Lomo In-Depth: Art & Photography as Self-Therapy

Like any other art form, photography is one of the many outlets people resort to. Whether overcoming depression, mental or emotional illness or simply trying to unwind the mind, many an artist have proven that self-expression is an avenue to conquer obstacles. In this editorial, we specifically trace how photography helps on one's psyche and its uncertain ways of healing.

Cause: understanding the psyche of an artist

Before we understand why self-therapy in photography became a subject, we must first understand how it became relevant.

As fellow artists, many of us have encountered the stereotype of the 'suffering artist', with Vincent van Gogh as the poster boy. Although an unfair judgment, it is quite irrevocable that the possibility of an artist falling into depression or mental illness is highly likely.

According to Kari Steffanson in a study shown in Nature Neuroscience, there's a relationship between creativity and depression.

For many among here, to be a great photographer is to also be a great artist, and to be an artist is to be different. To be different has always been part of the embodiment, but it cannot be disputed that artists from all fields pay the price of being labeled as 'weird', or 'strange'.

Perhaps this is where most of those struggles come from -- the feeling of being estranged, otherworldly. We are aware of it, we relish it in our creativity, in our art -- but sometimes other areas of our personal lives just cannot seem to deal with it healthily.

However, a psychiatry professor Albert Rothenberg in Harvard,disagrees with the idea that creativity is a common reason of madness. If anything, repressed self-expression and creativity seems to be more of the root cause.

Effect: photography as self-therapy, the camera as aid

If expression of creativity also comes with a high cost of risking his health, the upside about being an artist and his recuperation is this: the artist heals by creation and beauty. Why? Because creation and beauty is almost second nature to him.

In the case of photography, the camera acts as as the auxiliary eye for things our naked eye won't see and understand. Perception has always been subjective, and our eyes often overlook other things in the bigger picture. The camera does exactly what it is meant for; it allows the taker to focus and pay attention to realities we don't notice. Sometimes the great eye-openers and life-changing experiences are in the details.

Actually, many contemporary photographers have shared that before taking photography into a real passion and profession, they treated the art form as a way of healing:

"I instead think photography is healing your soul. About finding more appreciation in life and the beauty around you. About finding beauty in the ordinary. Photography is about becoming a more confident person. To have the confidence to make art, share it, and to be judged for it.. Photography has given me a creative outlet as well. Before photography, I had no way to express myself creatively. I (like many others out there) was born an artist, but had no skills to draw. When I discovered photography, it opened up my world to seeing the world in a unique way, and feeling more connected with the world." -- Eric Kim in C-Heads

"“Photography has been a therapy for me, because it’s given me control over my emotions in a way that I never had before." -- Christian Hopkins on Flickr Blog

"My camera shows me our collective world in a light I never fathomed I would be able to access. It was at that point of discovery that all my cogs in my heart and mind started working together. Honestly, seeing my immaterial visions before my real eyes gives me such an addictive high. It is a comfort because the process of creating merely makes the ultimate sense to me." -- Katie Eleanor in an interview with Lomography Magazine

Moreover, photography can also improve one's mental health and allow people (artist or not) to de-stress. The Huffington Post shared that the handiness of the photographic medium makes it easier for people express themselves, even if they haven't gone to art school, or been professionally trained in practicing the medium.

For those suffering right now, do try to explore the world around you, whether with a paint brush, a pen, or a camera. For all you art photographers out there -- keep doing you. You're doing great!

written by Ciel Hernandez on 2017-01-15 #culture #art #photography #editorial #lomo-in-depth #self-therapy