Announcing a Photo Competition Winner: Congratulations Roxanne Krystalli!

"Bursting in the Desert"

 Roxanne Krystalli

   One of two water reservoirs irrigating the Bahariya Oasis in the Western Sahara Desert.      

May Contest Theme: What I cannot live without.  

Submit photographs for our June Photo Competition: 

Theme: What is your source of hope?

From Dudley to Coolidge - Photography & Conflict along the 66 Bus

Ever wondered why neighborhoods in Boston are so different?  Ever been to Dudley Square? How about Coolidge Corner? The Boston crew has started a new group project, documenting life in two neighborhoods that both lie on the 66 bus route, but rarely interact with each other.  

We're gathering photo impressions as part of the Virtual Corners public art project:

Beginning in June 2010, a storefront in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, and in Dudley Square, Roxbury will be transformed into large video screens, providing pedestrians of each neighborhood with a portal into one another's worlds. Running 24/7, life-size screen images and AV technology will enable real-time communication between residents of the two neighborhoods.

We've been riding the bus, with cameras and lil notebooks in hand.

Today, we'll start doing some audio interviews with residents and bus riders, asking questions like:

How old are you?
Where are you from?
Are you in school? Where?
How do you feel about your community?
What's your favorite food?
Are you a photographer?
What's one word to describe you and why?
What do you think about this place?
How do you feel when you come here?
Do you like it?
How do you think people outside the community view it?
What's positive about this place? What would you change?

If you're around, come join us!

Announcing a Photography Competition

Peace in Focus 

International Photography Competition

Peace in Focus is launching an international photography competition for youth. Each month, we will accept submissions on a particular theme from young photographers around the world. The themes will reflect the core interests and values of Peace in Focus – youth leadership, non-violence, and socially conscious photography. Participants may submit literal or artistic interpretations of the subject, and photographs will be evaluated on their creativity, social message, and unique framing of the topic. Winners will receive a $25 prize and will be featured on our blog and website. All entries will be included in a monthly online slideshow, highlighting the vision and voices of young people around the world. 

Requirements

• Photographers must be 25 years old or under to be eligible to win.
• Photographers may submit one to three photographs depicting the month’s theme. Each photograph or photo-essay must be accompanied by a title and caption that explains the photographer’s message or point of view.
• Submissions must be emailed to peaceinfocus@gmail.com by the 1^st of each month. Remember to include your name, age, address, phone number, photo title and caption.
• Please note that by participating in this competition, you grant permission for Peace in Focus to feature your work online and/or in print materials.
• All entries, including the month’s winner, will be featured on the Peace in Focus website and blog. 

Monthly Themes

• May 1, 2010: What is something you cannot live without?
• June 1, 2010: What is your source of hope?
• July 1, 2010: What does equality look like?
• August 1, 2010: Whom do you most admire in your community?
• September 1, 2010: Where do you get information about your community or the world?
• October 1, 2010: Where do you find peace?
• November 1, 2010: What is your dream for the future?
• December 1, 2010: If you could say anything to one thousand people, what would you say?

 

Click here to download and share a .pdf version of this announcement. We look forward to seeing your photos!

Photography Concepts and Conflict

Here's some photos we took while talking about how photo concepts can illustrate issues of conflict.  We also learned photography techniques like focus, angle, point of view, framing, time and cropping/zooming.  We then went for a walk near USES at a park near Northeastern University and tried out our new skills.

This is a picture that shows focus,because it's only showing the little detail and not the entire photo.
                                                                                         -Rashaan

This picture show Angle/ Point of View.

                                 -Rashaan

These 2 pictures represent the Time concept and I used them because the second picture shows that overtime events occur that change peoples moods or facial expression.
                                                                    -Devaughn White

These 2 pictures represent the Cropping and Zoom concept. I decided to use these two pictures because without seeing the computer in the second image, you would not know where the plant was.
                                                                        -Devaughn White 

These 2 images kind of represent the Framing concept because it excludes something (the books) and it also shows Timing again because the first image, the books are included. In the second image it shows that some people passed by and helped themselves to the books.
                                                                       -Devaughn White

Try out this Conflict Photo Hunt

This week during the Peace In Focus Open Lab times at USES Harriet Tubman House, we'll be exploring images of conflict using a quick photo scavenger hunt.  Open this worksheet and try it yourself!

