Photo Mooch: Creative ideas for wellbeing
A team of four photographers, who have so far only met online, have launched the new Photo Mooch initiative for all to join in. Their idea was to use what they know best – photography – to encourage people to actively seek out moments of joy that can contribute towards improving wellbeing, and to provide a platform for sharing the results. And so Gemma Taylor, Mark Ivkovic, Paul Crudgington and Georgia Janes became Photo Mooch.
It has been widely reported that the pandemic has negatively impacted on wellbeing. Creativity can play a part in restoring some balance, with the benefits researched and recognised by the NHS1.
Photo Mooch intends to offer some light-hearted fun, which anyone with a camera – any camera – can get involved with. Each week on Instagram the team will share a new creative prompt, which will relate to one or more of the 5 ways to wellbeing: explore, take notice, give, learn and connect. Why not have a look?
The ‘moochers’ will also highlight wellbeing and arts charities and initiatives, and build up a bank of resources. All four photographers are also workshop facilitators available to deliver training for charities and workplaces.
The four photographers met and formed Photo Mooch during a career development course (Lightbox) run by the photography network, Redeye2. They were assigned an industry mentor, Dewi Lewis, a UK-based photography book publisher, with an international reputation.
Dewi Lewis says:
“This is such a great initiative – and amazing that the group have been able to set everything in motion despite never having met face to face. They came together through Redeye’s LightBox project and I had the delight of mentoring them over a period of some months. These are four photographers with a really fresh outlook on how to make photography a truly collaborative process, how to engage with others and enthuse and encourage. After such a difficult eighteen months this is what we all need. I can’t wait to see it up and running.”
Guest Photography by Sue Dean
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