Stuart The Photographer

Stuart is an emerging photographer with a talent to capture our world as he see its. Below, Stuart discusses in his own words his passion and talent for photography.

What drives your passion for photography?
I have become very interested in photography since being involved with Nepal. Most of my photography books are focussed around the Mountains and People of Nepal and Tibet and the Himalayas.

The Mountains and the people are very photogenic. Both represent and exciting far away land, an extreme land with wonderful people, a land that has been forgotten in time…The land of Nepal and the Himalayas are very precious to me, because they represent a way of life I sometimes long to find here in the UK.

The Mountains are like Gods. I feel an excitement when I am near to the Himalayas. I love taking photographs of the Mountains because I am in ‘awe’ of their presence and power. Each Mountain is beautiful and there is no better way to capture this beauty than with photography. And once captured, I can see this power and beauty on the walls of my house whenever I wish to look. They always bring a smile to my face. Cant help it.

When I saw the Himalayas from the Plane window for the first time in 2003, the presence and power bought an emotional response from me. I remember thinking to myself, if ever God lived on Earth, he would be here in the Himalayas.

How does your diagnosis help or hinder your creativity?
My diagnosis can both hinder and help my creativity. Sometimes my mind feels very stimulated and creative, often too stimulated that I cant be creative at all. Simply too much going on inside my mind and I cant focus or capture my creativity. I’ve always believed I could be very creative, if only I could be in touch with myself more and have more control over my thoughts. I believe that this is beginning to be achieved now as my illness is weakening and I am becoming stronger. Sometimes when I want to go somewhere to take photographs its hard for me to get out of the front door. This is because of a fear of society and having to communicate with society and having to interact with people.

But as my illness weakens and I grow in confidence my creativity seems to be growing too. I believe most sufferers with schizophrenia have the ability to be creative people. Its something that needs to be encourage far more and I believe could help aid recovery of severe mental illness.

Where would you like to take your photography?
I would like to be known for being creative and artistic in life. Hopefully my photography will give me the chance to establish this wish. To be known as a photographer or writer over my diagnosis sounds like a wonderful idea to me. As for, where would I like to take my photography Geographically speaking…All over the World!

What exhibitions have you had?

• The Study Gallery Bournemouth.
• Holton Lee Gallery Poole.
• Dorset County Museum Dorchester.
• British Nepal Society London.
• Rethink Severe Mental Illness AGM Birmingham.
• Royal Academy Dramatic Arts London.
• BBC Website. Disability Arts.
  

You can see examples of my work throughout this web site; all the images have been taken on expeditions to Nepal over the previous few years.

STOP PRESS:
You can buy copies of Stuarts photography at the expedition shop by clicking here
You can also visit Stuarts photographic site at www.stuartbakerbrown.co.uk