“Taking pictures is like savouring life intensely, every hundredth of a second” -Marc Ribound

Taking a photograph requires a certain amount of focussed attention, you’re mindful of your surroundings, you’re perhaps noticing things you wouldn’t usually see and you’re very much ‘in the moment’. It can help you focus and calm the mind.

The ability to photographs has never been so accessible, many smart phones have really good cameras on them-use it to help you escape the stresses and strains of our every day lives.

Photography can be a means of expression, reflection, recovery and hope.

“Photographs are footprints of our minds, mirrors of our lives, reflections from our hearts, frozen memories… They document not only where we have been, but also point the way to where we might perhaps be heading, whether or not we realize this yet ourselves”

There is a growing body of evidence to support the beneficial impacts of photography and improved wellbeing including:

• Self care;
• Community interaction; and
• Potential to reminisce

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/articles/2018/daily-photography-improves-wellbeing/

Photography is also being increasingly used as a therapy in itself in evoking feelings, memories and beliefs, deepening insight and enhancing communication.

https://phototherapy-centre.com/

Next time you’re out walking or sitting in your favourite spot try taking a photograph of something that has meaning for you, something that catches your eye, something that is beautiful to you and reflect on how it feels to take a photograph with ‘intention’.

If you’d like to know more about how you can include photography into your mental wellbeing activities please contact me