As a visitor to my personal website, let's make this personal. Have you heard of aphantasia? People with aphantasia experience the world in a unique way - unlike most people, they are unable to form mental images in their mind's eye. This can make it difficult to remember and recall specific details from their experiences. I only learned about this in February 2023, meaning I didn't know about it for more than 30 years. In simple terms, aphantasia means I don't have the ability to form mental images in my mind's eye.
But as I've thought about it and done my research, I've learned that people with aphantasia find their own ways to cope and adapt to their unique perspective. Some use written notes or journals to help remember details, while others find that music or sound helps them to remember moments and emotions. For me, photography has become a powerful tool for preserving and celebrating visual memories. By capturing moments through the lens, I'm able to revisit and relive them in a way that my aphantasia might otherwise prevent.
So, my photography isn't (at least most of the times) about the final image or technique. It's certainly not about selling my photos here. It's primarily about the process it starts inside me. While I may lack the ability to form mental images in my mind's eye, photography has helped me structure my experiences and remember them in a tangible way. It's much harder to remember things when you can't visualize them. In fact, I think my aphantasia forced me to open up to a world of creativity and self-expression through photography.
Now I can capture and preserve visual memories in a way that is much more precise than relying on my own memory. Once I have captured an image, I can revisit and relive that moment again and again, in a way that my aphantasia might otherwise prevent. This isn't just the case when I see the photos I've taken; it also helps me recall memories. Beyond that, photography has become a passion and a way of creative expression that has enriched my life in countless ways.
So if you ever feel like your memory is lacking, I encourage you to give photography a try. You might be surprised at how much it can enhance your experiences and help you preserve precious memories.