The Kodak Job Creation workshops ran for 2 years - 1999 & 2000
Our students were mainly young men from the townships who had little or no skills but who wished to become street photographers in their communities. Historically there were no women applicants for these workshops so we started a workshop specifically for women. These workshops took place at the Guga S'thebe Community Arts Centre in Langa.

In 2000, the workshop programme was co-ordinated by Dave Southwood. Dave Southwood is one of the rising stars in the South African photographic world and his very successful exhibition entitled 'Case' was a near sellout event on the 1999 Cape Town Month of Photography. Dave has expanded the scope of the workshops to include a Frame making module and a very useful Business Practice module. His detailed report follows this introduction.

The 2000 workshops will cease at the close of the year to allow staff and students to prepare for the Street Photographer Exhibition scheduled for the Guga S'thebe Arts Centre in Langa in early 2001.

The South African Centre for Photography would like to thank the Kodak Charitable Trust for this valuable contribution to the cultural and economic development of previously disadvantaged South African citizens. To date the workshops have made a crucial difference to the lives of 150 people in Cape Town. These people in turn have helped others who will spread the knowledge gained from this programme. On behalf of all these fortunate to have benefited from this initiative, we thank you most sincerely.

Geoff Grundlingh - Director

Detailed Interim Report: Kodak Street Photographer Job Creation Workshops 2000

Aims

To teach street photographers and aspirant street photographers to use their cameras properly ie. to understand the camera mechanisms which make photography possible and to respond in a more informed and intuitive manner to various situations and environments, rather than use predetermined settings and learned compositions. It is interesting to note that students are often nonplussed when asked to take photographs without people present in them. Photographing objects or landscapes is often a difficult concept to put across. A further point of interest is the preferred language of instruction. We initially sought out Xhosa speaking teachers thinking this appropriate but soon discovered that students preferred instruction to be given in English as it is perceived as the more authoritative medium of instruction.

Course Content

This includes lessons on film loading, camera anatomy, film exposure, aperture, shutter speed, depth of field etc. and using the light meter, as well as theory of light and how to use a flash.

The photographers are also given a lesson on the basics of running a small photography business.

A lesson on making basic frames out of available materials in order to add value to a photographic product is also taught

We provide information on exhibiting work , which would give them skills & knowledge that will allow them to organise their own exhibitions and market themselves effectively.

Demographics

The course caters for street photographers who operate in Cape Town and outlying township communities. Students are mainly men between the ages of 18 and 65 who use photography as a means of income.

A Kodak Laboratory, FOTOSTAA, in the Cape Town CBD is the hub of street photographer activity and the node via which this course interfaces with the photographers. Information regarding the course is disseminated at FOTOSTAA. General notices and advertisements are placed at Fotostaa Laboratory for forthcoming courses and participants sign up there. There is no charge for these workshops. The vast majority of participants live north of Cape Town in Langa, Khayelitsha and Nyanga.

Course Outline

The course comprised of three main elements:

Technical information; this makes up the bulk of the course and consists of a logical progression through basic camera technique to how to use a flash. This component begins with the theory of light and from there the camera is explained by viewing it as a trap for light. As aids, slides are viewed and discussed and practical lessons are conducted outside the classroom.

2) Two peripheral courses have been introduced in 2000, one of which is a basic business course and the other is a frame-making course.

The basic business course is designed to assist the photographers in the running of a small business. This is the first year that the course has been run and part of the time spent has been in assessing what type of economic policy a street photographer could employ. External teachers come and suggest business strategies, for instance taking a deposit from customers and factoring camera repairs into one's budget.

The frame making course is designed to allow the photographers to add value to their product with the addition of a framing devise. The making of basic frames from inexpensive, easily available materials is taught.

3) Course-related photographic assignments and critique sessions.

After each lesson film is given to the photographers to test their understanding of each module. Projects are set fortnightly to asses technical proficiency. Of the 36 frames on the special Kodak 35mm stock, 18 are for the photographers business purposes and 18 are for set projects relating to the course. A large proportion of each workshop is devoted to critiques of the project photography.

This year has also been the first year in which woman have been taught. There are very few woman street photographers in South Africa and it was decided that a group of woman would be taught. In response to several requests from our students, advanced classes in studio flash lighting (strobe lighting) have been conducted in the townships.

Course Schedule

The aim is to have 80 photographers qualify each year. Each teaching cycle consists of 6 lessons of three hours each. Each 6 week class caters for approximately twelve students.

Teachers

By the end of the year 4 teachers will have been involved in the course:

Dave Southwood is the project co-ordinator. He has taught beginners and advanced classes and is co-ordinator of the workshops.

Mara Verna taught beginners classes and the first workshops for women in Langa

Thobile Nompunga is currently teaching beginners classes and will be the co-ordinator next year. Thobile is a respected member of the Cape Town Street Photographer community. He is extremely dedicated to both teaching and photographing. He has a good knowledge of photographic technique.

Anele Ncgoko taught a class at the beginning of the year but had to leave because of other commitments.

Text by Dave Southwood, Co-ordinator 2000 workshops