A Love Letter to Photography
Edmonton, Canada | Film Feature
Documentary
A feature-length documentary that explores the value of engaging in photographic practices as a method of self-care and helping manage one's mental health, told through personal stories of photographers interspersed with academic theories and initiatives
A Love Letter to Photography
Edmonton, Canada | Film Feature
Documentary
1 Campaigns | Alberta, Canada
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This campaign raised C$10,110 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
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A feature-length documentary that explores the value of engaging in photographic practices as a method of self-care and helping manage one's mental health, told through personal stories of photographers interspersed with academic theories and initiatives
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Love Letter to Photography
"A Love Letter to Photography" will be a feature length documentary exploring the reasons why photography is good for the soul, and telling the personal stories of people from whom photography has become a way of life not only because of the artistic endeavours but a method of self care.
The film will feature some amazing photographers (scroll down for more) who create fantastic images, but more importantly they are AMAZING humans. They live with the challenges of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression but have learnt how photography can help them stay in the moment and boost their mental health.
This film is a celebration of photography and the people who do it. It will encourage others to pick up a camera and improve their well-being.
Why this?
Photography is meditation. I become absorbed in the moment, the way the light falls and dances over the scene, or the contrast of colours and textures, a scene of whimsy or a scene of beauty. The rest of the world around me, my problems, anxious thoughts just cease to exist. For a few moments my physical and mental health disabilities fade away. Perhaps my breathing slows and a sense of serenity washes over me, or maybe I am excited, invigorated and energized by what is occurring in front me and my ability to capture a memento of the moment for ever more.
I don’t think I realized when I started my photo-a-day challenge nearly 13 years ago what I was getting into, nor the impact it would have on my life. I just thought it was a way to ensure that I did something creative each and every day. I didn’t think that it would define my life, be a catalyst for changing careers, help form community, boost my physical and mental health, yet here we are. And it turns out I am not alone. People all over the world are engaging in regular photo practices and finding benefits of doing so far beyond the resultant photograph. I decided it was time to find out why.
In this film, A Love Letter to Photography, I will explore the reasons why photography is good for the soul, and tell the personal stories of people from whom photography has become a way of life not only because of the artistic endeavours but a method of self care.
Why me?
"Unique" That is the word that my customers and champions use over and over again to describe the work of my film company, Allegorical Alchemy. Since 2019, I have been creating short films related to health and health research designed for real-world change. I have a Bachelors in Science (physiology), a PhD in Health, and a Master's in Film. Before obtaining my Master's, I spent more than a decade working as a research project manager on patient-centered health research projects with a strong focus on knowledge translation. As I have also shown you, I am highly creative. I have been engaged in a photo-a-day project for nearly 13 years and have developed a "natural eye" for beauty.
I used my unique training and expertise to develop a novel filmmaking process that is collaborative and ethical, and combines the robustness of knowledge translation methodologies (an academic technique to ensure the messaging reaches its target audience using language that resonates with them) with the artistry of filmmaking to create visually beautiful, emotive and engaging (patient) portrait films designed to catalyze change.
I will use that ethical, collaborative filmmaking process to create my first feature length film. My training in health research makes me well suited for interacting with people with mental health challenges in a secure and friendly manner.
My mentor, Chuck Scott, (see the team page) will assist me with advice on editing for feature length films.
Who will feature in the film?
Shane Turgeon
Shane is the 2024 Canadian Geographic Photographer of the Year, and is featured in the teaser film. He is a local Edmonton photographer who enjoys nature and storm photography. He took up photography as a way of dealing with depression. He noticed that it helped with mindfulness and got him out and about from his house. He created the Lightchasers Nature Photography Conference which takes annually in Pincher Creek as a way of sharing his knowledge with other photographers. He also speaks about the topic of photography and mental health at local events, Shane and Clare first connected when Shane gave a presentation arranged by McBain Cameras titled “Photography Saved My Life”.
Alexis Marie Chute
Alexis Marie is an Edmonton based multi-media artist. She used art as a way of coping after suffering the loss of a child and as part of her vast portfolio of work now delivers a Mindful Photography workshop to high school students that encourages the student to be present in their surroundings. Subject to consent from the teenagers and their parents, the documentary will showcase one of these workshops and explore Alexis Marie’s perspective on using art to heal.
Mitchell Brown
Mitchell is an Ontario-based photographer who lives with chronic depression and anxiety and uses photography as a tool to help manage this. He loves nature and landscape photography and also spends many hours photographing his local firefighting service. He has developed the Theragraphic Project. It “is a photography initiative designed to promote therapeutic benefits through the art of capturing images” to encourage others to practice self-care through photography.
