Today we're happy to introduce Donald De La Haye, a talented and inspiring photojournalist based in Kingston, Jamaica, who is volunteering to share his expertise with the students at Bigwoods Primary School. In Donald's own words:
“I’m a young photojournalist from Jamaica, I’ve been drawn more to cultural photography but the funny thing is there is culture in everything and I’m learning that more each day. Enjoy my Culture through my eye and through my experiences.”
Over the next couple of months, Donald will be conducting camera phone workshops with the students at Bigwoods Primary, encouraging them to share their life, friends and culture through the lens of a camera. In this case, the cameras will be camera phones, generously donated by the employees of the Hearst Corporation. We chose to work with phones for several reasons, one being that there is an immediacy to phone photography that enables the students to take a picture, critique, improve, and retake on the spot, which is a great tool for quick learning. It is also central to the ethos of the project that we reuse and repurpose as much as possible, so taking those phones that were languishing in the back of a closet and turning them into a powerful tool for learning is right up our alley! At the same time, our friends in the United States at Hamilton Park Montessori will be conducting their own forays into photography, and we are excited for the students to share their results with each other, and with all of you!
Please follow along for a couple of photography filled months, as we'll be documenting the students' progress as well as highlighting some of the work of our favorite photographers, and discussing documentary photography in general.