The Photography & Wellbeing Group meet each Saturday at 12pm - alternating sessions at the Bothy with photowalks in and around Helensburgh. The group is open to all members of Jean’s Bothy and to all levels of photographer with whatever kind of camera you prefer to use. Members can send images for inclusion in the Private Members’ Gallery to kp@kathrynpolleyphotography.com.
This gallery features some of my own images from our photo walks and photography sessions because as well as running the photography group I am also a member of the Bothy. Mental health issues are not just for a chosen few, we can all be susceptible and I find the resources and company at the Bothy to be invaluable for dealing with my own experience with depression.
December 24th, 2024. A Year of Photography & Wellbeing
Photography & Wellbeing 2024
On Saturday, members of Jean’s Bothy’s Photography & Wellbeing Group joined together to reflect on the year we’ve just had, enjoy some (non-alcoholic) mulled wine and mince pies, watch a slide show of photos from the year and chat about plans for the next year, or just chat. It was a very relaxed, informal event and everyone pitched in to help set things up which was really appreciated – special thanks to Delia though who, because of where she happened to be sitting, ended up dashing in and out of the kitchen to do refills – sorry about that Delia!
We’ve had a busy year. There were 22 photo walks, as well as photography sessions during the Bothy’s On Location Day in Hermitage Park, and of course we also played a significant part along with so many others in the Bothy’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) exhibition at the Submarine Centre in October. We walked in Helensburgh, Dumbarton, round the peninsula in Cove, Cardross, Glasgow – to the Transport Museum, and even over by Edinburgh when we had a fantastic day out at Jupiter Artland. We had the opportunity to photograph, among other things, a protest, and Santas dashing, Community Gardens, old churches, beaches, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House, beautiful blossom, woodlands, animals, boats, flowers, fungi and much much more – to a total of 25 different photographic themes.
One thing that I’ve heard from members numerous times, is that they now notice things they never would have stopped to look at before, simply because they’ve been asked to make work to a theme. I think this is one of the key reasons why photography is so good for our wellbeing. It takes us out of ourselves for a time and allows us to focus on the joy of noticing our surroundings in a different way. I’m now looking forward to another year of walks and themes and new challenges and I hope you’ll join me again when we come back in January for out 2025 photographic adventures!
