PHOTOGRAPHY AND NATURE
I have a great love for the outdoors and wildlife, I enjoy the changes of seasons and the colour changes of autumn and summer and spring with wildflowers and mushrooms and the bees pollinating. As a developing arts practitioner, I enjoy learning all there is to know about the creativity and therapeutic benefits of it.
I've become more and more aware of how my photography can enhance my well-being and discovered that not only can it alleviate boredom, I've also learned new skills and techniques along the way. You don't need to be very skilled or have years of practice to take a very basic picture. You just need patients and time.
Five ways to well-being NHS(2020) says being active and going outdoors can increase your physical health and fitness and evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
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helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
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causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood.
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During the pandemic when government guidance was given to go outdoors a lot of people created social media groups and shared images of their walks and photography.
Learning new skills can be beneficial for you for confidence building and sense of purpose and also increase connections with others. Being part of group activity and skill set can bring about a sense of belonging and being in the company of others like-minded. Making friends and sharing stories. I will be developing some group workshops in the near future for anyone who would like to learn more about photography and outdoors and wellbeing.