Check out National Geographic's photography website:
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/

It has some great photography tips sections: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/portrait-photography-tips/

Watch the video on on photojournalist, Reza: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2008/11/photojournalist-reza.html

How does Reza portray conflict in his photos? What other things does he capture about the culture in places experiencing war and conflict?

Now, look through the People & Culture section, and find 5 images that you think portray conflict: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/people-culture/

Then, check out the Boston Globe photo archive (or other Boston based news sites), and find 5 images that you think portray conflict in Boston:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/photos/Archive/ or http://bostonherald.com/news/ or http://openmediaboston.org/news

Try searching news stories for neighborhoods in Boston, like Hyde Park, Dorchester or Roxbury? How are they different than the photos that go with articles on other neighborhoods like Brookline, the South End, or Fort Point?

Here's what Khadijah wrote about the pictures she found:

These pictures made me feel very unhappy and kind of strange because some of the pictures did not make a lot of sense and one of them made me laugh. Also some of the pictures made me think I should do something about it and I also think that just the picture kinda gives you the idea of what is happening in the story.

[Photograph by Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine Features]

Also check out the photos found by Sadiq and Devaughn.


What do you think? How can we genuinely capture images of conflict as aspiring photojournalists and agents of social transformation in our communities?

Our Identity Collages!

The following are a number of collages made by the youth of Peace In Focus during the first weeks of the spring training institute at USES Harriet Tubman House in the South End. 

The first was created by Sadiq and, quoted, he said: "The image all the way to the left is showing that I'm learning to be good at photography because there's nice lighting to it. The top-centered one shows that I like reading and I'm intelligent, etc. The one below that shows that I like to sleep. And the one to the far right shows a picture of me as a photographer and how I view myself as one. I also really like it."

My name is Shaliah and this collage is basically five different ways to describe me. For my first example, the picture at the top left-hand corner shows that i'm a LOVING individual. The second one, to the right of that one is a way to show that i'm SiLLY. The one below it shows that i'm SERIOUS.The last one,to the bottom left-hand corner, shows that i'm FLEXIBLE.

HI  my   name  is    Miniya. These  pictures  are  all about  how  I   want   people   to  see  me.

Hi my name is Adriana, this shows that I'm goofy and sweet at the same time.  This collage is my about my identity because this is how I see myself.  Sometimes I don't think I'm a nice person.  But I like to see myself this way, not an angry devil but instead an angel.

My name is Khadijah and I did this colllage to express myself.  The two people on the wall [at USES] mean I like to dance and the stairs mean I like heights.  I also like to make friends and I love the Red Sox.  These are all ways I want to be seen.

My name is Devaughn White and the collage that I made shows what I am like.The picture in the top right hand corner shows that I like sunny days, below displays that I like to sleep. The picture of me all the way at the bottom of the image shows that I am friendly and I like taking pictures of myself. The image of me walking shows that I like to walk and my backpack sends the message that I like school. The picture of the sneaker shows that my favorite color is red but also that I absolutely love sneakers.

Learning about Photoshop

Today we learned about Adobe Photoshop! We went around and took pictures. We made special effects with our photos like we made crazy pictures. We took pictures of ourselves and added crazy things. Miniya added a crazy mustache. Also Khadijah added a wonderful rainbow to her background and she also made a peace sign. We saw crazy Antonio.

See ya on Saturday!

Peace!
-Khadijah & Miniya

From Boston Spring '10

From Boston Spring '10

Feeling like a Leader

“Wow” is all I have to say. There were so many people at our exhibit! I thought there were just going to be a few people, but I was wrong – it was packed! So many people from so many places came. When I was told that the amount of people was in the hundreds, I said, “Yeah, right, there must have been thousands!” But seriously, it was packed, so that must show that our group is not as small as it was in the beginning when I first joined Peace in Focus two years ago.

