About Me

                       My name is Stephen McCloskey, I’m currently a retired veteran who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, facial nerve damage & partial blindness of my left eye. I was introduced to photography through the Department of Veteran Affairs for phototherapy to help me relieve anxiety & stress through photography. The Department of Veteran Affairs put me through the photography certification program and with the help of my family & friends I was able to complete this course to become a certified photographer. Phototherapy was also introduced to me to volunteer for events through the Wounded Warrior Project & STOP 22 A DAY to be able to assist & support other veterans & capture their memories. Photography was meant for me to capture moments as I see them and bring those photos to my Doctors and talk about what motivated me to do so.

My Psychologist at the VA and I would use photography to help me get out how I felt because It was very hard for me to open up. This is one of the photos that I took. This composition caught my attention because of the little tree that is thriving to grow even while at greater odds as the water is crashing down threatening to drown it at any time. Even with odds stacked against the small tree it still strives to grow and become something great! This can be related to in life. No matter what odds are stacked against you, you can choose to grow and become strong and outgrow the harsh facts of life or you can choose to drown. Many times over I have given up and still struggle with this daily but I still thrive to push forward and better myself. Photography helps me by getting me out during peak hours when roads are less traveled as well as with little to no people and calming. I am able to focus on what is going on through my camera instead of being in a state of panic about what is going on around me.