I haven’t done anything photographically recently I have lots to say but my motivation is very low.
In the last month I have looked at the disease that took my Grandma from us – and in my past I have raised money fro this cause to help others.
We lost another family member this year to a different mental illness and it was this moment that made me wonder if it was time to use this project to look at me own illness.
Earlier this year I received my diagnosis – broadly Inflammatory Arthritis more specifically Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis. I suffer pain and discomfort and fatigue everyday – but now it has a name.
There are times when the joy gets sucked out of me because I can no longer to the things that I used to do (and the things that I can not at the same level) there are times when even holding a camera is difficult. Along with all of this there are the mental health affects and for me this is the hardest.
I find that when I concentrate on photography whether that is the taking or the editing, it can some times take some of the pain away, the fuzziness doesn’t make my brain feel so sad. Taking the photographs shows me that I can still do something and I would like to think that by taking about these challenges to others that it could maybe help them too.
I want to hold a workshop to talk to others as well as display my images and show the journey is the way that I would like to go.
I have brainstormed some elements that help to describe my feelings:
- Dead Flowers with the petals missing.
- RSVP showing non attendance
- Tablets
I have also been reading a lot about the #VersusArthritis campaign and this has been really been powerful in showing the different ways people are affected by this disease.
Kirsty Logan Photography 