workshop: life stories

Media - photography
Date: March 11, 18, 25, April 1 2007
Location: Bourj el-Shemali camp, South Lebanon
Facilitator: Rick Bajornas & Mahmoud Zeidan
Participants: Sausan Al-Haj, Suzan Kassam, Zeinab Hussein Al-Ali, Asmaa Ahmad Al-Ali, Fatmeh Younis, Imad Al Sheikh, Mohammad Yousef, Hamzi Al Hassam,

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Organised in coordination with al Houleh Association in Borj el Shimali camp with the camp's inhabitants as subject matter, this workshop was designed to help resident participants develop personal photographic essays as a means of expression.

The workshop began with an introduction to successful contemporary photo essays by professional and amateur photographers. The participants then received technical instructions on digital camera use and care. The workshop focused on their lives in the refugee camp, and each was encouraged to photograph a particular aspect of his/her life for the duration of the course.

The group met several times during the "photographing" stage of the workshop, where we reviewed and discussed the photographs being created. At the end of the first week, the group performed a final edit to create a concise, cohesive photo essay. The participants were then asked to individually develop relevant narratives, based on their notes, to introduce their stories.

Participants worked hands-on with cameras in their local environment where they will be able to continue to create images and photo essays, encouraging them to interact with and share their world. They learnt how photographers must select a point of view and frame a picture to communicate what he or she has to say. In so doiong they broadened their communication skills and saw the value of their perspectives. The participants were encouraged to move past the snapshot and comprehend more complex visual statements, developing a communication skill that incorporates their education, family lives, and community history.

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