Photography for your mental health?

I've had several very meaningful conversations lately, with people wanting to learn about photography as a creative outlet. They usually want my advice on purchasing a digital camera and ask the best way to learn how to use it. I am always so flattered to be asked these types of questions, and I do have a lot to say about this topic.

Learning photography as an escape and creative outlet is an excellent idea and one I have researched and taught about. I feel like I could write a book about this subject, and maybe one day I will. (Wouldn't that be cool!?)

Photography not only allows you to express yourself, but it also helps bring focus to positive life experiences, enhances your self-worth, and even reduces the stress hormone cortisol.

Have you ever heard of the scientific concept of flow? Also known as being in "the zone"? Flow is the mental state of operation in which we are fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus. The entire process of shooting - from choosing a subject to discovering new angles to manipulating light requires undivided attention. This process of observing, by nature, is a meditative task that draws us into a peaceful state. For me, as a Christian, this is also an act of worship as I admire God's hand in his amazing creation. This peaceful state is not just good for our mental health, it's often where we do our best creative work. Photography is mindfulness! As you click the shutter you are making many decisions at once, and engaging your senses as it all comes together.

Since the invention of photography, the camera has been a tool that we use to interpret the world around us. Each photographer captures a scene that is unique to them, their own perspective. You, the photographer, choose what to include and leave out of your individual frame. It's a special place where you reflect on your thoughts, desires, dreams, prayers, and worship. You see what you want to see with your camera, and often the details it reveals to you are simply miraculous. This is another reason why I love photographing my bees! My eyes miss the details sometimes, but through a lens, I can see them clearly.

One of the greatest joys of photography is the ability to "play". You don't have to be serious. You can literally switch off life's more serious issues (and there's a lot of those right now!) and get lost in the creative process of playing and making art. There isn't a right or wrong way to do this, and the most important thing is that you are enjoying it. Don't worry about camera settings until you are ready to learn. Eventually, you don't have to even think much about those, they come naturally with practice.

Another reason photography was a joy for me during the little years with my kids, was the instant gratification that came with the new age of digital photography. (I realize saying the "new age" of digital photography makes me sound old, and I am going to just embrace that today.)

I had the little "escape" I needed while being immersed in my art, and I usually captured the little and beautiful details of those sometimes long and mundane days that turned into years that magically flew by. (One of life's greatest mysteries is how this happens I think.) I still loved and love to draw and paint, but those things took more time for me. The process of shooting and editing images was faster and I felt accomplished after finishing my "art" for that day.

You may be a young mom like I was when I first started photography or a grandma that has time to watch and photograph birds and deer. Kids, dads, young and old, Grab a camera!

Immersing yourself in creative pursuits is scientifically proven to lower stress, lower feelings of anxiety, improve sleep, and elevate your mood... Maybe getting creative is just what the doctor ordered during these crazy times.

Finding beauty through the lens leads us to discover gratitude. The benefits of gratitude are many, just like the benefits of creating art.

Resources:

There's a simple PDF in my shop, called Light Seekers, you can download and read on any device. Light Seekers isn't super technical, but it is a guide that will help you find the light and beauty through composition. The "Light" also refers to our Creator, so it's kind of a mash-up of bible and photography that I originally created for a women's retreat and made into something really pretty.

I also have a gratitude journal for photographers on Amazon with daily prompts to find beauty and gratitude with your lens. If you don't know where to start, or what to photograph, start with finding gratitude, and good light! :)

As for purchasing a camera and lens, I can help you with that too!

I will write another blog post on this subject very soon, but I do recommend looking for a good used DSLR on Marketplace or Craigs List, and purchasing a nifty fifty, which is a 50mm lens to get started. You can e-mail me and I'll help you with this decision if you need help.

Thanks for reading my long-winded blog post. I love teaching and talking about this subject so much!