honorable mention
G. Moon united kingdom
title
(untitled)
I felt my deteriorating mental health and concerns about the future required some sort of definition and clarity utilising a cathartic artistic process; photography is the only one I have at my disposal.
The idea behind this project was to try to visually portray my Multiple Sclerosis and Depression diagnosis to share what I am experiencing as a way for me to try to make sense of my life as it is now. The process of creating this project is a form a therapy in that it has made me think deeply about my condition, its affect both now and in the future and ways in which I can portray these feelings and emotions in a visually artistic manner. As a hidden condition I know that to most people I seem like a healthy, normal person
I feel the creation of these images portray more feeling and emotion than my usual style of work. I feel a greater permission to experiment and to develop a more artistic approach and style to my photography. This has not been a cure. I’m still taking medication. I still wake up in a lot of pain. The dark cloud still looms. My abilities remain curtailed. However, I do enjoy the creative process and I do get pleasure and contentment looking at the finished images, even if it does feel like they were created by someone else. I have tried to be experimental in my approach to this project.
The creative approach to my work varies giving it a more original outcome. Having taken photographs my whole life I feel more complete when I have my camera with me. Often my work evolves and from an original concept and becomes something almost unexpected. Sometimes it is inspired by my surroundings, the people, the place and really seeing the moments happening around me that others might not. On other occasions it is inspired by something much deeper, from within, sparked by my own thoughts and feelings to create something for myself that perhaps only a few would understand, even work that others may never see. Each day brings something new to capture, new inspiration with my creative thought processes developing continually.
Since a diagnosis of Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis resulting in a sporadic reduction in mobility and much of the vision in one eye, together with an associated diagnosis of anxiety and depression, I have become more interested in mental health issues and trying to represent those visually through my work.
I have degrees in Ecology and in Education; I love to teach others about photography and the living world around them in the hope that their increased understanding and empathy will generate a more informed and caring approach to the world in their everyday lives.
I love to travel and to document other worlds.
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entry description
MS & Mental WellbeingI felt my deteriorating mental health and concerns about the future required some sort of definition and clarity utilising a cathartic artistic process; photography is the only one I have at my disposal.
The idea behind this project was to try to visually portray my Multiple Sclerosis and Depression diagnosis to share what I am experiencing as a way for me to try to make sense of my life as it is now. The process of creating this project is a form a therapy in that it has made me think deeply about my condition, its affect both now and in the future and ways in which I can portray these feelings and emotions in a visually artistic manner. As a hidden condition I know that to most people I seem like a healthy, normal person
I feel the creation of these images portray more feeling and emotion than my usual style of work. I feel a greater permission to experiment and to develop a more artistic approach and style to my photography. This has not been a cure. I’m still taking medication. I still wake up in a lot of pain. The dark cloud still looms. My abilities remain curtailed. However, I do enjoy the creative process and I do get pleasure and contentment looking at the finished images, even if it does feel like they were created by someone else. I have tried to be experimental in my approach to this project.
about the photographer
Underlying my approach to all aspects of my art, albeit sometimes subconsciously, is a compassion and caring for the inhabitants of the natural world and the suffering and injustices imposed upon them and the planet by my fellow humans. This can range from showing an individual of a species in the most appealing and captivating image possible to trying to exhibit the beauty and imperative reliance on a whole landscape or ecosystem.The creative approach to my work varies giving it a more original outcome. Having taken photographs my whole life I feel more complete when I have my camera with me. Often my work evolves and from an original concept and becomes something almost unexpected. Sometimes it is inspired by my surroundings, the people, the place and really seeing the moments happening around me that others might not. On other occasions it is inspired by something much deeper, from within, sparked by my own thoughts and feelings to create something for myself that perhaps only a few would understand, even work that others may never see. Each day brings something new to capture, new inspiration with my creative thought processes developing continually.
Since a diagnosis of Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis resulting in a sporadic reduction in mobility and much of the vision in one eye, together with an associated diagnosis of anxiety and depression, I have become more interested in mental health issues and trying to represent those visually through my work.
I have degrees in Ecology and in Education; I love to teach others about photography and the living world around them in the hope that their increased understanding and empathy will generate a more informed and caring approach to the world in their everyday lives.
I love to travel and to document other worlds.
back to gallery