Wendy - The Trainer:
The aim of the 'In a Different Light Project' was that a group of homeless or vulnerably accommodated young people should learn the rudiments of 35mm manual photography and exhibit the results of this learning.

The project was housed at Exeter's Meaningful Occupation Project (MOP) and ran for five months. Training sessions took place twice a week.

In addition to working towards the exhibition, the group visited London to view relevant galleries, held a portrait workshop and undertook a day of landscape photography.

Bubbles - The Photographer:
From being homeless once my self, I wanted to express some of the gains and fun that can be had on the street.

Still smiling - busking in Exeter

One of my favourite photos is of the little lady playing the accordion. She is disabled and every time I see her she is smiling and still making a little bit of money for her self.

Personally I am a beggar. I have met lots of people and gained many friends.

Thank you to South West Arts for funding the 'In a Different Light' project and giving me the chance to learn, have fun and produce some wonderful images.

Wendy...
An appeal was launched through the Express & Echo for photographic equipment and the public response was overwhelming.

The group, except one who had had a brief encounter with photography, had no prior experience and certainly none had ever begun to use manual 35mm photography to its full potential.

Life on the streets

The group has remained three in total and each member has produced a body of work for the exhibition.

Further funding has been awarded and the photographs produced will now be used in a booklet promoting the work of MOP.

The work of all three will appear on the Exeter MOP website, has been featured in a national publication. The Clock Tower surgery has also requested that they be allowed to buy a series of images to be displayed in their waiting room.

The funding is now exhausted and the project has come to a spectacular end. However, this does not mean that the three participants will have to stop working.

Due to the insistence of Bubbles, further funding will be sought, this time from Exeter College, to continue to run a photography group at Exeter MOP. It is hoped that the three exhibitors will continue to participate and support new members joining.

Bubble's photo gallery >>>