Alister Benn
Alister, a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, is an acclaimed photographer based on the wild and windswept Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Through his venture, Expressive Photography, he leads transformative workshops that invite others to see beyond the obvious—to uncover the abstract beauty hidden within the landscape. But Alister’s creative journey is also a deeply personal one. For years, he battled anxiety, depression, and crippling panic attacks. In 2017, a life-changing expedition to the Gobi Desert became the turning point. Immersed in the stark light and sweeping lines of that vast wilderness, he began to explore the connection between creativity and mental health—charting a path toward healing. That journey gave rise to his powerful book, Out of the Darkness, a poignant visual and emotional narrative of recovery through art. Alister has since shared his story through keynote talks and podcast appearances, inspiring countless others to find light in their own darkness through creative expression.
Dr. Liz Brewster
Liz is a non-clinical senior lecturer in medical education at Lancaster University. One of her research interests is around mental health and creativity. With colleagues, she competed a research study into the value of photo-a-day practices on mental health. She will share her insights into the theories behind the value of photography from a mental health perspective.
Dr Andrew Cox
Andrew is a senior lecturer in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication at the University of Sheffield. He is the co-author with Liz on the research study around the value of photo-a-day practices on mental health. He will be interviewed alongside Liz sharing his perspective of their research around photography and mental health.
Dr Neil Gibson
With a background in social work, Neil completed a PhD and research studies to assess the value of photography when using therapeutically. He has developed a program and published a book on Therapeutic Photography. Through photography, participants explore themselves, their relationships, environments and story. The program has been used with a variety of service users including people with mental health challenges, people with autism, people with substance abuse problems, those with caring responsibilities and those in the criminal justice system.
Cameron Herron
The film will feature an original score developed by Edmonton funk musician, Cameron Herron. Cameron is a writer, composer, producer and multi-instrumental performer. He will be responsible for creating the score for the film which will assign a different musical motif to each of the main subjects.
Why now?
Clare and the A Love Letter to Photography project have received funding from the Edmonton Arts Council to cover the costs of filming in Canada, editing the project and development of the music score. Additional funds are being sought to cover the costs of filming in the UK. This will include Liz, Neil and Alister. This additional filming is vital as Liz and Neil will bring the academic perspective of the value of photography from a mental health perspective and discuss potential interventions, and is critical to the final film.
Timelines
I will be filming this project throughout 2025. Editing will begin 2026 and the music score will be created and added late 2026. It is anticipated that people who back to receive an online viewing of the film should receive it in 2027. A separate grant and/or fundraising will then be completed to get the film into festivals and streaming.
Stretch goals
If I achieve beyond my set goal in this project, the funds will go towards entry into festivals and applications for streaming services.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Return flights to the UK
Costs C$5,000
Filming of Liz, Neil & Alister will take place in the UK. Flights are needed to get me there.
Accommodation while in the UK
Costs C$2,500
Somewhere to rest my head after filming in Lancaster, Glasgow, Aberdeen & Lewis
Train travel
Costs C$550
Where possible, travel to locations will be by train
Local travel at filming locations
Costs C$500
Budget for travelling by taxi or uber at filming locations
Car rental
Costs C$1,100
One of my filming locations is not accessible by train and therefore car rental is needed. Cost includes rental and fuel
Ferry to Lewis
Costs C$320
Filming of Alister will take place on the Isle of Lewis.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Clare Gibson
Clare is the filmmaker leading this project. She runs Allegorical Alchemy which creates short films related to health and health-research designed for real-world change. She is educated to PhD level in Health and have a Master's (distinction) in Film. She has completed numerous training courses in practical aspects of filmmaking. She is now nearing the end of her 13th year of her photo a day project, the premise of which is to take an upload a photo to social media each day. That amounts to more than 4,600 photos. Her art is not necessarily in the individual photograph, but in the collective and a distinct way of seeing the world when every day she is playing a mental game with herself. She is challenging herself to find something new, to see something from a different perspective, or process it in a different way to keep the project fresh. Living with physical disabilities, she also lives with mental health challenges. It could be easy to slip into depression, to give up. Photography is her meditation. This project always gives her reason to go outside, to explore, and to focus on a creative endeavours providing a sanctuary from physical and mental health struggles.
Cameron Herron.
Cameron is a writer, composer, producer and multi-instrumental performer. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University, and has produced two studio albums. He is now pursing a master's of music degree at the University of Auckland. Cameron will develop an original score to support the film which will assign a different musical motif to each of the main subjects.
Charles (Chuck) Scott
Chuck is an industry veteran, creating more than 300 films and programmes (either as Director or Director of Photography) over his 40 year career.
