The benefits of decorating your space with fine art photography that speaks to you

Good photography is an art. A picture taken for the purpose of art has an intrinsic value that ideally should speak to an individual and transform the setting it was chosen to beautify. This is why, when decorating your home or office space, it is important to choose decorative photography that benefits everyone who experiences it.

If you are wondering how to do this or what art is ideal for you, read on. In this and upcoming posts, we are looking at the healing power of art, the inescapable ability for art to inspire, and its readiness to change your life — if such a transformation is something you desire. In short, experience the power of photography for interior design.

Fine art photography can transform your space and you

After all, would you agree that all art possesses an innate universal power? Whether art is expressed with paint or words, song or dance, photographs or movies, art has the ability to touch and heal regions of the innermost parts of a human’s heart by inspiring that individual to transition into a more evolved region of ones being.

We all face the human condition and no one is excluded from the complex challenges of life. Being tested by particular and unique life circumstances is inevitable and something to be expected; however, it is how each person handles and overcomes their own fragility that is important. This is why art, or more accurately for the purpose of our discussion, fine art photography is used as a salve and a spark – it heals before it inspires, or it inspires one to heal, causing a transformation to occur, taking the individual from who they were, to who they want to be.

It is also the reason why, as an artist, I concentrate on the healing effect that photography offers and tether it to the inspirational qualities of a photograph. I know firsthand that through healing comes inspiration and creativity and, on the other hand, from inspiration one is encouraged to heal. This wonderful cycle is sort of the transformation that many people seek, but not everyone achieves. There ought to be a personal longing for these qualities in one’s life, or art can have no positive lasting effect.

The sensual lines of a sand dune at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

Essentially that is one of the many aspects of what the multi faceted ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui pursues. The goal of Feng Shui as practiced today is to situate the human built environment on spots with good Qi, a movable positive or negative life force which plays an essential role in Feng Shui. Images that represent the vital elements of Feng Shui are an integral part of this 3,500+ year old ancient science.

Upon realizing and employing the creative and transformative qualities of photography in my own life, I began to educate myself about the deeper symbolic and mythological meanings that are apparent in nature and which constitute essential building blocks to substantial fine art photography. In reflecting upon repetitive patterns, commonly known as the Golden Ratio, and studying symbols that find root in ancient, mythological, and archetypal images, striking similarities became apparent in my own photography. This revelation positioned me to better understand how all photography can be used as a guide and vehicle to the inspirational and expressive process of healing.

Sky with sunlit clouds in Florida

In breaking down this wealth of information into digestible segments for easier understanding, I came across four general subject matters within the natural elements of life, namely:

• Earth
• Water
• Air
• Fire

Wrapped in each element are a number of subjects or settings, images we’ve all seen and appreciate in one way or another. Each of these is representative and highly effective in releasing and conveying a universal power that can assist you in understanding, integrating and growing as an individual.

Before we move on to understanding and exploring how to apply these expressions in our personal evolution, observe your reaction to some of that exists within each of the four elements:

Do you recognize a certain attraction or contextual affinity towards some groups over others? Do you notice that you gravitate more toward one element over another? As we continue to explore the way these elements, represented through my own as well as other artist’s photography and various works of art, can inspire and bring about healing in your life, it is imperative to gauge your personal reaction and visceral response to such imagery.

Within each element, and each piece of matter that is categorized as such, photography is well suited to emphasize smaller parts of the “big picture”. When left alone, photography can be a very clean, direct and non-manipulated representation of the “seen” actual subject, and is therefore a great conduit of universal representations, conveying energy and power in an unobstructed manner. Every person can then incorporate the photographic images into their interior decoration schemes, thereby allowing the healing power to always be at work.

This is because a mountain is not just a mountain – it is a steep diagonal line that is interrupted while it continues to ascend or descend. Just like a rainbow is an arch of different colors arising from waters’ reflection in the air. And on some night shots, a crescent moon shines in place of the full moon. All these distinct characteristics found in different photographs and other pieces of art exist deliberately to offer you, the observer, an underlying potential for contemplation, inspiration and healing.

Frozen water in Santa Fe, NM

In fact, much of what we will explore focuses on how each part of the picture, whether it is lines, shapes, colors, and more, represent symbolic and mythological energies. When one is exposed to them through the visual art form of a photograph, one’s own vibration and frequency may be raised, thus allowing you to access and radiate personal energies towards positive healing and growth, contributing to the greater good of all.

In the coming weeks we are going to explore how these four elements, types of photography, and particular pieces of the bigger picture can stir your core and encourage transformation, if that is what you seek. Upon identifying the areas of your life that need expansion, you are going to be well on your way to looking for photography that benefits you in this process.

Start with what you know you need, and what you know you like. Then, travel with me as we discuss techniques and pathways to implement elements of fine art that encourage your transformative process. Through this we will open our eyes and hearts to a fuller understanding of the power of art — the healing, inspirational and transforming power of art.

Dusk at a magical setting in Florida

All images are from the Marian Kraus Photography fine art photography image archives are all available for prints ideally suitable as photography for interior design and high quality decorative photography. They are also available as licensing photography.