Photos taken by Jan Austin Smith, a 27-year-old man living in Northern California. His mother, a Psychiatrist, has depression, and his closest aunt is bipolar, so he has been around people with mental health issues his whole life, and has a tremendous amount of compassion for them. He thinks that mental issues are so maligned in the dominant culture, it is tragically sad. Jan has also suffered from depression and anxiety himself, which has been hugely exacerbated by disabling chronic nerve pain in his knees, and 5 knee surgeries. On his website, TheRewildWest, he writes about human, Earth, and animal liberation, as well as displays his beloved nature photography. He’s also a novelist, and editor/book reviewer for the Green Theory and Praxis Journal.
About the photos: “These photographs were shot at Mono Lake in northeastern California. This is one of my favorite places in the world, a magical place. In fact, it is–in terms of sheer biomass of life–the most biologically rich lake in the world. Its waters are filled with salt and carbonates and sulfates from surrounding volcanic activity, and this creates a water density that allows you to float without even trying. Being in nature soothes my tormented psyche, helps me escape from the mental and physical trauma of living in an increasingly industrialized, unnatural, polluted, breakneck-speed society. Floating in Mono Lake connected me to that special place even more. And it just plain felt great!”
____________________________________________________________
**Visit Broken Light’s main gallery here. Currently accepting submissions.
*Like us on Facebook & Twitter. Follow below for e-mail notifications.
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for featuring my pictures and words. I am beyond honored =)
–Love and Liberation–
Jan @ TheRewildWest
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Rewild the West, and All the Rest! and commented:
I am tremendously honored to have my photos/words featured today on Broken Light Photography, a wonderful blog about people with mental illness and their photos and stories. Please check them out! Mental illness is horrible stigmatized in the dominant culture, but it is fundamentally NO DIFFERENT than any other illness–in fact, other illnesses (e.g. heart disease, diabetes) often have bad lifestyle habits contributing to them, whereas mental illnesses are a product of the stress and pollution and sociopathology of industrial civilization!
LikeLike
Beautiful!
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Brenda ❤
LikeLike
Love!!
LikeLike
Awesome pics! Please allow me to use this link for my Bucket List page.
LikeLike
Absolutely, rommel, I would be honored!!
LikeLike
Fascinating images… thank you…
LikeLike
Thank you, Galen.
LikeLike
Perfect.
LikeLike
Aww, much like someone I know!
LikeLike
Very moving, solitude-inspiring photographs. Thanks for posting them!
The Lioness
LikeLike
Thank you for the kind words!! ❤
LikeLike
Wow, that is sooooo Awesome Jan!
LikeLike
Thanks bud =)
LikeLike