This month, we are delighted to welcome Mary Musgrove to the Jet Black Squares family! And not least because Mary’s work specialises in photography and mindfulness, a subject that’s at the heart our smartphone photography and influences much of what we do as a team.
The creativeness of photography coupled with the accessibility of smartphones makes mindful smartphone photography an ideal tool to have on hand whenever we need to pause and take in the present moment. There’s something about the camera view that helps us to focus in on the details around us and take a moment to appreciate them.
Mary came to mindful smartphone photography through lockdown, when her work and social life came to a standstill and she found that she needed to work on her own mental health as she was suffering with menopause and anxiety.
Already a keen user of mindfulness techniques, Mary combined this knowledge with her expertise in professional photography to bring together mindful photography programmes and to undertake a Master’s degree in the subject. Through this, she’s found that the benefits of mindful photography are far reaching and helpful to people of all ages.
Mary believes everyone can benefit from using mindful photography to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Increasing good mental health as well as physical well-being is at the foundation of her workshops, that can help calm the busiest of minds, giving participants the skills and confidence to record memories and make creative images.
Mary will be offering wellness smartphone safaris around the Watford area in the coming months, as well as corporate wellness workshops promoting better mental health in the workplace.
She also plans to run a longer 8-week mindful photography course where participants can get more in depth with the ideas and practices of this fascinating subject.
If you’re interested in trying out smartphone photography for well-being and you live in the Harpenden or Redbourn area, why not join one of Jet’s regular, free ‘snap and chat’ sessions, which give people the chance to get out for a stroll in nature, chat together and get creative.
We hope to see you soon!