Sixth Form student Toby Coole recently participated in the highly renowned National Geographic Photo Camp. The camp, which brought together young people aged 15 to 23, took place at Belfast Exposed, the city’s main photography gallery, providing participants with a transformative experience in visual storytelling.
The Camp is designed to inspire young photographers from diverse backgrounds, engaged participants through hands-on training from National Geographic’s world-class photographers. Toby joined a select group of students and embarked on photography expeditions to significant and historically important sites in Northern Ireland. Day trips included visits to the border and Belfast’s iconic Peace Walls, where students captured images reflecting the complexities of identity, history and community in a post-conflict society. As well as providing training in technical skills, it also fosters self-expression and cultural awareness.
Throughout the week, the students focused on using photography to tell personal stories that reflected their lives, perspectives, and experiences. In addition to honing technical photography skills, the camp emphasized the power of storytelling through images. Participants selected their best photographs and presented them to the group, explaining the story behind each image. At the end of the camp, the students collaborated to create a video montage that combined all of their photos, providing a collective narrative of their week-long journey.
Led by National Geographic photographers and editors, this prestigious programme encourages self-expression, creativity, and collaboration. Since its inception, the camp has served over 1,500 young people in 30 countries.
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