Young people at St Joseph’s Boys’ School have been developing their photography skills as part of a Féile project, with their work now showcased in a school exhibition that has already been viewed by hundreds of students and staff.
The students took part in practical photography sessions with Sinead Crumlish, learning how to use DSLR cameras while documenting everyday school life and capturing images of nature in the Creggan area.
Ruairi O’Connell from Féile said the project helped pupils build confidence and ‘unleash’ their creative skills.
He said: “This project gave the boys a real opportunity to build confidence and unleash their creative skills through photography.
“From the start, the students engaged well with the sessions and showed a strong interest in learning how to use the equipment and improve their photography skills.
“They were encouraged to capture their own surroundings, from everyday life in the school to the natural environment around Creggan, and that really came through in the final images.
“The standard of work now on display shows the effort they put in and the progress they’ve made over the course of the project.”
Mr Cathan Parkhill, KS4 SPL Teacher at St. Joseph’s Boy’s School, said the programme had a really positive impact on the students.
He said: “The boys really benefited from taking part in this project. It gave them the chance to try something new, work with professional equipment and learn skills they wouldn’t normally experience in the classroom.
“They showed great enthusiasm throughout, and that is reflected in the quality of the photographs now on display. It has been very positive to see them take pride in their work and in how they have represented their school and local area.
“I want to thank Féile for giving our school the opportunity to be involved in this project. It has been a valuable experience for our pupils, and we look forward to working together in the future on more important initiatives like this.”
The programme is funded through the Executive Office’s Communities in Transition programme.
