How to improve your Creativity AND your Mental Health
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- There are few people who can say they are truly happy, content, self-confident and creative.
The number of photographers in that statistic is even less. I know so many people who battle with self-confidence, anxiety, depression AND doubts about their creativity, individuality and quality of their work.
In this video I try to tackle two huge questions in one: Can working on your creativity improve your mental health, and/or, can working on your mental health improve your creativity?
I hope you enjoy the video and will consider supporting our work by buying an e-book, or joining the Expressive Photography Forum.
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Alister, I very much like your approach to photography both in camera and post. Having a creative outlet like this is great therapy. I am lucky enough to have ready access to four small nature reserves within a few kilometres of my home. They are not iconic locations, but lovely in there own way and photographically they give me so much inspiration. After years of walking around and photographing in these reserves, I have never seen one other photographer. Maybe they are too busy shooting sunsets. I think these areas are overlooked because the woodlands and grasslands they protect seem commonplace here in the Southern Tablelands around Canberra where I live. And yet, they are anything but commonplace if you travel outside the region. They have a feel and character about them that you want find anywhere else. Perhaps this is a topic for another video - finding creative inspiration in what seems common and would be generally overlooked.
“Remove distraction”, indeed perfect for both mental health & inspired photography. I always start by a local white balance & deep breathes, to enjoy my Present, to be more present, with my camera in my hand, and a chosen lens for this light, then the magic happens with this mindset: finding an inspired composition, showcasing the subject of this moment. Smiling like Buddha.
Yes, having a gentle mind helps so much. I have worked maybe a bit too hard to adopt that. I think it just showed how far I had to come!
These stories need to be told and need to be heard. Your openness and authenticity has so much encouraged me to take this first step and discovering the power of creativity has virtually changed my world. ❤ That doesn’t mean turning a switch and the world turns all happiness and lollipops. It means chanelling the negativity and making room for the positive feelings. Getting out of my head and into my heart.
Thank you for your openness and for your book. So important to share with the world. And what a wonderful example of intuitive processing!
I have so enjoyed working with you and watching your growth. It has been so rewarding and looking back all the suffering was worth it in order to tell the story of recovery. ❤️🩹 Thank you always for your incredible art and openness
@@Alister_Benn As I said, meeting you was the start of a new part of my life. I can't even imagine where I would be today without our discussions and your constantl support and encouragement. It was hard work, but I wouldn’t want to miss one day. So rewarding! And if I can encourage only one person by talking about my path, it makes me happy.
@@astridpreisz519 That means so much Astrid, thank you 💗
Thank you for sharing your experience and talking about mental problems and photography. This is so important to me 'cause i'm struggling against depression , deep anxiety attacks, antisociability and i 'm complitly stuck with my photography. I don't know how to get involved again in my photography without facing with very deep anxiety that make me physically sick. I suppose i have to juggle with but that's not a easy thing to do. That's why sharing your experience is so important, and i would like to thank you for that.
That sounds tough, be kind to yourself. Thank you for your kind words.
I notice it in my images, last winter I had a tough time mentally. My images became darker and with less colour.
I have cognitive and physical issues since I had covid 2,5 years ago. I can only go on very short outings near my home, but those outings are absolutely essential for my mental health.
Small steps is the way. I was out of it for 6 months after Covid, really only getting my stride back now
@@Alister_Benn so sorry you had to go through that as well. Glad you are getting back on your feet. Unfortunately a second infection last November set me back big time. So a lot of patience required 😅
@@ronaldbuitendijkfotografie Ah, the perfect opportunity to practice equanimity! And boy, I need it! Take care, and thanks so much for your support.
Always look forward to your videos Alister. You bring beauty, creativity and knowledge to all of us each and every time! Many thanks for this! Cheers!
Wow, thank you! I very much appreciate that
Thoughtful as well as thought provoking, as ever. Thanks Alister.
Cheers, thanks for that
Mental bandwith . . . I like that thought as a way of working with where my own health may stretch and move to. Sometimes it might be less than at other times. I love how creative play can be a gift for any of us as we move through life's challenges and joys. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you. Yeah, I think it’s really important these days to look after ourselves. It can be tough sometimes
@@Alister_Benn it's literally been my sanity holder.
💯
Thanks for the uplifting sharing in your videos. Love your work, and more especially your approach to it.
Thank you so much, and what a kind gesture. Very much appreciated 🙏
Another great one. I loved the way you tied everything together between mood and processing…. Truly, this was a clear example of how photography is a life enriching craft…. Thanks…
Thanks mate..
