Photography for the mind! With Faye Dunmall (@fayedunmall)
Photography for the mind!
With Faye Dunmall (@fayedunmall)
"It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much."
In a world where we spend more and more time distracted, staring at our screens, getting away from technology and outside into the natural world has never been more important.
I love being outside in nature, away from people and the stresses of daily life. I suffer with complex PTSD which affects my sleep and general day to day living. The anxiety can feel like I am constantly howling at myself in my mind. The depression can actually be a relief as it is the opposite of feeling so much, it is total numbness. Because of this I have to be extra vigilant of my mental state. Being out in the wild with my camera is the only time I ever feel at peace and so I go as often as I can.
There is something compelling about landscape photography and being completely caught up in the moment. Time disappears, you forget yourself, and you become a part of something much larger, something deeply rooted and connected. The entire process of shooting—from finding your subject to discovering new angles to working with the light—requires absolute focus.
"This very process of seeing, really seeing, is a meditative task that draws you into a peaceful state of mind."
If mindfulness is “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment” then photography is mindfulness. And with mindfulness comes a myriad of benefits for mental wellbeing. For me, it limits intrusive thoughts and soothes my anxiety. It’s a break from all the chaos.
As Horace once said “A picture is a poem without words.” How I capture and edit a scene is a unique form of personal expression and entirely individual to me. All thoughts disappear when I lose myself in a late night edit. To me, this is the artistic side to photography–to put my own, personal stamp on an image and embed a little piece of my soul into something that will last forever. Often my mental state is quite evident in my edits – some feel dark, isolated and lonely whereas others feel brighter and hopeful. And some are, perhaps, a depiction of the kind of world I want to see.
"I think that if you go beyond just using photography as a way to gain popularity, make money or win competitions, it can be incredibly healing."
Eventually you start making pictures that resonate with you and allow you to exorcise certain things. So I say get yourself outside with a camera and walk that less trodden path. Immerse yourself in your surroundings. And after you’ve taken that great shot, linger on the scene for a moment, to appreciate it fully for what it is and what it means to you.
