Smartphone cameras are getting more advanced, but you can’t beat a dedicated distraction-free camera
This article is part of our coverage for Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
Last year I purchased a compact camera for £900 instead of the latest iPhone and wrote about why I loved the camera. As, at the time of writing, this week is Mental Health Awareness Week, I want to unpack one of the reasons why I made that choice – focused creativity.
A smartphone can make great pictures – even my ageing Google Pixel which I still haven’t replaced is a great camera – but there’s something more important than the technical capability and the quality of pictures you make, and that’s the impact of creativity on your mental health.
It’s widely researched and recognized that excessive use of a smartphone has a negative impact on mental health (opens in new tab), and conversely that practicing creativity can give your mental health a big boost (opens in new tab). It’s worth acknowledging that while getting creative and being in nature isn’t going to totally cure debilitating mental health conditions, it can provide some much-needed mood-boosting benefits and alleviate mild-to-moderate symptoms.
But where does using your phone’s camera as a creative tool sit in this picture? Let’s take a walk to find out. The creative tool you choose
Phone, check. Camera, check. Keys, check. And I’m out the door for a walk in the local area and to the woods a short distance from my house. I’ve been trying to get away from the computer and ground myself in nature, and what’s more, take a few pictures along the way.
Get outdoors, go slow, enjoy the details. These are positive steps for my energy levels and mental health (opens in new tab).
