Captions with Berny's photographs
Some information on Berny Berny is a 49 year old man, vulnerable for psychotic decompensation and depression, who, at the time of his participation in the photo group, has been living in a sheltered home for 6 months. He has had some problems with his weight, for which he consulted a dietician. He is a man of little words.
Observations
Field notes by the researcher
Observations by Sonja, nurse-facilitator of the photo Group
First round
Berny is a corpulent man who makes the impression that he is somewhat slow in his thinking. He has lived in the shelter for six months now. He has adopted an attitude of waiting. On a number of times he had to be reminded to get up from his bed and come to the photo group He does not take initiative. He however responds enthousiastically when invited to tell about his photographs, but this varies from one session to another. Often he is able to give an explanation. He does listen to others. He gives a good verbal account of what is important to him. In the weeks that go by he loosens up and his spontaneity increases, especially when prompted by questions of others. He clearly likes the positive responses he receives from others. He does not seem to find it difficult to speak about his ex-wife, his children and his mother. They are important to him. It becomes clear that he is proud of his son.
His motivation varies. On some occasions he does not show any interest. He then passes his time looking absent-minded, waiting for his turn in the group to be questioned. On two occasions he expresses that he likes participating in the photo group. Doing things appeals t him. He feels affinity with making photographs. He tells us that used to make video films of wedding parties. Selecting photographs for further discussion is not problematic for him. He knows what he wants to show us. He expresses trust in his performing abilities. There apperas to be no shame when talking about the photographs.
Information from an interview with Sonja after finishing the first round of 8 sessions Berny has revealed a lot about himself. This is not something he is used to do in every day life. He clearly seized upon the photographs as a means of expression. He liked the photo group because of the good atmosphere and the socializing with others. Photography and film making appeal to him. He has demonstrated that he knows which choices he wants to make. Sonja’s attitude to him, so she has noticed herself, has changed because of this. She tells that she has developed more confidence in him. Berny has become more open to her. Sonja feels that this had to do with their sharing the experience of the photo group.
Information from an interview with Berny after finishing the first round Berny tells that he has premeditated which photographs he wanted to make. He points out on the photograph he made of the shelter where he lives who is who. He indicates with whom he entertains contact. One of the photographs is special to him. It is a photograph of his parents’place: ‘here I have lived for all my life’. He had wanted to select this photograph, but only three photographs were allowed to be put up for the exhibition. He tells that he intends to show his photographs to his ex-wife, his children and a friend of him. When I invite him to tell me what he wanted to express about himself using these photographs, he limits himself to an explication of concrete persons and objects in the photographs. I ask him what his participation meant for him: did he profited from it in some way? He answers with referring to the socializing in a relaxed atmosphere. What did you learn from the photo group? ‘” How to photograph’ In the next round he hopes to make better photographs.
Photographs by Berny and accompanying text:
Photograph of Berny’s scooter. This is a fine picture of my scooter. It is the pride of my life. It looks like a motor-cycle.[…] It gives me a feeling of freedom and openness when I ride and feel the wind.
It is an artful machine It runs and does not falter; it is mechanical. Me, I am not like that. I have no skills. Yes, I had at one time when making videos of weddings. I did the video-making when things were still okay with me. Shooting film all day long, that’s what I liked to do and wedding couples were always contented with the result. You know, I’m also good at….smoking.
Photograph of my mother: Mother looks straight into the camera and friendly. Just like she is in real. Friendly and nice.
My mother looks funny on the photograph. The squint in her eyes makes me laugh. I am just like that. Humour is important to me. Laughing is healthy.
Photograph of my own dog (Max): This is max, my dog. It is a dachshund and he is 8 years old. When I came here he could not come and live with me. He then went to my ex-wife and my children. He has a good life there. When I visit my children I can see Max and I like that. I miss his warmth and company.
Photograph of my parents’place:
Here I lived. It is my parents’ place. My parents don’t live there anymore.
Photograph of fellow-inhabitants of the shelter: These are the people I live with.
Photograph of my son:
My son is a strong boy. He is actively involved with biking, working on the computer and also in the kitchen. I admire him and I am proud of him. He is strong in whatever he does. He goes to school by bike every day. He is busy with getting his moped licence. His dad can pay for his scooter. I don’t mind.
Photograph of my scooter:
My scooter is very important to me. It brings me to where my children live and back again to where I live. Riding on my scooter, releasing the gashandle it brings me everywhere. The scooter is important to visit my children, my parents and other relatives.
