Pandemic portfolios to develop from Foto workshops

SIX free photography workshops available to secondary students will focus on capturing the community’s experiences of staying home, coordinated by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

The education program called MASS ISOLATION is being facilitated by Melbourne street photographer, Jesse Marlow, for young people to pick up while stuck at home.

The unit includes videos, tips for composing interesting shots in Marlow’s street style, and tasks where learners will flex their own photographic muscles. Eventually, each person will have developed a portfolio of photos that shows the state of their neighbourhood and tells a story.

BIFB artistic director, Fiona Sweet said the arts organisation wanted to make the most of the pandemic situation, engage youths by utilising such an easily accessible medium, and employ an artist.

“I had seen and loved Jesse Marlow’s work for quite some time, and because he’s a street photographer, I thought it would be cool to do street photography in the home,” she said.

“He’s going to discuss reflections and shadows, and colour, like when you’re looking at creating compositions with people on the street.”

Ms Sweet wants to get the word out to students and schools who would be keen to get involved and snapping. They could be the next generation’s Marlow.

“We’d like to exhibit the student work that comes from the program in the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in August of 2021.

“The first time Jesse ever exhibited was in a school competition in Bendigo, and he’s excited to try and get the students doing a body of work,” she said.

The project is funded by the Besen Family Foundation, and supported by the City of Ballarat, with Cr Belinda Coates working with BIFB to identify all the region’s schools that could get their students clicking a shutter.

Enrol in the program via ballaratfoto.org/education/mass-isolation. Make any enquiries to [email protected].