A Creative Photographic Approach: Interpretation and Healing Through Creative Practice

Our lives are negotiated through our relationship to others, and understanding our position within that social setting is informed by lived experience, making sense of whom we are, and what has happened to us, is achieved through the stories we tell and hear about our lives. This narrative process informs our position in the world by developing a sense of self, which creates a memory structure through which to establish order and create meaning from experiences. Successful communication however, requires an intermediacy process of expression, in order to share information and shape understanding. Language can provide a frsutrating barrier to these activities, which may often leave individuals isolated or unreachable as a consequence. Employing 'a creative photographic approach,' utilizes photography's unique ability to both describe and express, providing an alternative vocabulary to connect with, describe and evaluate our lives, bringing insights that might otherwise remain hidden through more tradtitional, non-visual modes of enquiry. The term a creative photographic approach is used here to describe a method whereby individuals formerly engage in the process of reflection, interpretation and expression of personal expereince, through the creation of original photographic artwork. The creation of interpretive artefacts can assist in the development of critical distance for the maker, a term that describes the means whereby an experience or event can be understood, and its implications appreciated from a more informed perspective. The artefacts produced also act as a catalysts for additional dialogue, in a broader social context, as the work engages with an audience. By connecting visual methods to issues of social concern, participants can provide responses, which speak powerfully about the challenges of living, in ways not possible using words alone. This paper presents the ideas and methods, which support the practical use of creative photography, as a core strategy. for the enhancement of personal wellbeing.