Matthew Johnstone’s latest book Capturing Mindfulness, is a natural follow on from his last book Quiet the Mind which came out in 2012.
It’s a book on how to create mindfulness through photography.
Matthew has been practicing what he terms ‘photopresent’ for the last 15 years and believes that next to meditation, this is one of the most creative and enjoyable ways to attain mindfulness in day-to-day life. The very essence of photography; after all, is all about focus and capturing ‘the moment’.
Matthew is fascinated by light, colour, composition and most importantly how he can see the world differently. For him, having camera in your hands is the reminder to consciously slow everything down from your breath, to your walk, to your thoughts and begin to really observe your surroundings as if seeing them for the first time.
Mindfulness photography is about seeing something that no one else can, capturing something that will never happen again and finding beauty where it doesn’t typically exist.
When we become more consciously aware of where we are, what we’re doing and what we’re thinking, life can become calmer, more enjoyable and generally more manageable.
Capturing Mindfulness is now one of Matthew’s keynote talks.
Author Bio:
Matthew Johnstone had 15 years + as a creative in advertising where he worked in Sydney, San Francisco and New York. He worked for some of the world’s best agencies and won many industry awards.
In 2005 he published I Had a Black Dog an illustrated book on what it is to suffer depression and what can be learnt from it. This book has been a best seller and is now published in 20+ countries.
In 2008, with his wife Ainsley, he published the sequel Living With a Black Dog, a guide to those who care for people living with depression. This also was a best seller and made the top 10 best-selling books in the UK in February 2009.
In October 2009 Matthew, along with his co-author; James Kerr, published Alphabet of the Human Heart: The A to Zen of Life. It’s a book about balance. This book went to number 3 in the UK in March 2011.
His new book, Quiet the Mind is an illustrated guide on how to meditate which came out in March 2012 and went to number 1 in the UK book sales.
His two latest books: The Big Little Book of Resilience and Capturing MIndfulness
Matthew also works as the Creative Director of the Black Dog Institute developing various creative, educational programs on understanding mental health, mood disorders, mindfulness and resilience for schools and the work place.
He also delivers talks to community groups, schools, corporations, health resorts, sporting groups and the farming community. He has talked extensively all over Australia and the UK.
When he’s not working for the Institute he is an author, illustrator and father of two.
