My job, my.saviour

Throughout history, people have found that creative expression can decrease anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances. This has often been a source of wonder, and many studies have been done. In 2010, researchers Heather L. Stuckey and Jeremy Nobel undertook the massive task of analysing 100 studies focussing on the effects of art on physical and psychological health. Now, there is scientific evidence to suggest that photography, as a form of art and self-expression, helps people to view the world more objectively, increase their self-worth, and reduce the stress hormone, cortisol. It’s also therapeutic as an accessible means of communication that allows people to pay more attention to what they see, think, and feel, and to share their thoughts – including darker ones – their viewpoints, and frustrations. And it can change the photographer’s viewpoint. By looking at a photo, the photographer sees its subject from a different angle. That can be a valuable aid in the process of developing a more positive outlook.

Lastly, there are times when expressing emotions in words become too difficult. Photography supplants the need for words.

Therapy that launched a career

Photography began solely as a therapeutic tool for Swedish fine art photographer Gabriel Isak