PHOTO DIARY FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS
One-day Workshops (3 hours sessions or longer by arrangement)
2008: dates available for London Young Offending Teams
London boroughs
£50 per hour
STRUCTURE
CLASSES
The most effective period for workshops is three-hour sessions. This includes preparation time, client contact time and discussion of work, photography, editing, post-production time, client feedback at the end of each session, and work evaluation and monitoring.
CLIENT / STAFF NUMBERS
Initially it is useful to have a YOP worker present to assist and facilitate work with clients. Once clients understand the course format I can work unaided on some sessions, but with the emotional content of certain areas it may be necessary to have another worker on call if a need for support arises.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The emphasis of classes develops from camera and photography practice into more personal subjects in clients’ lives. This is best to develop organically, depending on the interest of individuals. Seession preparation allows clients to bring personal items to photograph. A schedule of course development is suggested below:
Week One
Camera and Lighting: basic camera use, flash, image capture / review. Self-portraits. Computer for image editing. Analysis of various images. Preparation for next class: valued objects.
Week Two
Extended camera use. In-camera flash plus use of extra lighting. Exposure and lighting techniques. Still life images of valued objects, download to computer. Preparation for next class: family symbols
Week Three
Discussion of image editing. Begin an ‘A’ file of best images per client. Introduction to Photoshop. Still life photography of family symbols & portraits. Discussion of personal project for each person.
Week Four
Photoshop techniques, image enhancement. Making photo card for printing and as email attachment. Ideas for personal project.
Week Five onwards
Further sessions to involve working with each person’s ideas of positive images and messages within relevant topics, some listed below:
Printing images for Personal Life Time Line
Making positive images and self image within family
Images of
relationships
Images of
local and world community
Topics for Work
Within the setting of the ‘Photo Diary’ (which includes written text as well as visual image entries), many subjects we work on will benefit and enhance clients’ sense of integrity and emotional maturity, as well as encouraging a creative working environment.
Work Topics will include:
Friendships
Relationships
Family
Personal Time Line
Value systems
Possessions
Ethnic Culture
Community involvement, concerns and outreach
COURSE DEVELOPMENT
In my experience of ‘Photo Diary’ workshops over a wide range of social settings, themes develop in an organic context, working with the interest / empowerment of the participants.
In the YOP setting, client interaction with photographic medium depends on obvious factors (access to digitals camera outside the centre; classes outside the centre building in the local community).
Development of a successful series of courses depends on weekly assessment of client feedback, and molding course structure, choice of subject themes to enhance clients’ welfare and positive self-image to assist a reduction of re-offending.
PUBLIC (RELATIONS) RELEVANCE
The aim with using photography in the YOP format is to provide a creative and empowering facilitative medium for young clients, and promote positive visual images of ex offenders within the wider community. It is possible for centres to use these actual images in a wider PR role, and I can help promote the images and positive ideas behind them, in finding venues for local exhibitions and other displays of the media.
NB: Photographs of the work of young offenders will be included on this site with permission of the indivduals who made them.
BENEFITS
FACILITIES
COSTS
© James Bartholomew 2008
mobile phone: 07973 214 411
email: james@jamesbartholomew.com
