Wow, I was really moved this past week by some incredibly inspiring work created by the participants of a photography workshop I am giving this Fall.  As you may already know, I believe that absolutely everyone is creative and that if we let go of the fear of doing it wrong, we are capable of achieving and creating great things.  With this philosophy in mind the workshop began.  What I’m sharing with you today are the results of the first project.  I really want to share this because I am so excited about the photos.  I find them very powerful.

Here’s a bit of context…  All the participants were thrown into an unfamiliar situation and had to go off and tell stories through photography.  They were given specific themes to interpret and an area to work within.  Basically the entire group was working within one square block of the city of Montreal.  They were given no instruction or technical guidance per se and all level of photographers are represented from those who have just recently gotten a camera and are starting in photography to photographers who have been shooting for years.  To make it even more challenging, the shoot happened at night…not exactly the conditions most would imagine starting in when they first get a camera.  But why not eh?  There were absolutely no expectations set from a technical standpoint.  In other words, it wasn’t relevant whether the images had the proper exposure or technical settings and so forth.  All that was required was to tell a story somehow, through an image.  All the images that were submitted are included in this slideshow and I personally find each of them equally compelling.

Here, in the form of a slideshow, are all the images that were submitted for this first project.  These are the stories that were told and how a diverse group of individuals interpreted the world around them…they were all in the same place at the same time with the same set of themes to interpret.

I would like to thank all the participants (please see the credits at the end) for allowing me to share this with you.  At the same time, I also wish to congratulate them all for not only taking up the challenge in style but also raising the bar well beyond my expectations.  What fun!!

Welcome to a slice of life…in Montreal.  I hope you enjoy…

Kharim