Van Life as Creative Recovery: A Photographer's Journey
A photographer recounts overcoming burnout by embracing van life and disconnecting from digital noise. After two decades of non-stop work since 2004, they experienced severe anxiety and realized they were not immune to burnout. The recovery involved understanding triggers through writing and a hard disconnect. They purchased a camper van to travel with their wife and son, without computers or endless scrolling. This shift led to a renewed focus on photography, capturing liminal spaces and textures of the journey, such as the neon glow of RV park bathrooms at night and silhouettes of palm trees. The photographer emphasizes that disconnecting is a system reboot to see the world clearly again. The narrative includes moments from the road in Halfmoon Bay.
Key facts
- Photographer experienced burnout after working non-stop since 2004.
- Recovery involved writing and a hard disconnect from digital devices.
- Purchased a camper van for travel with wife and son.
- Van life allows freedom without hotel check-ins or restaurant reservations.
- Renewed focus on photography capturing liminal spaces and textures.
- Examples include neon glow of RV park bathrooms and palm tree silhouettes.
- Trips are about visual clues and family memories.
- Moments from the road were captured in Halfmoon Bay.
Entities
Locations
- Halfmoon Bay