Expectation Versus Filtered Reality

If you have taken the time to look through my website (for which I appreciate!), you will have noticed the distinct lack of professional and stock photography.  

Well I can assure you this was a VERY deliberate decision! Everything we see these days leaves us wondering how filtered an image might be, too corporate or is it AI generated?  Coupled with the reality of virtually meeting a person online and all you can think about is how that person doesn’t look anything like their photos! 

We’ve all had those moments.  I decided that was not going to be me.  Nor was I going to share images that were staged, cold and of no significance to me.  To be true to who I am, it is important to me to share random snapshots of my life that come with a story.  Afterall, that is what we are doing daily, sharing  insights of our lives constantly on social media - so why not a website?

Moreover, there is significant research that promotes positive wellbeing through photography.

A photo-biographical statement is also referred to as ‘pictorial projection’  that offers an individual the opportunity to gain further personal insight of self-exploration when examining captured external subjects.  It can be said they get to understand a different aspect of their own personal symbolism.  

According to the evidence there are psychotherapeutic differences between Photo Art Therapy, Phototherapy and Therapeutic Photography, the most notable of which is that Photo Art Therapy and Phototherapy are interventions conducted by skilled and qualified practitioners with intended and defined outcomes.  Whereas therapeutic photography is a self-initiated practice absent of theory and/or counselling skills.  My use of photography is ‘Therapeutic Photography’ , which will apply to the majority of us. 

Our stories and experiences captured in no matter how grainy, flawed, imperfect an image might be, will still give us that space to reflect and remember how we felt, what we thought, who was with us ….even what the weather was like that day! We have the ability to remember minute details from years gone by.

Pure, unfiltered and honest expressions held in a photograph can be  hugely powerful when working through challenging times.  They can also be a metaphor for life.

I will share in another blog the metaphorical meanings to the photo’s used on this website,  in the meantime, have a scroll through your camera roll… which photograph will sum up your summer this year? 

Until next time, Janine