When’s the last time you hit pause, stopped rushing about and trying to be productive, and took a moment for your mental health? If you’re anything like us (or the majority of the population, let’s be real), it’s been a while. We’re all so busy with work, life admin, socialising, and so on, that it can feel near impossible to carve out time to take a breath. 

But often, we do have the time, we just forget to use it for ourselves. We work late, say yes to things we don’t really want to do, and spend any spare moments endlessly scrolling social media (then regretting it). What we need is a reminder to take a moment out of the hustle and bustle – and this photo series, available to see in London, delivers just that. 

Art of London presents Take A Moment sees photographer Ray Burmiston taking portraits of famous faces such as Ruth Wilson, Oti Mabuse and Adjoa Andoh – all with their eyes closed. An initiative from Art Of London, the photos will be shown on the Piccadilly Lights and available to view at the National Portrait Gallery from now until mid-October. 

Alongside the celebrity photos, your picture could be up on the screen, too. The project has invited everyone to upload photos of themselves with their eyes closed, with some images to be selected for display. 

Our very own editorial director, Lisa Smosarski, posed for a photograph, with Fleetwood Mac playing in the background (of course). 

“I was quite nervous to be photographed by Ray as he’s shot so many incredible actors, musicians and models who are comfortable in front of the camera and I have just one smile and way of standing,” Lisa said of the experience. “I needn’t have worried. The first question he asked me was, ‘What do you want to listen to, and you can’t say you don’t care,’ which sent me into a panic but proved the perfect icebreaker. I chose Fleetwood Mac, and before I knew it, he was snapping away telling me stories of shoots gone by. 

“The whole thing only took 15 minutes, which is the fastest shoot I’ve ever been on. It turns out the only thing I needed to worry about is smiling with my eyes closed. It’s much harder than you think!

“I love the Take A Moment initiative; it’s just a really simple reminder to take a breath, a step back, and prioritise your mental health if it all gets too much.”

Lisa’s portrait joins images of more than 300 people taking a moment for their mental health. 

Professor Tim Kendall, NHS national clinical director for Mental Health for England, said: “At a time when the world is moving ever faster, with many of us working harder, trying to deliver tomorrow yesterday, the Take A Moment initiative reminds us to slow down, to step back, to stay still and just be. A simple action that can make such a difference to our collective emotional and mental wellbeing. And to people worried about their mental health, I want to say: help is available. You can start by checking the Every Mind Matters platform for advice and support, including from your local NHS services.”

“Take A Moment is about simply taking a few seconds every day for our mental health… to pause, breathe, disconnect and then reconnect, so we can find clarity,” added Lara Journo-Leggatt, director of Take A Moment CIC. “A simple action that can make a life-changing difference in our fast-paced world.”

You can take a look at some of the photographs below, but to really take them in, it’s well worth seeing the exhibition in person. You’ll be able to view Art of London presents Take A Moment at Piccadilly Lights on 13 September, 18 September, 25 September and 10 October, and at the National Portrait Gallery from now until mid-October. 

Images: Ray Burmiston