Hand in hand with the Anna Frank Space, Ghetto Photo, 100% San Agustín, the North American organization 100Cameras came to the San Agustín parish to train ten kids as photographers
Text: Luna Perdomo | Zulvyn Díaz – Main photo: Guillermo Suárez | Ghetto Photo ORG
Empowered young people, with new skills and in love with photography is the result of a training activity that took place in San Agustin for eight weeks, thanks to the articulated management of the Anna Frank Space, Ghetto Photo100% San Agustín and the North American organization 100Cameras.
Ten kids, aged between 9 and 16, learned how to handle a camera, composition, conceptualization and even how to make their own photobook, with the hundreds of graphics taken during the practices.
Within two months, the participants discovered a hobby, a passion or a possible career for the future. In addition, they documented the history and progress of the most cultural parish in Caracas.
«The idea is that they train as photographers or learn a trade. What we are looking for through the photographs is to do prevention work, so that the young people we train are useful for their community,” he explains. William Suarezphotojournalist, editor Ghetto Photo and program facilitator.
He adds that, despite having completed a first part with the NGO 100Cameras, will continue a second level of training for the kids, with the members of Ghetto Photo, for six more months, free of charge. “The success of the program is concentrated in the photographs they took and we are very happy,” he highlights.
The sparkle in the eyes of the participants during the graduation ceremony, the suppressed desire to cry with emotion and the infinite thanks that the entire group expressed to the members of the 100Cameras San Agustín program, demonstrated their pride and that of their families upon receiving the certificate of participation in an event held at the Alameda Theater of the parish and which featured dance, color and tradition.
This Saturday #19March we graduated 10 young participants of the project @100cameras executed in the San Agustin parish of Caracas, in alliance with @100PercentSa1 and @SpaceAF
ghetto | Photo will continue with the training of these new #VisualStorytellers CONGRATULATIONS! pic.twitter.com/I6NNJGdKcq
— ghetto | Photo Agency (@ghetto_photo_) March 20, 2022
At the close of the event, the young people were surprised by their tutors, when they were informed that the camera with which they had practiced since the beginning of the workshop would be theirs. The surprised faces gave way to the excitement of knowing that they will be able to continue training as photographers at the next level of training.
The photographs taken by these ten young people go to the NGO 100Cameras, where they will be for sale, and if any are acquired, the profits will return to 100% San Agustín to invest in more training for these participants.
What are the new photographers saying?
A photo on the Marin field after a rainy day opened the doors to Yonder Bello (16 years old) to the photography project. “In my family we are grateful because this can serve me as a career to live from it later.” He confesses that now he is torn between basketball and photography, since he is also a member of the Cocodrilos de Caracas team (sub16). “If I had to choose, it would be difficult. Since I was a child I have wanted to play basketball in my heart and I have liked photography since I was 11 years old, ”reveals the young man.
Asaid Chauran
“I have always been interested in photography. I used to take photos of my dad, who is a road captain on the San Juan festivity. In the course I learned about composition, lighting, techniques, angles. We went out three times: we went to the UCAB (Andres Bello Catholic University), where we made the photobook with our photographs, to the National Art Gallery, Hacienda La Trinidad, to the New Circus and to the Plazoleta de Marín”, said the young girl from 16 years old.
Sorainel and Soriangel Cremer
“When they told us Photographs I thought it was just taking photos and that’s it; but when we saw classes I understood that it wasn’t just the flash and the photo came out, no. There are rules for them to come out well, illuminated and bright. When Professor Guillermo showed the photos that he took, I was interested in the strength they had and that’s where it all started, “says Sorainel.
“We want to know a lot more because we are just getting started. We still like dancing more. Photography is the hobby and dancing is our passion,” added Soriangel. Sorainel and Soriangel Cremer are 14-year-old brunettes.
Yosheider Sanoja, 13 years old
«I learned photography techniques and that using the camera depends on daylight, taking photos with a vanishing point. What I like to photograph the most is people, in portraits, and also sports photos».
Sara Davila, 13 years old
“We had fun and I learned a lot, because I didn’t know anything before; I was just inventing. They gave us many suggestions and told us that nothing was right or wrong there.
Roberto Chavez, 16 years old
“The course taught me to see a world that I did not know. Humans have a panoramic vision. In photography you see it in a square and you concentrate more on what the photo encompasses and what is important to you. I want to make it clear that I loved photography, it deserves to be part of the visual arts».
Salvador Leiba, 12 years old
«I am excited about the course and about the camera that they gave me, because now I have a base of knowledge with which I can take good photographs and carry out projects. I learned the rule of thirds, which I half knew, but here they finished giving me the push. I like to photograph plants and trees.”
Mariangela Angarita, 12 years old
«We learned to take photos not only with the hand but with the heart and the mind, with feeling, not taking it for the sake of taking it but feeling it. See beyond the photo, what it expresses. I want to continue learning and discovering much more.”
Emiliana Mijares, 9 years old
«I had hopes that they would give me the camera. They also gave me my photo book. What I like the most is photographing nature.
The arts form citizens
“We believe immensely in training for the arts, because that’s how we train citizens,” he says. Reinaldo Mijarescultural director of 100% Saint Augustine. He adds that “for more than four years we have been dreaming of forming a team of young people from our neighborhood as audiovisual communicators, who record what we are as a parish, and I think the seed has been sown.”
Reinaldo thanks the organizations that are part of the project and puts himself at their disposal for the second stage of the training of future photographers.
*Also read: Pioneering women break barriers in “man’s” trades
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