I remember the first day, there were a few people, but now Peace in Focus is huge! This exhibit confirmed that for me. The first day, I felt awkward and shy, but Peace in Focus helped me overcome the fear of introducing myself to new people. Now, I have high self-esteem and self-confidence.

During the exhibit, we all wore t-shirts that said, “This is what a leader looks like.” Even State Representative Byron Rushing spoke to me and read my t-shirt. But my favorite part was seeing everybody in the group at the exhibit, because I missed everybody.

 I also thought the pictures from Burundi and Liberia were awesome! I liked that teens my age, even if they have few resources, learned to use the camera to show their point of view. People tell you that you don’t have a voice, but when you get the chance to find it, you should take that chance, because sometimes you’ll have a voice louder than others. I want my peers in Burundi and Liberia to know that people in a different country can hear your voice, too.

In the future, I see myself helping Peace in Focus get more participants. My teacher is helping me recruit people, and I want to get more people involved. I am also helping my friends overcome bullying. Since second grade, I was bullied. Now I tell my friends that when bullies say something, let it go. Those people won’t always be there.

I never knew that I was such a good leader until I came to Peace in Focus. This shows my true potential as a leader. 

 - Dounia, age 14

Photos by Jeff Langevin and Saul Blumenthal.

2010 is off to a great start!

Peace in Focus thanks everyone who came out to our opening ceremony at the Harriet Tubman House on Feb. 11 in Boston! For those who weren't able to attend, the photos are on display (and for sale) through April. To see more photos visit our online Galleries.


We offer the following images of our 2010 activities thus far:

 

February 2010: Geisha, age 15, Peace in Focus youth leader, after appearing on NBC's Urban Update (which aired at 11:30AMEST on NBC on Sunday, February 28, 2010)

Here are a few links to other media coverage of our work:

• January - February 2010: Several Peace in Focus photos were featured on the Boston World Partnerships website. http://www.bostonworldpartnerships.com/blog/category/boston-life-blog
• February 2, 2010: Peace in Focus Executive Director, Kyle Dietrich and youth leader, Antonio Stroud speak about PIF programs, mission, and the power of photography on Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN) News. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yUz5MKQ6wQ
• February 18, 2010: "Photography training expands teens' horizons" by Sandra Larson, Bay State Banner http://www.baystatebanner.com/local11-2010-02-18

  

February 11: Attendees at the opening ceremony to our photography exhibit on Feb. 11, 2010 at the Harriet Tubman House in Boston (photo courtesy of www.saulblumenthal.com)

 

 Massachusetts State Representatives Byron Rushing and Gloria Fox speaking at our opening ceremony, with Thaddeus Miles, PIF Board President, and Kevin Lee Harper, President and CEO of United South End Settlements (photo courtesy of www.saulblumenthal.com)

  February 17: Peace in Focus leads peace activities for Boston youth during BCYF's (Boston Center for Youth and Families) "Peace-a-Palooza"

 February 18: Peace in Focus and hundreds of local youth march to the Massachusetts State House to demand increased funding for summer youth jobs

Peace in Focus Boston Photography Exhibit, February 11, 2010

Thaddeus Miles and Peace in Focus present a "Celebration of Peace through Arts."

Despite being on the front lines of disaster, civil war, and urban and gang violence, youth voices and perspectives are rarely found in mainstream media. Peace in Focus works to train young people in photography, media, community leadership, and innovative peacebuilding practices with the aim of elevating youth voice and emphasizing the role of creativity in building community. Our exhibit and celebration on February 11 6-9PM at the Harriet Tubman House will showcase a selection of photos taken by Thaddeus Miles (Board President of PIF) and our young photographers in Boston, Burundi, and Liberia -- giving us a window into their lives, struggles, and undeniable talent as visual storytellers.

This event invites community members interested in photography, youth and community work, and global peace to celebrate youth efforts at creating visible social change. There will be interactive youth photography stations, spoken word, live music, light refreshments, special guests, and gifts for sale.

Photos will be on display through April.

For more information, contact info@peaceinfocus.org

Thaddeus Miles' photography: www.Tmilesphotography.net
Peace in Focus: www.peaceinfocus.org