Budding photographers are capturing life in Hammersmith & Fulham through their lenses, with free workshops in Shepherds Bush offering a chance to join their ranks.
The Photojournalism Hub in Warple Way has become a destination for aspiring photo documentarians.
Weekly workshops offer 16-to-25-year-olds hands-on experience in developing photo stories – and their portfolios. Hammersmith resident Mohamed Elhariry said:
This course has given me the opportunity to engage with local communities and learn how to capture their stories through photography."
Together with their peers and under the expert guidance of award-winning photojournalist, Cinzia D'Ambrosi, the young creatives get to hone their skills and publish their work via the group's online magazine.
"I've made new friends and learned a lot," said West Kensington resident Isis Caldwell. "The course allows me to connect with people and become more confident in a hobby."
And Fulham Reach resident Olivia Garrido Ybañez added: "The Hub is very helpful in getting your photography career started too. I've been able to learn so much about the business side of photography."
Thanks to support from H&F Council, Sobus, and the West London NHS Trust, the Documentary Photography Workshops are entirely free for young people living in Hammersmith & Fulham.
Behind the lens
For more than a decade, Cinzia has documented the lives of people living in West London, particularly women and girls.
"I discovered the potential of documentary photography and its ability to enact positive change within our communities. It inspired me to found the Photojournalism Hub."
Six years on, Cinzia trains more than 30 young people every six months while offering them real exhibition opportunities at local partner venues, including Riverside Studios in Hammersmith and the Saatchi Gallery one borough over.
Next, she is bringing "Polarity" to the Sands End Arts & Community Centre in Fulham. Showcasing the works of photographers from the local area and around the world, the exhibition tells stories of resilience, resistance, and the human impact of conflict, inequality, and climate disasters.
The FREE exhibition runs from 10-13 October, 8.30am to 5pm. No booking needed, just drop by.
Get involved
Aspiring shutterbugs can kickstart their journey this November with the upcoming Youth Documentary Photography Course. No previous experience required. Photo equipment can be provided for those that don't own a camera.
Workshops run on Saturdays, 11am to 1.30pm, at the Factory Quarter Community Hub, Unit 3, Tesla Court in Warple Way, Shepherds Bush.
Email Cinzia at admin@photojournalismhub.org or call 07960 940 766 to apply.
