Health & visual presence
How images of nature can activate our self-healing powers
We now know that health is more than the absence of illness. It is an interplay of physical condition, emotional stability, and the environment in which we move. And this is precisely where the impact of images begins— not as decoration, but as a resonance surface for perception, mood, and recovery. In my work with Vital Art and Healing Photography, I experience it again and again: people who have little energy—for example, in a hospital room, a therapy situation, or after a procedure—perceive images differently. More consciously. More openly. More directly. And they benefit from it.
Not abstract. But biologically measurable.
What does research say about this?
– Renowned psychiatrist Prof. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg of the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim describes how observing nature—including high-quality photographs— activates the parasympathetic nervous system . This means that stress hormones are reduced and autonomic balance stabilizes.
– Studies have shown that just a few minutes of conscious contemplation can increase the activity of so-called natural killer cells in the immune system by up to 50% . These cells are essential for fighting inflammation and tumor cells.
– The classic study by Roger Ulrich (1984) shows that patients with a view of nature – whether through a window or a picture – recover faster , require less pain medication and stay in hospital for a shorter time than comparison groups without this visual stimulus.
What does this mean for my work?
I develop nature images not as illustrations of landscapes, but as purposefully designed compositions:
Calm color schemes, clear structures, harmonious light gradients. They arise from real moments in nature – without staging, but with great attention to visual impact, eye tracking, and atmospheric balance.
My photographs are intended to calm, gather, and provide orientation.
They aren't a substitute for therapy—but they can create a stabilizing visual field that provides emotional support and, in the best case, promotes the healing process.
What remains?
Health starts small.
A calm picture at the right moment can be more than just a beautiful sight:
It can become part of an empowering environment. Quietly, but noticeably.