Brother Chris Owen teaches children how to take photographs and tell their story with a DSLR camera

Brother Chris Owen teaches children how to take photographs and tell their story with a DSLR camera

  • Goal: £2,000
  • Raised: £1,200

Brother Chris Owen started working with children almost 7 years ago, whilst still working as a professional photographer. Initially, just giving his time as a volunteer to help children explore photography through their eyes. Most of my work was done in a primary school setting, either as part of an after-school club, or workshop.

He organised a 5K fun run and raised enough money to purchase 12 cameras all 350D/400D Canon DSLR cameras (we now have 32) As events unfolded, he began to see a contrast between what he thought they would produce and what they actually produced…. Through their eyes. It was amazing, Chris said; “I was genuinely surprised at what I discovered…their perspective, their insight was truly remarkable.

The feedback from teachers was extremely supportive with comments such as; ‘Children who are academically challenged found the experience stimulating and interesting”.

Chris’s aim throughout each after school camera club, workshop or lunchtime session was to teach children how to use a DSLR camera and open their creative eye. He wanted them to learn a streetwise view of their school. Afterall photojournalism is effectively the documenting of people’s lives, the environment they live in, how they explore and effectively a visual record of their experience. He also felt it was important that they understood just what photojournalism is and how it started with figures like Henri Cartier-Bresson (regarded as the father of modern photojournalism). Children got to see how different photojournalists record significant moments in history, documented unfolding news and created images that have gained iconic status, including current social and political issues. Central to this work is teaching children to think through their own story board and tell their story, which has helped build self-esteem.

This course is not just aimed at equipping young children with the grounding and discipline required to use a digitally camera… But to also learn how to photograph a hobby or interest. There are 2800 magazines and newspapers published in the UK, each of these publications require photographs and stories, He and his volunteer team show budding young photojournalists the breadth of the market and expect them to pick one for their photographic assignments, as well as initiating and developing their own project. They are encouraged to develop a wider vision of the practice and potential of the medium through an exploration of the uses of documentary and reportage photography in magazines, portfolios, exhibitions, books, television, online and other multimedia areas… Including old Leeds based glass slides

Since lockdown we have not been able to work with children in the 42 schools we had booked across the Leeds and West Yorkshire region. We are therefore researching and recreating a course that we would like to run online along with downloadable support sheets for pupils and parents. Chris formed the CIC Kids Camera and Video Clubs aim to provide a free service and to make the experience accessible to all children aged between 10 and 18 years old.

We still need funds and financial support which would allow the CIC to create a website that is fully accessible for all … Our aim is to teach children not just how to use a DSLR camera or smart phone but to tell their story.