anotherview Loc: California

I want to give a small collection of books and magazines relating to photography to a camera club, gratis, with shipping prepaid by me.

Please name a camera club that could use this material. Thanks.

Hoodoos Cluster, Bryce Canyon NP

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

I have been asked to teach a class on using photography to express your feelings for my local mental health association, It will be for people who have trouble opening up in individual and group therapy. the mha is providing digital p+S and will print the patients photos. when enough quality work is collected, photos will be displayed for sale in a local gallery with all $ collected going to support a rec center for mental ill people like myself. This class will aslo be therapy for me as i haven't worked in 1 and a half years and photography is great therapy for me whith batteling depression. I could use your matieral for the group, as it will be ongoing with new groups starting and a little library of resource matierial would be very helpfull. If this sounds like a good idea for your stuff send me a private message and i'll give you a shipping adress. Thank you for your consuideration.

Ducklady

Sinatraman,
What an awesome idea. I was involved in a similar venture with our local mhc. It was an art studio, focused mainly on pottery. The arts are an important vehicle for healing, one that's seriously underutilized. Traditional therapies mostly focus on the one communication mode of talk. This is not very helpful for people who are non-verbal or who have histories of pre-verbal abuse.

I have found in my own journey that the ever popular journaling provides little or no help, but drawing, sculpting and music do. I think it's because I'm a writer by trade. Drawing totally bypasses my language channels. Stuff pops out onto the paper in drawings that's completely unexpected and often illuminating.

I've never consciously thought of my photography in that regard. Thank you for helping me make that connection.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

thank you for the kind words. to me looking at the irrefutable evidence of not an occasional lucky shot, but a consistent body of work helps battle down the low self esteem and negative thoughts. whenever i start to feel down i'll open up the "my favorites tab" in photoshop album and start looking at the best of my photos, it isn't too long before, im feeling alot better and more confident. I am sure your art does the same for you. i too think it can be more effective than just sitting in group talking abouy your problems.

anotherview Loc: California

Books and magazines going to Sinatraman for a good purpose.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

Just a suggestion for the group therapy project....If you have enough magazines with all the wonderful pictures usually found in photo mags and you wouldnt mind using them in this fashion another fun art project might be to use them for Self portrait collages for your budding photographers....Another great tool for expression and catharsis...good luck and smiles

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I belong to a Camera Club, but in all honestly most of the members can afford to purchase magazines, books etc so I would never throw our name into the pot, what about an outreach program that teaches photography/art to those in need (inner-city kids, domestic voilence victims, people battling life threatening diseases, ect)? I would be willing to help located such a group, and I even have a collection of books I can donate.

mrgoldwing388 Loc: GA

Sinatraman, go to the local shelter and rescue a dog who needs a hero, and he will in turn become your hero. There is no medicine like the loving look from a dog who thinks you hung the moon. The loyalty and love from him will take your focus on whats wrong in your life and show you whats right in your life. It's no mistake that dog spelled backwards is God.

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

You are so right. Or also you can adopt a cat from a shelter as well. They all offer unconditional love and affection and really lift your spirits. If you are unable to get out to walk a dog daily a cat is less care for many people. I volunteer twice a week at an animal shelter and just last Tuesday I adopted an adult cat that has been at the shelter for months. She is beautiful and has brought so much love an affection into our home in such a short time.

Celinia in her cage at the shelter


Those longing eyes looking for a home


Ready for the Christmas holiday and winter


I've finally found my forever home

Elaine H Loc: fairfax, va

Sinatraman, Your kind words and excellent advise always perk me up. The advise on getting a pet is so true as I have been an animal tech for years and you can not replace the unconditional love they share with you. Even the animals that come to the hospital seem to remember that we got them through a bad time in their life(work overnight in an emergency hospital so I see alot of injured and sick pets). I own a lab that reads me better than any human and actually jumps and comes to me as soon as he sences I am not happy. So please take our advise and get yourself a companion. My grandad lived to 103 and we made sure he always had a pet..which I truly know kept him going all those years. Keep you head up and always remember we care about you ;)