Healing gift of dad’s superskills
A Horsham father has discovered a new way of combating struggles with mental health - by taking out his camera and ‘bottling happiness’.
Joe James has been using his ‘autistic superpowers’ to bring joy to himself and others through the power of photography.
The 37-year-old says he has spent many years suffering with stress and anxiety. However, since getting behind the camera and snapping beauty sites across the county he has gained a new-found joy as well as bringing happiness to others.
He said: “My photography is me going out wrapping things up in my camera and reviewing them when I get back home. They are bottled happiness.”
Joe only got into photography in September.
He explained he initially started taking pictures on his phone whilst out walking his Sheepadoodle, Milo. After receiving huge praise for his photos he bought his first DSLR camera.
He said: “It was a game changer. I watched some Youtube videos and used my autistic superpowers of research to learn everything I could about taking pictures.”
The security supervisor then started combining his love of walking and running with his new passion, capturing memories as he travelled around Sussex.
He said: “I was hooked to that feeling of pure joy, being able to bring my memories and happy moments on my walks home with me. It felt like a warm shower on a cold morning.”
Joe then started posting his photos on social media, in particular on the Memories of Horsham Facebook page.
He received a huge amount of praise for his images with one piece entitled Pony Heaven - taken at his favourite place Cissbury Ring - becoming an instant hit .
Joe said he had suffered with anxiety and stress throughout most of his life and taking up photography had helped him combat those issues as well as helped with his autism.
He said: “I want to break the stereotype of autism and stop people thinking that it’s just a disability because I believe it gives me a unique perspective that I can show through my photos to help people understand better.”
Joe is set to host an exhibition showcasing his artwork at Horsham Museum from July 18 until August 29.
For the interview in full see the County Times website.