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Writer's pictureLoredana Denicola

Photography as Healing: Capturing Light in the Shadows

Updated: Sep 17, 2023


For some, photography is an art; for others, a job or a hobby. But there's another aspect to photography: it can be therapy, a friend, and a source of light. Photography helped me rebuild my self-esteem and gave me the courage to show my vulnerability and accept myself.


What makes a photograph such a potent tool for healing?


A photograph is a moment frozen in time, containing multiple layers of meaning. What we see in the frame conveys pure information, but beyond that, elements of composition, color, and objects carry a wealth of associations, metaphorical meanings, and emotional depth.

Photographs both capture and create realities. They create opportunities to step into a place where different realities intersect, opening new windows on the world and ourselves.


We can use photography as a form of healing. When we remove the lens cap, we open a window to our internal world. The journey of healing allows us to clear out clutter, touch into feelings, and enter the chaos where healing happens. Each time we click the shutter, the healing light touches places of pain we may be unaware of or unable to reach.


What makes a photograph such a potent tool for healing?
What makes a photograph such a potent tool for healing?

Our healing becomes intentional when we aim to clear the chaos.


Sometimes it's good to ask ourselves: Am I seeking healing for a particular wound? Am I so tired and full that I need to empty the chaos of life from my soul?


Imagine how you can photograph what you need.


What images form in my mind when I think about healing myself?

Where do I need to go inside me to find those images?

The healing process may be unintentional, a natural transformation from darkness to light. We become aware that we are using our camera to clear our mind.


At the end of each photography journey, ask a few questions: What surprises me about how I am feeling? Do I feel lighter? How did photography help me today?


The act of photography heals our souls, intentionally or unintentionally. Our cameras provide an opportunity for the spirit to heal our wounds.

Even the location we choose plays a big role in healing.


What is photography for you?



Loredana Denicola - Blog - Thoughts and Reflections




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