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.
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**Visit Broken Light’s main gallery here. Currently accepting submissions.
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Stunning
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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
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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
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Reblogged this on gerl1202student.
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Reblogged this on My Choice.
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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!
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Stunning
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Lovely atmospheric image.
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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.
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