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More info: email – hello@flashpointlabs.org, call Mickey – 0402 313 169, follow us on twitter – @flashpointlabs or www.facebook.com/flashpointlabs 

THE DETAILS

What: Photolines is an 8-week participatory photography program focusing on changemaking photography and culminating in a photography exhibition in the Head On Photo Festival. Changemaking photography is an approach that emphasises the creation of images and photo essays that are designed to inspire individual and social change. Program participants ‘learn by doing’ and follow an action learning approach to developing new knowledge and skills. Experimentation and investigative learning are promoted. Participants develop a photo series that is important to them and that aims to bring about social change. They also learn about personal portfolio development and self-representation online. Participants are encouraged to generate income from their images and seek professional development in the Flashpoint Labs Photography Agency.  The program develops visual and digital literacy while creating opportunities to practice and hone critical thinking, creative expression and changemaking skills.

Why: Photolines aims to create a breakthrough learning experience and generate lasting positive change in the lives of the participants and in the broader community. The program aims to  inspire and empower participants to become creative learners, thinkers and professionals. It also attempts to raise community awareness of issues important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The chance to exhibit as part of the Head On Photo Festival is of great social and cultural significance. It aims to provide participants with a meaningful and important sense of validation of their ideas and perspective.  Flashpoint Labs, and the collaborators, believe in creating opportunities to learn skills, gain confidence and develop networks needed to build a life of well-being. Participants are encouraged to pursue pathways into further learning, training or employment with the aim of being economically independent and self-determined. Flashpoint Labs has a multi-year commitment to program participants and attempts to provide them with opportunities to work in the Flashpoint Labs Photography Agency (we connect program participants with professional photographers to deliver corporate photography services).

Who:  Photolines has been developed and designed for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15-25 living in Sydney. Photolines is a collaboration between Flashpoint Labs, National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Head On Photo Festival, Australian Centre for Photography, Mobile Photo Group, Arthere and Paul Mcdonald Photography. The program has been developed and will be facilitated and curated by high profile professional photographers and changemakers including: Moshe Rosenzveig, Sandy Edwards, Paul Mcdonald, Oliver Lang, Carla McGrath, Leanne Townsend, Natalie Hunfalvay and Mickey Kovari.

When: Photolines workshops will run from 4pm-6pm from Wednesday, 10th October 2012 to Wednesday, 28th November 2012. The exhibition will be part of the Head On Photo Festival in May 2013. Flashpoint Labs is commited to all program participants and encourages them to engage in future Flashpoint Labs workshops, in personal pathway planning and in the Flashpoint Labs Photography Agency.

Where: The workshops for this program will be run from the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern (166-180 George St Redfern), some workshops may also be held at B2 Studios and at the Australian Centre for Photography. The exhibition is to be held in gallery spaces around Sydney as part of the Head On Photo Festival and online.

How: Photolines has been made possible by the generous financial and pro-bono contribution of all collaborators. The collaborators met several times in the lead up to the program to develop the partnership, create the program and organise the workshops and exhibition. While the pro-bono contributions have kickstarted the program, the collaborators are fundraising to ensure the program, future programs and the organisations involved can be made sustainable. Please invest in the Photolines program and the future of changemaking photography by contributing to Flashpoint Labs (email hello@flashpointlabs.org for details on how to contribute).

Still want more information, contact us at hello@flashpointlabs.org or call Mickey (Flashpoint Labs Co-founder) on 0402 313 169.

These are a few shots from the first full day of the program. We went to B2 Studios, who amazingly gave us a studio in-kind for the afternoon.Not only that, but they gave us access to thousands of dollars worth of lighting equipment.  Big thanks to Georgia.  We were joined by a bunch of professional photographer volunteers including Sam Hendel and Jack Boy who led the session and gave us all some tips for shooting portraits in a studio. Other professional photographers joining us as guides-by-the-side and working one-on-one with the participants were Saskia Wilson, Raquel Duron and Kata Marno. Check out this blog post about all our fantastic photographer volunteers.

It was a lot of fun, we learnt a heaps about lighting and portraiture, and we got some great photos.