Who we are & why we are

Welcome to the gallery site of Broken Light Collective. We are artists of all levels and abilities who are affected by mental illness. We create and we share our work for the therapeutic benefits to us, as well as others who may be struggling and feeling scared and alone. Together we can move from disconnected to collective.

Photo taken by contributor Samantha Pugsley, a 24-year-old conceptual fine art photographer from Charlotte, North Carolina. She first picked up a camera during her junior year of college. This was right around the time when she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Things that were once easy became impossible for her. Getting dressed in the morning, shopping at the grocery story, driving her car…just living, was a panic attack waiting to happen. Photography helped her heal. With her camera she could start a conversation about what was going on in her head. She could say things with her images that she didn’t know how to say out loud. She still struggles with anxiety but making art helps her talk about it and manage it. She started a 365 photography project to ensure that she’d be doing what brings her joy every single day. She has noticed that her anxiety level is much lower if she spends time with her camera every day.

About this photo: “Sometimes, when I get anxious, I create my own fairy tale. I go out into nature, find a beautiful location, and create a story about a faraway place. Sometimes it helps to step outside yourself and escape from the pressures if just for a moment. I often find that when I come back to reality, I have more perspective and feel strong enough to deal without anxieties I’m facing.

Find more from Samantha at her website or flickr.

_____

**Visit Broken Light’s main gallery here. Currently accepting submissions.

*Facebook & Twitter @BrokenLighCo & @DanielleHark. Follow for e-mail notifications.


9 responses to “Creating My Fairy Tale”

  1. Ashley Lily Scarlett Avatar

    Hello, Samantha. I’m very impressed with your work, it’s consistently beautiful. I blog at Syncopated Eyeball on WordPress and have myself contributed to Broken Light.
    I recently started a new collaborative blog on self portraits and I’m wondering if you would like to share some of your work there:

    http://strataoftheself.wordpress.com

    My email: ashleylilyscarlett(at)gmail(dot)com

    Like

  2. wiccarulez Avatar

    Reblogged this on Wiccarulez's Blog and commented:
    Ik hou van Sprookjes,
    omdat ze altijd goed eindigen …
    In liefde en licht
    In liefde en licht
    In liefde en licht herblog ik dit bericht

    Like

  3. gerl1202student Avatar
    gerl1202student

    Reblogged this on gerl1202student.

    Like

  4. Paula McLane Jennings Avatar

    BEAUTIFUL PHOTO. Love the reflections. What a wonderful way to get your mind off your worries by creating stories while spending time in nature. I love going out into nature with my camera too. I love your story idea!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. crazyguyinthailand Avatar
    crazyguyinthailand

    Stunning

    Like

  6. Rhys Jones Avatar

    Lovely atmospheric image.

    Like

  7. danesegrandfield Avatar

    Samantha, I can absolutely relate to photography being a way to process, heal, and cope. This is a lovely image- I’m looking forward to checking out more of your work.

    Like

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