[trousers in different sizes on a drying mill] :
“To lose weight is important. I’m too heavy now. It is healthy to have a better physical condition. Now I’m tired every time I do something. I think it is hard to lose weight.”
[mentor nurse pushing him]:
“I need help to lose weight. I move too little. I think it is not that easy and I am not motivated.”
[sausages on a cooking-range]
“Nice sausages on the roaster. I love them, but I can’t have too much of them. Actually I don’t eat that much. Only if I like something then I eat more. When I look at the picture I’m getting a bit peckish. The smell and the taste. I’ve been to the dietician for it. She couldn’t help me. If I eat less then I keep being hungry. It affects how I feel.”
[Berny on a bike]:
“Biking would be a challenge. They tell me to go biking, but it’s up to me to actually do it. If I want to lose weight then I have to. May-be a tandem bike is a good idea. Then I don’t have to bike on my own.”
[Berny and his dog]:
“Max is my resource (referring to the assignment that instructed participants to also photograph their resources that supported them). He makes me walk much further than I’d otherwise would do. Max walks alongside me and together we take a break every now and then when he wants to pee.”
[A push in the back]
I need help with losing weight. I think I don’t eat that much and nevertheless I don’t lose weight. I have too littele physical exercise. It is a hell of a job and I lack motivation to go on with it.
Some information on Berny Berny is a 49 year old man, vulnerable for psychotic decompensation and depression, who, at the time of his participation in the photo group, has been living in a sheltered home for 6 months. He has had some problems with his weight, for which he consulted a dietician. He is a man of little words.
Observations
Observations by Sonja, the nurse facilitator of the photo group
Inititiative: Berny is motivated, but takes little or no initiative. He performs well when he experiences safety and a good atmosphere.
Responsivity: changing from being interested in others to being aloof and keeping distance from others.
Receiving feedback: accepts help, takes a vulnerable stand. Has no apparent problems with reactions from other group members. Responds to them in a giggly way.
Storytelling: aspect of parallel stories:Berny indicates that he recognizes themes with other group members, as for instance P.’s experiences with medication. There is a manifest self relativization.
Storytelling: aspect op openess versus reticence: his telling is about himself. Is open about himself. Only in the first session he was very reticent.
Behavior: he indicates that participation is important to him; he is very much engaged. He thinks the assignment is difficult. He has some trouble in being there in time. He needs some stimulation to get the move on. He takes ample time to admire someone else’s photographs. He is curious and asks his group members about their photographs.
Feelings of shame: I (Sonja) had to stimulate him to take losing weight as a goal for his photo story. He thought it a good idea, but did not act upon it at first. In the fourth session he told me that naming his obstacles in losing weight was a painful confrontation. His photograph of two trousers did not work out the way he wanted it until I helped him.
Health effects: at first Bery was lacking in concentration and had no motivation during the first session. Later this improved and he proved to be a good humoured participant who is doing his very best.
Field notes by the researcher
Seventh session: Berny had not done very much with his photographs. Sonja asks him what challenge he finds in his photographs on losing weight. The dietician, so it appears now, had advided him to take more physical exercise. Berny has a loan-bike because his scooter needs a periodical check up at the garage. Sonja makes a suggestion: why not use the occasion to take up biking? Berny responds with a laugh, but says that he supposes that he won’t be doing that. Sonja draws a conclusion: Berny needs someone who pushes him, just as can be seen in one of the photographs. She asks him: when do you do your physical exercises? Berny answers: when making walks with his dog Max. That is fun. Sonja takes up this lead and continues asking: when is biking fun? May-be if you do it together with someone else? Do you need someone to invite you? She challenges him to go biking with her next week. Berny giggles and leaves his answer in the middle. It remains unsure whether it is a yes or a no.
Eight session: Berny has a lot of trouble in formulating an introductory text with his photographs. He is inclined to merely mentioning what he had photographed in concrete terms. Sonja helps him by prompting him: I am Berny and I made these photographs because…(finish this sentence).
Opening night of the exhibition: Berny’s son is present, as well as his ex-wife and her friend. They tell me that the photographs are closely related to Berny’s lifeworld. Berny seems not to have told them very much about his participation in the photo group.
Berny himself does not say much, but has a big smile on his face.