These programs have shown on BBC, PBS, National Geographic Worldwide, Discovery Channels, NHK and many other domestic broadcasters and cable channels. Chuck completed his Masters in Film from Raindance a couple of years prior to Clare. The focus of Chuck's studies was on providing mentorship to up and coming filmmakers. Chuck's role in this project will be as a mentor and advisor to Clare, particularly providing input around editing for long-form documentary.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Love Letter to Photography
"A Love Letter to Photography" will be a feature length documentary exploring the reasons why photography is good for the soul, and telling the personal stories of people from whom photography has become a way of life not only because of the artistic endeavours but a method of self care.
The film will feature some amazing photographers (scroll down for more) who create fantastic images, but more importantly they are AMAZING humans. They live with the challenges of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression but have learnt how photography can help them stay in the moment and boost their mental health.
This film is a celebration of photography and the people who do it. It will encourage others to pick up a camera and improve their well-being.
Why this?
Photography is meditation. I become absorbed in the moment, the way the light falls and dances over the scene, or the contrast of colours and textures, a scene of whimsy or a scene of beauty. The rest of the world around me, my problems, anxious thoughts just cease to exist. For a few moments my physical and mental health disabilities fade away. Perhaps my breathing slows and a sense of serenity washes over me, or maybe I am excited, invigorated and energized by what is occurring in front me and my ability to capture a memento of the moment for ever more.
I don’t think I realized when I started my photo-a-day challenge nearly 13 years ago what I was getting into, nor the impact it would have on my life. I just thought it was a way to ensure that I did something creative each and every day. I didn’t think that it would define my life, be a catalyst for changing careers, help form community, boost my physical and mental health, yet here we are. And it turns out I am not alone. People all over the world are engaging in regular photo practices and finding benefits of doing so far beyond the resultant photograph. I decided it was time to find out why.
In this film, A Love Letter to Photography, I will explore the reasons why photography is good for the soul, and tell the personal stories of people from whom photography has become a way of life not only because of the artistic endeavours but a method of self care.
Why me?
"Unique" That is the word that my customers and champions use over and over again to describe the work of my film company, Allegorical Alchemy. Since 2019, I have been creating short films related to health and health research designed for real-world change. I have a Bachelors in Science (physiology), a PhD in Health, and a Master's in Film. Before obtaining my Master's, I spent more than a decade working as a research project manager on patient-centered health research projects with a strong focus on knowledge translation. As I have also shown you, I am highly creative. I have been engaged in a photo-a-day project for nearly 13 years and have developed a "natural eye" for beauty.
I used my unique training and expertise to develop a novel filmmaking process that is collaborative and ethical, and combines the robustness of knowledge translation methodologies (an academic technique to ensure the messaging reaches its target audience using language that resonates with them) with the artistry of filmmaking to create visually beautiful, emotive and engaging (patient) portrait films designed to catalyze change.
I will use that ethical, collaborative filmmaking process to create my first feature length film. My training in health research makes me well suited for interacting with people with mental health challenges in a secure and friendly manner.
My mentor, Chuck Scott, (see the team page) will assist me with advice on editing for feature length films.
Who will feature in the film?
Shane Turgeon
Shane is the 2024 Canadian Geographic Photographer of the Year, and is featured in the teaser film. He is a local Edmonton photographer who enjoys nature and storm photography. He took up photography as a way of dealing with depression. He noticed that it helped with mindfulness and got him out and about from his house. He created the Lightchasers Nature Photography Conference which takes annually in Pincher Creek as a way of sharing his knowledge with other photographers. He also speaks about the topic of photography and mental health at local events, Shane and Clare first connected when Shane gave a presentation arranged by McBain Cameras titled “Photography Saved My Life”.
Alexis Marie Chute
Alexis Marie is an Edmonton based multi-media artist. She used art as a way of coping after suffering the loss of a child and as part of her vast portfolio of work now delivers a Mindful Photography workshop to high school students that encourages the student to be present in their surroundings. Subject to consent from the teenagers and their parents, the documentary will showcase one of these workshops and explore Alexis Marie’s perspective on using art to heal.
Mitchell Brown
Mitchell is an Ontario-based photographer who lives with chronic depression and anxiety and uses photography as a tool to help manage this. He loves nature and landscape photography and also spends many hours photographing his local firefighting service. He has developed the Theragraphic Project. It “is a photography initiative designed to promote therapeutic benefits through the art of capturing images” to encourage others to practice self-care through photography.
