During lockdown I have got back into taking photos around my garden. Photography really helps me with managing my mental health. I wanted to share with you some of my favourite shots so far!
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favourite shots as much as I did taking them!
Stay Home and Stay Safeš
Recently I went to Whipsnade Zoo with my support worker for the day. We had a lovely day seeing the animals and the weather was lovely too! I enjoyed seeing some of the animals being fed. I was really happy that I got to see a baby zebra as they are one of my favourite animals.
Last year at college I did an adult learning course in Animal Care. I learnt not only about how to care for a range of different animals but about conservation too. So I found it really interesting going to the zoo and learning more about zoo conservation and seeing it put into practice. If you would like to find out more about conservation at Whipsnade Zoo please visit https://www.zsl.org/conservation .
Going to the zoo gave me a fantastic opportunity to do one of my hobbies which is photography of wild animals. Throughout the day I took many photos and I thought I would share some of my favourite shots.
European Brown Bear
African Dwarf Crocodile and Butterfly
Butterfly in the Butterfly House
Flamingos
Foal and Mother (Grey Zebras)ļæ¼
African Elephants
Giraffe Calf
Flamingo
I had a fantastic day at the zoo and can’t wait to go back there soon!
In July I went on holiday with my family on a cruise to Norway, Iceland and Ireland. I had a fantastic time and had so many interesting and incredible photography opportunities throughout the holiday. From the stunning waterfalls to the glaciers and the wildlife.
As some of you may know photography has become not just a hobby for me but has helped me with my on going mental health recovery journey. Photography helps me to ground myself in the hear and now. I also use my photography as a resource for when I am feeling low. Looking back at some wonderful memories that make me smile!
I thought I would share with you some of my photography snaps from my holiday this year.
This year I did an adult learning course in Art and Photography for adults with disabilities at college.
I enjoyed doing the art but I found that I really love photography especially nature and wildlife photography. Photography helps me a lot with my mental health as it helps me to ground myself in the here and now. Another brilliant thing I have found is by taking photos of the great outdoors is it has helped improve my mood and can sometimes help me when I am feeling anxious.
Throughout the year I was able to develop my skills in photography and photo editing. So I thought I would share with you some of my top photos I have done on the course.
Autumn has arrived
A fallen leaf
Orange berries
Fruit berries
Keeping each other company
Coming into bud
Spring has come
On the lookout
Pink blossom
Blossom
Sheep
After taking this photo I used editing software to turn the photo into black and white.
From doing this course I have found that I really enjoy doing photography and I hope to do some more photography projects soon!
Over the past couple of months I have really got into photography, I have found that it is helping me to manage my mental health.
Doing photography helps me to not only be creative but to help me to really ground myself and bring me back to the here and now.
Photography is a very useful tool for me to use when doing my grounding technique I learnt in therapy.
The Technique
5. Name 5 things you can see right now
4. Name 4 things you can hear right now
3. Name 3 things you can touch right now
2. Name 2 things you can smell right now
1. Now take a slow deep and breathe
I love doing nature and animal photography as I have to really look at what is around me and try and see how and what it could look being photographed in different ways. I especially like taking photos in autumn as the leaves are all changing colour I like how the light shines through the leaves and can cast shadows on the trees. I enjoy experimenting with trying to get photos of the raindrops on the leaves and grass.
Raindrops On A Fallen Leaf.
Raindrops On A Blade Of Grass.
Light Coming Through The Leaves.
Taking photos of wildlife has helped me to look at detail and to take my time when looking and not to rush but be quick enough to capture the shot I want.
I really enjoy taking photos whilst on walks with my dog, by doing photography I can now see things I wouldn’t normally see for example the light shining on some leaves or some fungi growing on some wood. This helps me to stay in the present and try not to dissociative.
Pheasant In The Garden.
Visiting Bumblebee.
Wild Deer In The Garden.
The great thing about doing photography is that I can do it where ever I am because I don’t have to just do it on a traditional camera I can do it on my phone or iPad.
Doing photography has also helped me to express myself too as I can do my own photography projects on different topics. By doing photography I can express and understand my emotions in a creative way instead of keeping my thoughts and feelings inside.
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