Lancaster school pupils see the bigger picture

Monday, 7 March 2022 13:36

A new photographic exhibition aimed at helping secondary school pupils to improve their mental health has opened in Lancaster.

Lightbulb Moments was created by pupils from Our Lady’s Catholic College during a Brain Hacks project led by professional photographer and former Our Lady’s pupil, Ginny Koppenhol.

Brain Hacks was a project specially commissioned for a cultural and creative education programme run by Lancaster District Cultural Education Partnership (Culture Co-op); Lancaster University, Curious Minds and Lancashire Youth Challenge (LYC).

The project involved 10 pupils from Years 9-11 and 6th form taking photographs on their smart phones of things which made them smile.

The students learned photography skills and creative techniques to produce 170 images for the exhibition at More Music which they also helped to plan.

Brain Hacks aimed to try out the scientific theory that by finding ways to focus on the positives in life, people can improve their mental wellbeing.

“Whenever the young people noticed in their daily life moments that prompted some appreciation or made them smile, they then created images to represent that moment,” said Ginny.

“The hope is that it would encourage them to spend a little longer in that moment than usual, helping to strengthen that feeling. The longer term effect is that we can recognise these moments more easily and we will start to notice more of them and also, during tough times, we can more easily draw on these positive memories and see the bigger picture.”

The students were asked to take photos every day for five weeks and among the creative ideas tried out were shooting pictures through toilet rolls, photographing boiled eggs in dramatic lighting and making themselves tiny while playing with perspective.

"Each week the group members produced a whole range of beautiful and creative images, everything from pets to people, from sunsets to shadows. Every image represented a moment of appreciation," Ginny said.

At the start of each session, the young people shared their favourite photo with each other and explained why they had taken it.

At the end of the course, the pupils said the project had been a positive experience and made them more open to the idea that they can positively influence their mood.

Lightbulb Moments runs until May 4.