"Through the Lens"

A photography project which ran as part of the May Day Festival.

"Through the lens" was a photography project run by the Irish Congress of
Trade Unions working with the Workers' Educational Association.

The project was funded by Peace III through Belfast City Council.

A series of workshops were set up for groups of people interested in using digital photography to explore themes of:

• Respect
• Diversity
• Solidarity

The initial workshops introduced the themes and how they could be reflected through photographic images in the workplace. The next sessions brought everyone together to look at the photographs, consider their meaning and what message might be read by the viewer.

Fifty-six participants attended, making up mixed groups, with a good representation from the public workforce. Both men and women took part from the likes of the Belfast Trust, Waterways, Belfast City Council, Courts NI, Musgrave Park Hospital, etc. Unions represented were the like of NIPSA and UNISON.

The project concluded with a very successful Exhibition in the "Golden Thread Gallery", Belfast and the opening night was attended by approximately 150 people. It is estimated that an additional 775 people visited the exhibition and due to these high numbers and positive comments, the gallery requested that the work would stay on show for an extra few weeks.

Feedback to the exhibition was really positive - in fact there was an enquiry about whether the work was for sale.

Here are a few examples of other feedback:

• At a Creative Writing Class (also funded for the May Festival) the group was asked to look at the images, choose their favourite and either write a caption for the piece or an eleven word poem (elfchen) about it. A discussion about the real meaning of diversity also took place and some members of the group used the topic as part of their 'homework'.
• "Really interesting images ... would like to know more about the project" visitor to the gallery
• "Amazing ... that's my street!" participant in another project
• "That's some of our group" participant in another project.
• "Great" ... comment in our visitors book.
• "Loved it all" comment in our visitors book
• "Thank you for firing my imagination and pushing the boundaries" ...comment in our visitors book

Comments form participant photographers on the programme:

It was an excellent opportunity to meet people from other disciplines and departments. I was able, not only to put into practice the photography skills that I already had, but I also learned new skills. The group dynamic also meant that I picked up some very handy tips which I will able to use in future. It was very interesting to see other people's work and how they had interpreted "Diversity" and its application to their workplace. I appreciated the feedback I got when I showed my pictures and talked about my interpretation of the theme. Most of all it was fun.
Participant on the programme.

As a trade union activist, I see the need to highlight diversity. This project has been a positive experience as it has helped me not only understand but promote better diversity within the health service and allowed me to think out-side the box.
Participant on the programme.

I got involved in the "Through the Lens" project because I enjoy photography and was attracted to the theme. Because of the "Through the Lens" project, I learnt some new techniques using my camera and was challenged about my understanding of diversity. It was fun but more importantly an opportunity for me to learn and develop my understanding.
Participant on the programme.

Project Images can be seen below: