Project to teach poor kids analog photography

[kchittenden]

My daughter is conducting a literacy through photography program in West Virginia this summer. Most all of the equipment was donated or given through a grant.

[Marco Buonocore]

At the darkroom that I use (Gallery 44, in Toronto) there is a similar program that has been going on for at least a few years now. It´s called Outreach
(http://www.gallery44.org/education/outreach2006.htm), and it´s aimed at teens who are having a tough time of it.

I´ve been in the darkroom many times when they´re in as well, and it always impresses me. Some of these kids look pretty rough around the edges. I recognize alot from around town - squeegee kids, panhandlers, etc. And here they are, puttering away in the darkroom, going over each other´s prints and contact sheets, loupes to their eyes scrutinizing a negative to see if it´s sharp... I love it. They go about their business, and other members go about theirs. It´s all perfectly ´normal´, which I think helps a great deal. I don´t know how much ´normal´alot of these teens get in life.

There´s no onus to print on fibre paper, or shoot with a Hassleblad. Grants pay for the majority of their supplies, and I expect they´ve got some deal worked out with one of the labs for negative processing. Someone puts in a lot of effort - I don´t know enough about it - but it all seems to run smoothly.

I can´t imagine anyone arguing that this is *not* a great thing. I would hope similar programs exist in cities through the world. Whether it´s photography, painting, or jazz dance for all I care - It all falls under the umbrella of being a good experience. Kids like these desperately need more good experiences, on top of the fundamentals like food and shelter.

This is where grants from large companies and organizations prove their worth. Small amounts of money can make a really significant difference in programs like these.

[jordanstarr]

photography doesn't have to be expensive. i used to be a darkroom co-ordinator for my university photoclub in ontario and the used camera stores would sell us old nikon/pentax/vivitar cameras for 20-45$ with lenses. they would sell them at cost or give us free ones that didn't have working light meters, winders, etc. that could be fixed up with the proper parts. there's lots of support for programs like that and if you're starting out "quality" is a foreign word. of course a contax slr with zeiss lenses will run you a few hundred, but a pentax k1000 with a 50mm lens goes for about 50$ on ebay and is a great starter camera that when used right can take just as good of photos as any contax/zeiss combo. there's worse ways to spend 50$ -i think it's an amazing project.

i work in a homeless shelter as a caseworker and every kid who walks through the door with addiciton issues basically started "experimenting" through boredom, peer pressure and a drive to be badass and hard. i think photography at least takes care of a couple of those variables. if they're spending their money on camera gear and film, it's hard to buy crack.

[wheelygirl]

Howdy everyone!
There is a specific book that has given me the inspiration to 'do' this type of project, on a smaller scale, I think. The title is, "Shooting Back: Photographic View of Life by Homeless Children" selected by Jim Hubbard. Ihad been homeless, as an adult, and it is very scary at times--I want the children to be able to gain siome sort of comfort, community with their images. Heaven only knows when this idea of mine will get off the ground, but that is a desire of mine!