the panel above is a moment of joy, through the open window I could hear the birdsong of the morning, along with cow bells and the voices of people talking and I only had to sit up in bed to make the image! Does it matter you can’t see the cows or the birds? NO, what matters is that when I look at the image it reminds me of the moment and the experience.
It is just about making space to allow myself to discover these moments, they happen like little surprises because I don’t plan where I am going, I have zero expectation of what I might discover.
One of the things that affects people’s mental health is pressure, another is comparison, we have to be good enough - good for who?
A key thing is not to share these moments with others, (unless like me you’re trying to help people) you don’t need the likes to validate who you are, you don’t need to compare the moments that give you joy with anyone else’s moments of joy.
Take the pressure off yourself by allowing yourself to just do it, just make a picture of something that you find beauty in, or a moment of peace, it might be a single flower on a wall, light reflecting in a strange pattern, the way the art on your coffee looks or the smile of a friend - currently I have a thing for toilet rolls - don’t ask me why!
These aren’t pictures that will set the world on fire, but that doesn’t matter the practice and joy of making pictures is all that is important.
We all need little pauses in our day to allow our nervous system to calm down and stabilise, our world is one of constant pressure and permanent distractions. My photography calms me and still offers a little dopamine hit that is more fulfilling than clicking ‘like’ on instagram or responding to another advert for something I don’t need.
Photography is available to pretty nearly every person today because of the popularity of smartphones, and yet many photographers look down their noses at those of us who use the phone as part of our creative toolkit and as a way of keeping ourselves well.
Here are my five top tips for looking after your mental health:
Do something creative every week - everyday if you can.
Walk barefoot on the grass or sand at least once a week.
Have a real face to face conversation with someone.
Limit your screen time and stay away from online arguments.
Wake up ten minutes earlier, make a cup of tea or coffee and then either sit outside or with the windows open and listen to the birdsong.
A Small Assignment:
Make one image a day just for the heck of it, it can be anything that catches your eye, don’t worry about what the subject is just enjoy the process of seeing and being. Look out for lines, shapes, textures, colours, reflections, rust, toilet rolls! Photograph the subject and then jot down a few words about the joy of the moment. If you can print the picture out only small and stick it in a notebook or journal.
I have written an essay for Nature Vision magazine, Issue 12 is out now - link below
Ah yes, Paul! It is Mental Health Awareness week. Speaking from a place of personal lived experience with bipolarity, I am grateful for your call to ‘Be your own action hero’! I am definitely taking you up on your invite 📷