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photography and depression

How nature photography brought me back from the brink of suicide

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Photography offers an escape unlike any other. It allows us to capture moments, create moments, and interpret the worlds we see through a lens. We document, we study, we create art, and for me, this was lifesaving.

Several years ago, in my early twenties, I suffered a huge mental breakdown. It was unexpected, out of control, and hard. Truth be told, I’d been suffering for many years before this but as we all do from time to time, I just pretended my problems weren’t there. I wasn’t pleasant to be around, my head was a very busy place, and I was struggling to cope.

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How emotions mold the art we create

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Have you ever wondered why the images you created a few years ago look very different from the pictures you are taking now? Chances are you became a better photographer. You trained your eye and you got better at post-processing. But I am not talking about the craft. I am talking about the art behind photography. The art that feeds off your emotions.

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How photography has helped me survive difficult times

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Ever since I became interested in photography, I would occasionally read a story about someone who’d used it to help them through an emotional low-point or mental ill health. Little did I realize that I would become one of them, too. Photography has had a positive impact on my life and helped me get through the past year. I was feeling down most of the time after a traumatic event and a particularly rough period of my life. Anxiety and panic attacks became a common feature of my life. But I’ve learned how to use photography to live through it. And live through it well.

The article you’re about to read is a very personal story. It’s more personal than any other article that I’ve written for DIYP. But it’s written with the hope that it can help someone else who might be feeling anxious or depressed. I’ve been through some tough times, and photography’s one of the things that has helped me to not fall apart. I want to tell you more about it and, hopefully, get you inspired and bring you some encouragement.

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How photography can help you fight depression

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According to the World Health Organization, over 300 million people around the world suffer from depression. The mechanisms for coping with it are different, and for Greg Sheard, photography is the way to deal with it. In this video, he talks about how photography is helping him combat depression on a daily basis. And if you (or someone you know) are depressed, this is definitely something you should watch.

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Photography helped young actor cope with depression and turned into a career

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Other than being a wonderful hobby or profession, photography can help you go through difficult times. For young actor Cole Sprouse, it started just like this – he was “in a dark place” and started using photography to get out of it. But other than helping him feel better, it really took off and he has grown to become a great photographer.

In his recent interview with Duan Mackenzie, he shares his story on how he started and where photography got him. He also talks about his vision of photography, as well as the industry today.

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An Emmy-winning filmmaker talks about depression in the industry

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Depression is not when you’re feeling a bit blue on a rainy day. It is a serious condition that can last long and influence all aspects of your life. And although it’s stigmatized – it is real. Rob Nelson of Rob & Jonas’ Filmmaking tips is an ecologist and an awarded filmmaker who has dealt with long periods of depression. He ascribes his condition to the filmmaking industry – but many photographers will be able to relate to this as well.

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