Picture This

Belfast Exposed has developed a project called ‘Picture This’, funded by Comic Relief and Community Foundation Northern Ireland, which has been working with teenagers and young adults to support their mental health and wellbeing. The project is designed to help young people learn and express themselves through the medium of photography in a fun, creative and educational way. Participants are learning how to use the manual settings on a digital camera, while also learning technical terminology and techniques that can be used to create interesting photographs.

The project is designed to be very accessible, allowing young people to learn through social and video platforms such as Zoom, and to meet and engage with new friends through photography. The project is focused on bringing the young people out of “restricted access” and giving them a voice to express themselves through visual communication.

The project has had a positive impact on teenagers and young adults as they have been in isolation for months and haven’t been able to socialise. Young people have been extremely restricted in the last few months, and this programme has given them a platform to make new friends, gain confidence, improve communication skills, and learn technical skills as well as being encouraged to go out and take photographs in a fun and creative way.