Students of the “Picturing Berlin” workshop with their cameras
A quick break to share something that I’ve been greatly enjoying over the last few weeks: Teaching! I love the experience of sharing what I’ve learned with someone else, all in order to help them shortcut their way to success and be able to use their skills to create something. Who wouldn’t? But what’s even better is being asked to do this in an official capacity.
I’ve done a lot of work with the Berlin social impact organisation, the Gesellschaft für Humanistische Fotografie (GfHF) since December and I love working with the team. They do so much good by bringing the world and important social issues through photography exhibitions in their gallery space in Kreuzberg. So when they invited myself and Susann Tischendorf to lead this year’s “Picturing Berlin” workshop, of course we said yes!
The workshop is is a 6-month bi-monthly class free to Berlin residents aged between 18-27 who have an interest in photography, offered as part of an integration program funded by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). Our group is varied with students coming from all over Europe and beyond, and together in German and English we’re exploring Berlin through exhibitions, guest photographers, and of course through the lens!
BAMF just published a writeup of the program so far here on their website. (Nur auf Deutsch)
Susann and I are teaching things a little differently than it might have gone before, but this is what works so well for us. As creative collaborators and very good friends, we have a similar vision to how art should travel through you and speak through your own voice. You have that power. You just have to find it.
I look forward to all the things we will do, and of course to seeing what Berlin looks like through the lenses of these creative students. More soon! I’ll also be updating my Instagram stories with snippets, so stay tuned.