Alister Benn
Alister, a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, is an acclaimed photographer based on the wild and windswept Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Through his venture, Expressive Photography, he leads transformative workshops that invite others to see beyond the obvious—to uncover the abstract beauty hidden within the landscape. But Alister’s creative journey is also a deeply personal one. For years, he battled anxiety, depression, and crippling panic attacks. In 2017, a life-changing expedition to the Gobi Desert became the turning point. Immersed in the stark light and sweeping lines of that vast wilderness, he began to explore the connection between creativity and mental health—charting a path toward healing. That journey gave rise to his powerful book, Out of the Darkness, a poignant visual and emotional narrative of recovery through art. Alister has since shared his story through keynote talks and podcast appearances, inspiring countless others to find light in their own darkness through creative expression.
Dr. Liz Brewster
Liz is a non-clinical senior lecturer in medical education at Lancaster University. One of her research interests is around mental health and creativity. With colleagues, she competed a research study into the value of photo-a-day practices on mental health. She will share her insights into the theories behind the value of photography from a mental health perspective.
Dr Andrew Cox
Andrew is a senior lecturer in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication at the University of Sheffield. He is the co-author with Liz on the research study around the value of photo-a-day practices on mental health. He will be interviewed alongside Liz sharing his perspective of their research around photography and mental health.
Dr Neil Gibson
With a background in social work, Neil completed a PhD and research studies to assess the value of photography when using therapeutically. He has developed a program and published a book on Therapeutic Photography. Through photography, participants explore themselves, their relationships, environments and story. The program has been used with a variety of service users including people with mental health challenges, people with autism, people with substance abuse problems, those with caring responsibilities and those in the criminal justice system.
Cameron Herron
The film will feature an original score developed by Edmonton funk musician, Cameron Herron. Cameron is a writer, composer, producer and multi-instrumental performer. He will be responsible for creating the score for the film which will assign a different musical motif to each of the main subjects.
Why now?
Clare and the A Love Letter to Photography project have received funding from the Edmonton Arts Council to cover the costs of filming in Canada, editing the project and development of the music score. Additional funds are being sought to cover the costs of filming in the UK. This will include Liz, Neil and Alister. This additional filming is vital as Liz and Neil will bring the academic perspective of the value of photography from a mental health perspective and discuss potential interventions, and is critical to the final film.
Timelines
I will be filming this project throughout 2025. Editing will begin 2026 and the music score will be created and added late 2026. It is anticipated that people who back to receive an online viewing of the film should receive it in 2027. A separate grant and/or fundraising will then be completed to get the film into festivals and streaming.
Stretch goals
If I achieve beyond my set goal in this project, the funds will go towards entry into festivals and applications for streaming services.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Return flights to the UK
Costs C$5,000
Filming of Liz, Neil & Alister will take place in the UK. Flights are needed to get me there.
Accommodation while in the UK
Costs C$2,500
Somewhere to rest my head after filming in Lancaster, Glasgow, Aberdeen & Lewis
Train travel
Costs C$550
Where possible, travel to locations will be by train
Local travel at filming locations
Costs C$500
Budget for travelling by taxi or uber at filming locations
Car rental
Costs C$1,100
One of my filming locations is not accessible by train and therefore car rental is needed. Cost includes rental and fuel
Ferry to Lewis
Costs C$320
Filming of Alister will take place on the Isle of Lewis.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Clare Gibson
Clare is the filmmaker leading this project. She runs Allegorical Alchemy which creates short films related to health and health-research designed for real-world change. She is educated to PhD level in Health and have a Master's (distinction) in Film. She has completed numerous training courses in practical aspects of filmmaking. She is now nearing the end of her 13th year of her photo a day project, the premise of which is to take an upload a photo to social media each day. That amounts to more than 4,600 photos. Her art is not necessarily in the individual photograph, but in the collective and a distinct way of seeing the world when every day she is playing a mental game with herself. She is challenging herself to find something new, to see something from a different perspective, or process it in a different way to keep the project fresh. Living with physical disabilities, she also lives with mental health challenges. It could be easy to slip into depression, to give up. Photography is her meditation. This project always gives her reason to go outside, to explore, and to focus on a creative endeavours providing a sanctuary from physical and mental health struggles.
Cameron Herron.
Cameron is a writer, composer, producer and multi-instrumental performer. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University, and has produced two studio albums. He is now pursing a master's of music degree at the University of Auckland. Cameron will develop an original score to support the film which will assign a different musical motif to each of the main subjects.
Charles (Chuck) Scott
Chuck is an industry veteran, creating more than 300 films and programmes (either as Director or Director of Photography) over his 40 year career.
These programs have shown on BBC, PBS, National Geographic Worldwide, Discovery Channels, NHK and many other domestic broadcasters and cable channels. Chuck completed his Masters in Film from Raindance a couple of years prior to Clare. The focus of Chuck's studies was on providing mentorship to up and coming filmmakers. Chuck's role in this project will be as a mentor and advisor to Clare, particularly providing input around editing for long-form documentary.