6 Reason I Love Participatory Photography

A large part of a Fulbright year has to do with cultural exchange. While my research involves preserving local history, I wanted to do something intimate and special for Leeds while in the U.K. So for the last few months I’ve been making arrangements to set up a photography class for Looked After kids (foster and residence home children in state care).

I was inspired by a class I took at Texas State taught by Dr. Judy Oskam. Her seminar on visual literacy introduced me to the PhotoVoice social action project. I considered attempting one in Austin when I worked with parolees and survivors of domestic violence; however, problems with anonymity and protection concerns always kept the project from becoming a reality.

The PhotoVoice project uses the process of teaching photography to allow groups to gain marketable skills, be able to speak publicly about their lives, and to work towards social change. It’s particularly useful for marginalized, vulberable groups because they seldom have a chance to speak for themselves, all too frequently relying upon the words of others to relay their views and situations.

At its heart participatory photography works for this project because:

• Participatory photography speaks to kids: Asking kids to take pictures of their life is surprisingly easy. They want to tell you about the good and the bad, the bits they want preserve and the bits they’d like to see changed

 

• Participatory photography focuses upon the community: Requesting local input was extremely easy. The University, City Museum, and local Barnardo’s chapter all came onboard quickly and easily. each group not only wanted to help the kids, but also saw how much this could speak to the entire Leeds community.

 

• Participatory photography means teaching: Showing people how to take photographs is very much like teaching creative writing. It empowers them to speak and opens up a world they might not have known before. However, it simply shows them the door to that world, it is up to the participant to explore.

 

• Participatory photography tells a story: Granting a vision to someone’s life means tellinghis or her story. At its core, each project presents a series of personal stories, stories perhaps only to ever be told this one time.

This project is expected to run September 6th throough the 13th at the Leeds City Museum.