Friday, June 26, 2009

Cameras for Children: Post #2



I've been really lazy with posting about cameras for Children, but i hope this post is able to provide some insight to my program.

In Kampala, i work with about 15 different boys at 2 different group homes.

Makerere home: when i gave the cameras to the boys, honestly the only thing they took pictures of was themselves. seriously. looking through one of the mentor's photos, i asked him why so many of them were of himself. "those were mistakes," he claimed.my reply "well there are a lot of mistakes. you must be really clumsy."

i threatened a boy named Henry (Henry is the boy pictured in my 1st post on C4C)that if he took another photo of himself, i wouldnt give him any more film. Literally every other photo from his camera was of him. however, Henry has shown a lot of improvement. after working with him for 2 weeks, i left him a camera and 4 rolls of film to shoot while i'm up north.

Kibuli home: the kids at Kibuli are pretty rough. you could classify them "street orphans" as most don't have enough money to go to school. i have taken a sincerely liking to this group of kids. The Kibuli kids not only show an interest in photography, but they just get the fundamentals. i wish i was as good as these kids are when i first picked up a camera. for the photographers out there, some of the boys have started layering and have already gotten away from centering the subject.

Since there is a bit of talent at Kibuli, i gave them an assignment. i asked them to take photos where they want to see change. Pictured above is Sadam, 14, with a photo he took for the assignment of people bathing in an open sewer.

another boy, Dan, has a really good eye. I also left him 4 rolls of film and camera to shoot with while I'm gone. ill scan some of his photos and post them when i get back to Kampala.

it's been so much fun working at both homes. they are both so different, but working in each of them allows the boys to express themselves in a way that they've never been able to before, and i'm proud to be a part of their lives.

6 comments:

-Ty said...

test test test!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps taking pictures of themselves means something more deep inside the individual. Tyler, explore further the reason these children are taking pictures of themselves. This could be the path into there heart and sole where real help is needed.

Sarah Weston said...

yes, i agree with anonymous -- perhaps the kids are taking pictures of themselves because they are looking for self-worth, and want to mean something in the world -- and by taking pictures of themselves, they leave their mark on the world -- they have proof that they exist. don't write them off as complete screw-arounds when it comes to photog...

-sarah (who caught up on your blogs, so HAH)

Anonymous said...

Tyler: This photo is the very I D photo for your summer project there. I'm trying to spread the word re: your Blog. Using F B and Twitter to help this awareness

Jennifer said...

I agree with the first two comments...and mine comes from having a back ground working with kids for 20+ years...have these kids ever seen what they look like? Do the pictures give them an identity or self-worth they may have never had before? Giving assignments is great-don't get me wrong, but also telling a child who has never had value before that the pictures he took of himself are no mistake and that they tell a story too and ask him to tell you his story-may give you more insight than you can ever see through your lens...

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