How Photography Can Be Good For Mental Wellbeing - A Meditation in Nature #TimeToTalk

In this video I discuss mental health and how landscape photography helped me recover from my own struggles.

** You can follow the hashtag #timetotalk, and visit their website here

Being outdoors and in nature has been proven to be good for your mental wellbeing as well as the obvious physical benefits that go with it, and I learned that by taking my camera out with me it slowed down my racing thoughts and helped me recover from a very low point.

At a time in my life when so many stressful events happened all at once I bottled up too much emotion without talking to anyone about the way I felt which was detrimental to my own mental health - after some time I headed out walking and took my camera with me. I started a YouTube Channel and began recovering and moving on to a much better place.

If this is your first time here, consider subscribing to my channel to see more of my photography trips and philosophy towards capturing landscape images.

Look after yourselves.

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I'm on Twitter now too! -

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Gear used
If you go on to buy any of the below kit on Amazon it will support me in making more videos for you :-)

Main kit

Other kit

Tripod

Filming

[DavidDixon]

Please share this video with anyone who you think may benefit.

[ashstubbings]

Probably one of the most important and profound videos I've ever watched on YouTube.

[patrickboyarski]

Thank you, David, for a sensitive and thoughtful video.  Photography is so much more than just capturing images.

[MiguelACoronaDM]

Well said David. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to share one's challenges. I applaud your effort and your message. Cheers.

[garypentecost]

Thank you David, around 19 months ago I left my job under IHR suffering from A&D, I knew I had been suffering for a number of years but couldn’t speak to anybody it made mine and my dear wife’s life hell all brought on from the stress of my job, when I did open up to my GP after going sick she gave me the support of a group called BeMe my councillor was superb she got me talking and this helped me make the decision with HR at work to leave with a pay package to help while recovered, photography was and is my valve to help me control my anxiety, I now have a new job with less stress and a lot less pay but I’m the happiest I’ve been in years and my wife who stuck by me can now see the real me, I totally understood your video and the courage it took to share, good luck with your journey to better health .Gary

[JamesBrewphoto]

What a brilliant topic! I fully agree with photography's power as a healing device for mental health problems. Wonderful David and extremely pertinent

[johnLee]

I'm no stranger to anxiety & panic attacks, and I can vouch for the therapeutic effect from all forms of creativity... Well done for making this video..

[SimonBoothPhotography]

You've managed so brilliantly to put into words and imagery what many of us have either gone or are going through. I was sincerely touched by this message! Why do we have to have the brave face!?

[ianspicer]

You highlight some very important points David, modern life can be rubbish, much too fast, too much of everything, all too easy to slip under. You've taken us on a very personal journey - and may I say bravely so. Your willingness to be open is in itself healing to others. Thank you.

[Snowcatnz]

You hit the nail on the head. Men especially don't talk about their issues. Hopefully this video will help everyone realise that people can talk about things no matter where or when. Great video and I'll share where I can!!!👍👍👍👍

[lindaccherry]

I actually lost what i thought was a budding relationship over my need to take a weekend photography trip to focus on my mental/emotional health a few months ago. He couldn't/wouldn't understand why I needed to go out and be on my own. Unless someone experiences depression or anxiety or is a caretake of someone (which I am) who has mental health / mood disorders, they don't get it. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding me that we have to take care of ourselves first ❤

Thumbs up ere' David, a great message to all of us! Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and the great benefits of getting outside and enjoying life and taking photographs - Shaun

[arbez]

Powerful healing energy being transmitted here.Thank you David. Shared, of course.

[Turbosmurfen]

Good on you! You are on your way up and sweet of you to send the clear message to the ones that are down. Usually it's hard to understand and process information when you are at the bottom. Clear and beautifully done.

[georgejudkins]

That hit a chord David. Beautiful vlog

[tylersims]

I too have depression and it's a battle at times. Your video(s) are making it clearer why I have taken up Photography. There is something meaningful about capturing a moment in time. Realizing that moment and I are linked by a click of the button. A link packed with so much emotion.

[davidshickle]

Absolutely brilliant! Great message! its time to talk for so many of us. And I really appreciate the connection with photography!
Onwards and upwards.

[OFGW]

With this video, as often happens with your videos, this was an absolute punch in the gut, in the BEST way possible. For different reasons, photography has become for me, just exactly as you described, therapy in a sense. It is good for my emotional and mental health. Thank you for all your content but most of all, these type of videos.

[jbairdexp]

Great work as always David, and great to see a photographer highlight mental illness. If I go out for a dawn shoot I'm always more prepared and relaxed for the day ahead. I love getting up, going somewhere and watching the sunrise. Even if I don't get any photos, I always enjoy the experience of being out. A good sense of well being. :-)

[Rashoop]

One word: brilliant. OK, simple and beautiful also come to mind. It IS so easy to let all we face and deal with crush us mentally. There is no better cure than being outside, pursuing a passion. And for me, a passion is ANYTHING that makes sleeping in seem like a waste of time. And for achieving a state of mental well-being, I'm not sure there is a better passion that being outdoors taking pictures.
Thank you for being so courageous to tell your story. It's an important one, and many will benefit from hearing it.