Mindful Photography

With phone cameras providing high quality images, photography has never been more accessible. We carry our phones with us most places and can use our cameras to slow down, be in the moment and appreciate our surroundings.

Mindful photography is an activity that helps promote all 5 steps to mental wellbeing:

Pay attention to the present moment

Photography is a tool to help us to be in the moment and connect with the world around us, thoughts and feelings.

Be physically active

A walk in a park or on a trail is nourishing for your body, spending time in nature is refreshing and can help to positively change your mood.

Learning a new skill

Discover how to use your camera in new ways, boost your self-confidence, learn from peers and connect with others.

Connect with other people

Photography is an activity that can be shared in a group, go for a walk or meet up and share your pictures.

Give to others

Sharing your pictures and experiences with others contributes to positive feelings of giving back and supporting those around us.

These steps are based on the NHS 5 steps details at www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/

Getting to know your camera is a great skill to learn, Explore the different modes you may have.

Here are a few basic tips:

1. Turn off the flash - Swipe while in camera look for flash icon ⚡️ and turn off

2. Use brightness/contrast slide function - Tap screen while taking photo look for sunshine icon ☀️ for brightness or half moon for contrast 🌓. Hold down your finger and move upwards for brighter/more contrast and downward for darker/less contrast.

3. Turn on grid function to help line up objects in frame - Open camera settings look for grid function turn on.

4. Try out different modes. There are lots of different options depending on your phone. Including Portrait, Nights Sight, Panorama. Each phone will be different.

5. For iPhone there is an app with a FREE version (a pro version is available at an extra cost) Camera+ 2 this App allows you to turn your iPhone/iPad into a manual camera. Click Here to access the website.

Apps you can use to edit:

1. Phone built in functions - When you open an image look for the pencil or edit icon ✏️ this usually opens up options to edit. These could include, brightness/contrast, filters, cropping, highlights, shadows and more.

2. Snapseed - Is a FREE App that allows you to edit images, with increased functionality. For Apple Devices Click Here and for Android Devices Click Here

3. Inshot - Free App (there are in-app purchases available), can use to edit pictures or create videos. Click Here for app info.

4. Canva - Free App and Desktop site for creating documents, videos and so much more. Can edit images in app and add text. 1000’s of designs to choose from. Click Here for more info.

Follow this guide to get started with mindful photography and slowing down your looking:

1. Look for a space where you can be still and quiet.

2. Spend a few minutes in stillness. Close down your eyes or soften your gaze, imagine your feet connecting with the earth and tree roots depending beneath.

3. Open your eyes, look with a fresh outlook and see where your curiosity takes you. Use your camera to frame what you see.

4. What do you notice? Textures, shapes, natural lines, new appreciation for your surroundings.

5. Take pictures as you go, be intentional curating how the image is constructed.

You can use themes or prompts to explore your environment, these activities will be posted in the Facebook group

Pick one word from each Theme and spend 5-10 minutes taking pictures and then selecting 1 or 2 images that represent that word for you.

1. Happiness | Contemplation | Hope

2. Beginning | Life | Surface

3. Connection | Growth | Sustainable

4. Gratitude | Wonder | Joy

Add a mindfulness exercise to your daily walk, whether you have a camera or not you can slow down and look closely at your environment. Other themes to follow on your own or with a group might be: A day in the life, climate action, roles you play in life, capturing you mood, a daily highlight.