Love learning from you and hearing your thoughts and perspectives. Thank you Alister!
I appreciate that!
Sometimes creativity is hard when in the depths of mental health issues. My motto is "Try something for 2 mins". If you can get yourself with your camera in hand taking literally anything for 2 mins it tends to open a door for you. Some of my most creative sessions have started with "just give it 2 mins"
Absolutely right, I think the problem with depression is seeing everything as too much, the problem seems too big. Small steps, little improvements
Thanks Alister. The transition between the cooler background and the warm leaves provides greater interest and separation. You better get some early nights in before your adventure in two weeks time!
Haha, thanks mate, yeah, the idea of staying up past 10pm is scary 😂😂😂
Thank you so much for this video. I think you also touched on deression in an earlier video. I also suffer from depression and have found photograhy to be hepful in dealing with that. I usually revert to black and white because that was the main medium when I began film photography long ago. But your illustration of mood and tone is interesting and I will give that a try. I feel that we are kindred spirits not just in photography but also in our journeys using this craft toward improving our mental health.
Thank you, I am really pleased the content is meaningful to you.
Another excellent presentation Alister. I particularly liked your comment about the connection of eliminating antagonising things to simplify our lives and doing the same to our images in editing. All very valuable comments and I liked your treatment/processing of the image. I do believe that working creatively and letting go of 'rules and restrictions' when we are shooting/processing definitely contributes to better mental health. It has definitely worked for me. I also put 'learning and growth' in that same category - last weekend I caught up on some old, but recently recorded webinars and videos and after 1.5 days of learning and then applying some of the techniques in my editing, I was very much on a high. In fact my husband says I was on the ceiling with joy!!! Thanks again. Enjoy your new abode and surroundings. :)
The colour psychology was very interesting. I think expression of one’s mood through creation is quite natural. It gets the feeling out.
Absolutely love this, Alister, I can relate so very well. Photography has always been a way for me to express how I feel, or to help draw me out of dark places and see the beauty always around us. You explain it so well.
Thanks so much for that, means a lot
Alister, I love your delivery, pace and style. Thank you for sharing your thoughts throughout - very helpful indeed. And of course your superb photography. Thank you!
Thank you so much.
A very thoughtful video and the finished image is superb!
Thank you very much!
Love it!! Great thoughts! Beautiful work. Thanks for adding to my perspective
Love this ❤ you have helped me alot I learned on flim and went to digital which I loved but somewhere along the way I lost myself on social Media . I was doing wedding for 5 years but never had time for my own work so , I stopped . Much more happy just taking pictures for myself.
You are so welcome!
Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
You are so welcome
Beautiful colour in a lot of those photos. I get what you're saying and with the camera in my hand the stress relief and calmness appear but once they are on the monitor that's where the artistic pressure and stress begins!
Why can't I produce what I'm feeling? Is the composition wrong? Is it any good? What am I doing wrong? ,,,,
Anyway, dusk to dawn that's great, I do it quite a few times over this time of year. Great to see the sun set and the "simmer dim" colour stay in the north, the peace as the light changes and the world sleeps before the sun comes up, magical.
Thanks so very much mate
Hallo Alister, thank you ever so much again for sharing your thoughts, your emotions and your craftsmanship as well! I‘m momentarily looking forward to my ferry trip to Newcastle. I‘m planing to go to Northwest-Scotland to find some nice spots to let my creativity produce positive moods or vice versa, doesn’t matter to me which way around 🤠. Kind regards Martin
Thanks again, wishing you a lovely visit to this fine land
Great video Alister, and a great message. I sometimes fight with myself when I contemplate departing from reality. A black & white conversion doesn’t bother me, don’t know why changing some colors to fit my mood does. I guess it’s something to work on. 😊
Yes, we create the strangest set of parameters for ourselves. Try it for play and see how it feels
@@Alister_Benn I do, but rarely share any of it. Someone's bound to say "that doesn't look like that!!" And then I'd get all defensive and tell them to go... well... you know. Tell 'em where to go and what they can do when they get there. haha It would just be an ugly scene. 😁
@@blivieriphoto I hear you, but I still think it is better for us to be authentic, rather than pandering to external judgement, or fear of conflict. It's there problem, not yours.
@@Alister_Benn Very true. Thanks
I enjoy editing as much as actually taking the image. It's the painter in me, I guess. I find myself shooting birds much more than landscapes lately, because it's less physically demanding. Getting old is a b*tch but it beats the alternative.
Whatever we do that allows us to switch off the inner monologue is good for us. I am the same playing guitar, another world beyond consciousness