Returning to Uganda for V4 of the project, Julian was working with a total of five previous photographers, four based in the rural hills, at the school of Eden Preparatory and one based in the town of Kabale, which Katuna MARPs helped facilitate.
Arriving at the new MARPs offices in the town of Kabale (they have had to relocate due to the ongoing tensions at the border with Rwanda/Uganda at Katuna) Julian was greeted by a lovely mini exhibition from last year’s photographers.
After working with the group for a couple of days, show and tell sessions were developed, showing images from the exhibition and the reaction of people in the UK to their great work. This project also had the use of Lomography instant cameras, this was particularly rewarding, watching the reactions and amazement of an ‘instant picture’.
The quality of instant pictures, isn’t particularly high, but in an age of screen-based technology the lack of tangible prints is all too evident in much of what we do and it was decided using instant cameras would allow the children to realise their visions and allow them to use a form of technology which they had not seen or used before. Add to the fact, that once that first instant picture was ejected from the camera, their level of amazement was quite incredible to witness.
The children were set the objective of taking photographs of themselves and also to shoot a portrait of each of their fellow photographers.
There was one particular student who Julian felt could benefit from further teaching. Her name was Violah and since the last workshop she has been doing very little, unable to afford further education. Her mother is Evas, one of the women that was photographed last year as part of Julian’s ‘Perception of HIV’ mini photo-story.
Eden School
A marvellous welcome greeted Julian, as he went back to the small rural school that gave birth to Give a Camera a Child back in 2015
The children and teachers, particularly Ronald (school director) were terribly excited to have the photographer back in the school, working exclusively with four previous students that had showed great promise during earlier projects.
Blare, Godwin, Surrender & Agnes were the advanced students, each using a DSLR or bridge camera. Working with the students over several days and in-between normal lessons, Julian set the team several key objectives – these included capturing a creative portrait, a landscape and a picture of their home. Coming together on regular occasions, images were downloaded and discussed among the group. The standard of images was of a particularly high standard. Surrender, in P7 shot quite incredible work, especially her portraiture. She seemed to embrace the chance to tell the story of people she met in the community. Astonishing work.
One key development to help foster creative thinking during this project, was to get the children to create small stories to run alongside their images.
It seemed the most appropriate way of doing this was to create a ‘front page’ of a school paper. Something which was key in the interest Julian first got from photography, when he was asked to do the same at the age of 11.
The children genuinely seemed to love the idea. Even the staff became incredibly excited about the prospect of potentially featuring in the first Eden New Times!
During the mini exhibition at the school, which adorned the already full photo room, framed prints as well as awards were given to the best and most creative photographer, with each receiving something for their sterling efforts.
Surrender was without doubt the one student who achieved the most impressive results, especially with her people pictures, which were astonishingly creative, planned and executed with sublime skill – that girl has talent!
After just two weeks, the project was over. Four students achieved wonderful results, and one young girl is now nervously awaiting the start of her two-year course.
Each photographer at Eden was presented with framed copies of their images, along with a small cash reward for their dedication and sterling efforts.
What next? Julian is desperately trying to find a way to develop the photography of the four young children, with particular attention played to Surrender. Meeting a semi-professional photographer in Kabale town, Julian has offered Egon (the photographer) the opportunity to work and teach some of the children. A relationship it is hoped will develop into a fruitful relationship and a chance for children to develop when Julian isn’t in the country.
