INSPIRE: Photographer Matt Laughton finds capturing stunning bird images is best way to chase away depression

On one of those days when you’re feeling a bit down, have a look at Albany photographer Matt Laughton’s Facebook page. One glimpse of his tawny frogmouths huddled together on a tree branch will lighten the mood — and it will also make Laughton a happy man. As someone who took up photography to battle depression, he likes nothing more than to brighten the days of others, especially his 32,000 Facebook followers. He’s not a career photographer — in fact, he’s a tiler by trade – and is relatively new to the craft having only picked up a camera with serious intent about five years ago. However, his images are stunning, and they put him in a place where he can feel content after enduring a tough time recently in life and in business. He damaged his left hand at cricket training and is currently unable to work, which is not great when you’re freelance, and it has also made photography tricky. But after meeting with the Advertiser, he wandered off around Lake Seppings for the first time since the injury and found his happy place again — along with a super image of a red-capped parrot. “I do it to de-stress and for relaxation, and I enjoy sharing the photos,” Laughton said. “I suppose it all started when my grandad gave me a camera when I was a kid. “We used to go for walks and he knew the names of all the animals and birds, which was wonderful.” He was close to his grandfather and to his nan, who died about seven years ago and whose loss he still feels deeply. “The last time I saw her I had the same conversation with her several times over, in the space of about five minutes,” he said. “She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I felt saying my goodbyes then would make things easier. “Seven years later she passed away and it wasn’t easier at all. “I really regret not seeing her more.” A painful break-up as he was starting his own business did not help and depression kicked in. “I enjoyed tiling, but my ex broke up with me because I was prioritising work over family and I sort of blame the tiling for that,” Laughton said. “But I am hoping to get back to it around December or January though I’m told that because of the injury I may not have my fine motor skills for six to 12 months. “I’m definitely taking the physiotherapy seriously.” It speaks volumes that he has hauled himself out of that dark place and found happiness with a new partner, in no small way because of his return to photography and to nature. He bought some second-hand kit, snapped away and suddenly found he had a talent. “They say getting back to nature is good for your mental health, it’s a natural anti-depressant, so I went for walks, as I did with my nan and grandad, took some snaps and thought they looked good,” he said. His present gear was bought an inheritance from his grandad, so the connection with people he is close to is still there. He’s not one to enter competitions, despite the encouragement of his massive fan club, but he would like to make more of his ability, perhaps with nature walks, portrait sessions or individual lessons. His portraits are just as good as his birds, but he shies away from monetising his talent — even though he is itching to make photography more than a hobby. He did a calendar once but found it stressful, preferring to be — as he writes on his social media — “just a guy with a camera capturing the world and nature as I see it”. How he sees it is wonderful. He’s not just a guy with a camera. He’s much more than that.