Empowering photographing

What means the empowering
point of view to welfare of mind?
Welfare consists of resources and skills
It is not a permanent state of mind
We learn these skills in an interaction with others
Life crises have an important role in learning skills for developing welfare of mind ? we need life crises
It is possible to support the welfare of mind in every situation or stage of life, no matter if you have diagnosis of mental illness or not

Three important things:
Positive attitude to life
Every feelings have an important message for us,
every feelings have their right to existence
Feeling of hope
? How do we support these three things?

Individual meaning (pictures about past, about present)
to analyze life
- in relation to myself
in relation to others
in relation to past (re-live situations, moments, feelings)
Communal meaning (photographing with pairs or groups)
The subject (protagonist) is the one who is to be taken pictures of
Dialog between the one who takes the pictures and the one who has been taken pictures of
Societal meaning
We can show and tell something with photographs to audience
For example about human groups who have been invisible
Exhibition
Photographs as a method for empowerment

Meaning of Empowering photography
To create new understanding about our history, past, relationships, about ourselves
To see ourselves and the others in a new way
New analyzes about our lives
Appreciative feedback
To look at the other and myself in a gentle way
-? Empowerment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JPRmrcfv74
Julkaistu 7.7.2011
Finnish artist Miina Savolainen addresses participants of Women's Worlds 2011 at a Nordic Reception at Old City Hall (Ottawa) on 6 July where her photography exhibit, "The Loveliest Girl in the World", is displayed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_K607JMaNU
Jään prinsessa: Suvi Isotalo the product, Valokuva soi - made by Susanna Haavisto

Homework
Find two photographs,
One which inspires you
One where you are and look like just you want to be seen
Introduce your protographs to your group (groups of four people)
Helping questions:
What is in picture?
Where and when it has been taken and by who?
Tell the story of your pictue?
Why is it meaningfull to you?
Comments: appreciative feedback

Homework concerning visiting in Heremitage
Find a piece of art/ or pieces of art which you feel important or special for you
Take a picture about these piece of art ( or describe or draw it)
Take it with you on Friday