It's been a while...

It's been a while since I visited this 'ere blog page... but since I have long suspected I am the only visitor I don't suppose that matters much!
If any readers should exist, or stumble upon my page one hapless day, I should like to apologise for the sparsity of posts and information, however, you see, we've been pretty run off our feet here.  Planning and delivering workshops that live up to our high standards is a job in itself, but doing so whilst also trying to master the language with which we deliver the workshops has made us two very busy, stressed gringas!
However, I am revisiting my blog with renewed vitality for I should like to record the happenings of our CMAP photography doings...
This week we have seen the return of disposable cameras from over 50 children in Art Club and the photos we've developed from them are astonishing.  After dolling out the cameras I spent the Easter holidays worrying and uncertain that we would ever see them again...  so I was surprise to see (almost) all of them returned to us the following week, having been cared for, used and respected.  Don't think we assumed the worst of the kids, but in fact 5 months here has taught us just how unpredictable and hectic their lives can be, and perhaps we assumed that the cameras would not easily take priority amidst the it all.
The reality is quite the opposite, from children who rarely make it to art clubs, or who have seemed disengaged or disrespectful we have seen the most committed and astute photography.   Perhaps changing formats and expectations really works.  The pride and confidence we saw when we praised the photographers was a sudden, overwhelming change for me and something we have been struggling towards for months.
As a photographer I found my social skills and much of my now-confidence from standing behind a camera.  From my experience I feel that not everyone will be proud of their drawing abilities, or be able to write well, but with photography everybody can be proud of not only the photograph that they made but also of the subjects they chose to photograph, be them their pets, their family, their favorite toy.
I made a vow to myself not to worry or stress too much if the photography project didn't go to plan, if the cameras weren't returned or nobody took photos of their 'themes'.  I think the impact of entrusting a child with this camera they revere as so precious is quite something in itself, expecting the best of someone and communicating that they are trusted and respected, that is the most important element of this project.

CMAP blogging

Please click here to link to the OFFICIAL CMAP BLOG which I post on a little more regularly!!