POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH: Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using photography, painting, storytelling, blogging, and motivational speaking – my expressive arts journey written by ©Karen Robinson Please click here for my latest blog news!
Photography
” Painting and Drawing with Light”
INTRODUCTION
Over the last decade – using expressive arts therapy, creative writing and motivational speaking formed an important part of being able to work through my grief after the tragic loss of my son in a single-vehicle car crash in 2009. In recent years, photography emerged as an even better way of being able to improve my sense of well-being and seemed very natural to me. I have found it to be a marvellous way of being able to enjoy, not just the creative processes of photography, but also being able to enjoy the immersion of myself into the natural world around me during photography adventures that my hubby and I undertake. The immersion into the natural world eco-therapy is a practice that the Japanese carry out and is called ‘forest bathing‘ and is “proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone production, boost the immune system, and improve overall feelings of wellbeing” (World Economic Forum 2017). Over the last few years, my hubby and I have found this to be true!
THE GROWTH OF MY INTEREST IN PHOTOGRAPHY
The taking of photographs has been a part of my whole life in one way or another. I remember my father owning a Kodak Box Brownie camera and observing his interest in photography. Some of the photographs in his collection date back to the early 1900s. Sadly, many photos from the collection have been lost, or were given away by my father, or misplaced during the numerous moves we endured during my childhood. It must be remembered that photo-taking and the printing of photographs during my father’s life were not generally undertaken as frequently as we do now. In regards to my own family, I am one of the photo-takers at family events, which means that I am often behind the camera. Over the years, it has become clear to me that the recording of family history, through photo-taking, is significantly important. This was never more evident than after the tragic death of my son Ben who was killed in a single-vehicle car crash on the 5th of November 2009. It was then that I fully realised the true value of my photographs and their importance! How they are a way of capturing precious moments of loved ones; how these images can serve as a catalyst to storytelling by family members; how these stories add richness to one’s family history and a depth of understanding about where we come from. My daughter and I are now both photo-takers and the custodians of our family history via our photo-taking. We now also share an interest in photographing the natural wonderings we encounter during our photography adventures…
TIME TO MASTER PHOTOGRAPHY
In 2015, my daughter became interested in mastering her photography as a serious hobby. I saw this as an opportunity also for me to further develop my photographic skills and knowledge, and a way of sharing a common interest with her. For me, it was time to be brave and use the ‘manual mode’ on my camera settings!
In late 2017 I purchased a new camera and lens the Sony A7 Mark II and Sony A FE24-240mm F3.5-6.3OSS. Hence the decision to make 2017 the year that I was really going to make a big effort to fully understand the workings of my camera and become familiar with Adobe Lightroom Classic CC. NB: In 2022, I traded in my Sony A7 Mark II for a new Sony Camera – Sony A7RIV +A a full-frame 61pixel sensor. The old lens is now out of date and a new one is on backorder that being a Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 Di III.
My daughter and I enrolled in a short CAE course to learn the basics of digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) photography with Krystal Seigerman which proved to be a good place to start our photographic journey together. Since then my hubby and I joined the Craigieburn Camera Club which is a community-based photography group consisting of beginners to advanced photographers. Joining the club has proven to be a wonderful way of helping me to continue to improve my skills, while at the same time socialising with like-minded photographers.
CONCLUSION
Over time, my photo journaling will hopefully embrace landscape, seascape, woodlands, streets, portraiture, night, and bird photography. At every stage, it will be very much about learning and experiencing this wonderful, fascinating world. I hope sharing will encourage others to take up photo journaling as a way of being able to reflect on daily life; live in the moment; capture precious moments shared with loved ones; be creative; experience the natural wonders of the world and most importantly – to enjoy life!
Have fun with your photography…
LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURES!
LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHS
Please click here to view the page on Landscape Photographs taken by Karen Robinson
GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHS
Please click here to view the page on Garden Photographs taken by Karen Robinson
SEASCAPE PHOTOGRAPHS
Please click here to view the page on Seascape Photographs taken by Karen Robinson
STREET/DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHS
Please click here to view the page on Street/Documentary Photographs taken by Karen Robinson
ANIMAL/BIRD/OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS
Please click here to view the page on Animal/Bird/Other Photographs taken by Karen Robinson
© Karen Robinson – August 2019
POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH: Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using photography, painting, storytelling, blogging, and motivational speaking – my expressive arts journey written by ©Karen Robinson Please click here for my latest blog news!
ido art karen robinson 