Photography as a Connection Practice

Photography as a Connection Practice: Rediscovering Creativity and Fun Behind the Lens

Every once in a while, I find myself in a creative funk with my photography. I’ve experimented with countless creative photography techniques—like freelensing, using prisms, turning my phone into a mirror, and playing with vintage lenses like the Helios. But sometimes, even these techniques don’t break through the block, and the fun of capturing images feels lost. Already spending hours in front of a computer for work, I craved a break from digital editing. So, I decided to reconnect with my creativity and love for photography by using my film cameras as a new way to engage in photography as a connection practice.

Instead of buying new film, I found expired film on eBay and gave myself permission to play with no expectations—just adjusting camera settings, aligning my shot, and pressing the shutter. I focused on capturing scenes in nature that naturally called to me, allowing the process to reconnect me with my intuition and creativity.

This practice of photography as a form of self-connection gave me the freedom to experiment, to play, and to enjoy the creative process again. I layered multiple exposures onto the same roll, trusting the process to create something surprising. Recently, I developed and scanned five rolls from this past year and was blown away by the results. For every successful shot, there were a few “misses,” but that’s part of the joy and discovery.

If you’re in need of a creative reset, I highly recommend this creative photography practice to reconnect with your inner artist. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about rediscovering joy, connection, and creativity through photography.

For this series, I used the Holga 120 and the Heyday 35MM camera—both simple, plastic “toy” cameras that made the process even more playful.