Observations by Sonja, nurse-facilitator of the photo Group
First round
Berny is a corpulent man who makes the impression that he is somewhat slow in his thinking. He has lived in the shelter for six months now. He has adopted an attitude of waiting. On a number of times he had to be reminded to get up from his bed and come to the photo group He does not take initiative. He however responds enthousiastically when invited to tell about his photographs, but this varies from one session to another. Often he is able to give an explanation. He does listen to others. He gives a good verbal account of what is important to him. In the weeks that go by he loosens up and his spontaneity increases, especially when prompted by questions of others. He clearly likes the positive responses he receives from others. He does not seem to find it difficult to speak about his ex-wife, his children and his mother. They are important to him. It becomes clear that he is proud of his son.
His motivation varies. On some occasions he does not show any interest. He then passes his time looking absent-minded, waiting for his turn in the group to be questioned. On two occasions he expresses that he likes participating in the photo group. Doing things appeals t him. He feels affinity with making photographs. He tells us that used to make video films of wedding parties. Selecting photographs for further discussion is not problematic for him. He knows what he wants to show us. He expresses trust in his performing abilities. There apperas to be no shame when talking about the photographs.
Information from an interview with Sonja after finishing the first round of 8 sessions Berny has revealed a lot about himself. This is not something he is used to do in every day life. He clearly seized upon the photographs as a means of expression. He liked the photo group because of the good atmosphere and the socializing with others. Photography and film making appeal to him. He has demonstrated that he knows which choices he wants to make. Sonja’s attitude to him, so she has noticed herself, has changed because of this. She tells that she has developed more confidence in him. Berny has become more open to her. Sonja feels that this had to do with their sharing the experience of the photo group.
Information from an interview with Berny after finishing the first round Berny tells that he has premeditated which photographs he wanted to make. He points out on the photograph he made of the shelter where he lives who is who. He indicates with whom he entertains contact. One of the photographs is special to him. It is a photograph of his parents’place: ‘here I have lived for all my life’. He had wanted to select this photograph, but only three photographs were allowed to be put up for the exhibition. He tells that he intends to show his photographs to his ex-wife, his children and a friend of him. When I invite him to tell me what he wanted to express about himself using these photographs, he limits himself to an explication of concrete persons and objects in the photographs. I ask him what his participation meant for him: did he profited from it in some way? He answers with referring to the socializing in a relaxed atmosphere. What did you learn from the photo group? ‘” How to photograph’ In the next round he hopes to make better photographs.
Photographs by Berny and accompanying text:
Photograph of Berny’s scooter. This is a fine picture of my scooter. It is the pride of my life. It looks like a motor-cycle.[…] It gives me a feeling of freedom and openness when I ride and feel the wind.
It is an artful machine It runs and does not falter; it is mechanical. Me, I am not like that. I have no skills. Yes, I had at one time when making videos of weddings. I did the video-making when things were still okay with me. Shooting film all day long, that’s what I liked to do and wedding couples were always contented with the result. You know, I’m also good at….smoking.
Photograph of my mother: Mother looks straight into the camera and friendly. Just like she is in real. Friendly and nice.
My mother looks funny on the photograph. The squint in her eyes makes me laugh. I am just like that. Humour is important to me. Laughing is healthy.
Photograph of my own dog (Max): This is max, my dog. It is a dachshund and he is 8 years old. When I came here he could not come and live with me. He then went to my ex-wife and my children. He has a good life there. When I visit my children I can see Max and I like that. I miss his warmth and company.
Photograph of my parents’place:
Here I lived. It is my parents’ place. My parents don’t live there anymore.
Photograph of fellow-inhabitants of the shelter: These are the people I live with.
Photograph of my son:
My son is a strong boy. He is actively involved with biking, working on the computer and also in the kitchen. I admire him and I am proud of him. He is strong in whatever he does. He goes to school by bike every day. He is busy with getting his moped licence. His dad can pay for his scooter. I don’t mind.
Photograph of my scooter:
My scooter is very important to me. It brings me to where my children live and back again to where I live. Riding on my scooter, releasing the gashandle it brings me everywhere. The scooter is important to visit my children, my parents and other relatives.
Welcome
Hello, my name is Jan Sitvast. In 2011 I took a PhD at the VU University Department Medical Humanities, in Amsterdam. My thesis is called: "Photography as a nursing instrument in mental health care. How to use clients' photo stories for recovery.' The photo-instrument is an approach in healthcare settings, especially mental health care. Basically it is the application of photography in a therapeutical way by organizing photography groups with patients/clients/consumers of mental health services. Nurses facilitate these groups which may consist of 6-8 persons. Consumers who participate make their own photographs. The nurse facilitator interviews every participant to elicit the story behind the photographs. A selection of the photo stories (photographs with captions) is then used for a photo exhibition. The intervention aims at empowerment.
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