Project Background [Download a Project Pack]
Life Thru a Lens is a project that aims to show what living with Duchenne is like – told in photographs by those whose lives are directly affected.
The project will enable a group of young men from all over the UK to work with cameras and photography software to produce a unique portfolio of images, documenting the opportunities, challenges and truth of living a life with Duchenne.
Over a 6 week period, photographer Jason Thompson will be working with young men and volunteers to create an exhibition. The photographs will be a personal document of a time, a place and a much misunderstood condition. The images and exhibition aim to raise awareness of Duchenne, and bring the condition to the public eye in a personal and visual way.
Why choose photography?
When a viewer takes in a photograph they don’t just see the factual recording of a subject, they bring to it an interpretation based on their experiences and desires. A photograph can represent numerous things including an icon, an idea, a memory, an emotion, a fear, or an aspiration. A photograph offers each viewer a unique experience. Each person bringing a piece of themselves, a result of their unique journey through life, to each image they view.
Of all the visual art forms, photography is probably the most accessible and widely used. With digital photography we all have a very inexpensive and instant way of recording images.
Photography can do two important things:
1: Document or record things visually
2: Provide an interpretation or viewpoint to provoke thought or discussion
This project is more about the second of these points. All photographs record something visually. But the best photographs go beyond a mere picture, and enter the realm of story, or provoke thoughts or questions.
The photographs in this project are to help those who don’t know about Duchenne find out about what your life is like - how you live with Duchenne and the points of similarity and difference between the viewer and the photographer.
The photographs can be either taken by or directed by the photographer. If operating a camera is not possible or difficult, then your volunteer will be able to assist in the setting up of the shots you want. But you will be the author of those shots, and you will be the photographer - as well as the director - of the images.
“Documentary, as understood here, is about the things as they are, and not about how we would like them to be. It is about making personal records of events that take place in the physical world — for other people to see how the photographer has framed what he has witnessed. It is about telling a story. "Look at what my eyes have allowed me to see," as well as "Look at what I have allowed my eyes to see," such pictures exclaim.” Hans Durrer
http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/EDITORIAL/oped0706.shtml
The best photography is telling us as much about the eye behind the lens as the image in front of it.
This project is an opportunity to show others what you want them to know about you and your life.
Developing a Theme
The photographs will show your life. You choose what you make public and what you prefer to keep private. You choose what to show.
The photographs will aim to show aspects of life, and it will be helpful to consider different themes for your photographs.
The themes are to be decided on by the young people involved but needs to be linked with living with Duchenne.
We are looking for powerful, emotive images. These can be both positive and negative, and it really is to be led by the young men and their opinions.
Possible Ideas are:
A day in my life
Photos taken that relate to everyday issues that young men with Duchenne face from physio to feeding tubes.
Living despite Duchenne
Photos representing barriers that young men overcome and relating to their positive experiences in everyday life e.g. attending college, work, going out etc.
Don’t stare at me
Photos relating to the misconceptions, barriers and perceptions of society to living with a disability.
Other themes may emerge as the project continues – but there are no limits or pre-defined notions of what is or isn’t acceptable.
Part of the process is developing the ideas, and finding all kinds of ways of documenting and expressing yourselves through the medium of photography.
A mixture of images types is desirable - including
- portraits
- where I live
- family and friends
- living life
- out and about
- work and play
- feelings
Each photographer will contribute a portfolio of images to the exhibition. This will probably be between 5 and 10 images. It is expected that each photographer will shortlist from a larger number of images, possibly 30 - 50.
Jason Thompson Photography Project Leader | Tel: 01670 810370 | Mobile: 07747 022585 | jason@sound-ideas.net |
