Contribution Name: Lions Befrienders
Pseudonym: LB AAC @ Clementi 366 and Tampines 499C
Year of Author: 1950
As the digital tide continues its relentless rise, the notion that seniors and technology don’t mix is also fast diminishing. It’s a truly modern sight – seniors wielding their mobile devices, documenting everyday moments with a tap of a screen. But just how good could their photos turn out to be?
Upon closer inspection, one would soon notice that this wasn’t a grandiose showcase spotlighting the works of any celebrated professional or creative heavyweight. Neither were any hefty camera gear or high-end lenses behind the making of each photograph. In fact, these were the very end-products of 20 seniors from LB AACs @ Clementi 366 and Tampines 499C, armed with little more than their regular mobile phones, as well as six weeks’ worth of mobile photography lessons under their belts!
These LB seniors’ youthful instructors – Damien, Jin, and Nick – also co-founders of the travel magazine start-up Depths Magazine, commenced the weekly classes at the two AACs out of a desire to equip seniors with the fundamentals to adeptly capture memories of their daily lives. At the end of each lesson, the students would be given an assignment to go out and about in their neighborhoods to apply what they had learned, and to submit their photos for review during the following class. It was something that no doubt required commitment, a willingness to put oneself out there, and a genuine passion for photography to stay on course – and stay on course, the seniors did.
As the weeks went on, the three teachers were so deeply impressed by the seniors’ enthusiasm and the quality of their images, they knew they simply had to find a platform for their students so that their photos could be enjoyed by the masses, instead of being confined to their own mobile devices for good after the final lesson was completed. Thus began a painstaking search for a suitable exhibition space, and the trio’s efforts finally came to fruition when they secured ION Art Gallery for a weekend in March.
When the senior shutterbugs streamed into the gallery on the opening day of “Fun With My Story, My Neighbourhood,” the beams on their faces were evident as they autographed and proudly posed with their own works, cheered on by their fellow seniors from the AACs who had come down to lend their support. This entire journey from mobile photography novices to featured exhibitors was thoroughly worth the while for both students and teachers.
This heartwarming narrative comes from Lions Befrienders, an organization dedicated to journey alongside seniors. To learn more about their services, visit Lions Befrienders.
来自LB活跃乐龄中心（Clementi 366和Tampines 499C）的老年人前往ION艺术廊，参加了“乐拍我的故事：我的邻里”摄影展的开幕式。2024年3月22日至24日的周末，前往位于乌节路核心地带的高档ION艺术廊的访客们惊喜地发现，展览空间的白墙上点缀着各种色彩斑斓的照片。这些照片展现了热闹的熟食中心、节庆的舞龙表演、宁静的公园、抽象的建筑结构等等，这便是“乐拍我的故事：我的邻里”摄影展。
细心观察后，观众会很快发现，这并不是一个展示任何知名专业摄影师或创意大师作品的宏大展览。更没有任何高端摄影设备或昂贵的镜头参与这些照片的制作。实际上，这些作品全都是来自20位来自LB活跃乐龄中心（Clementi 366和Tampines 499C）的老年人，他们仅凭手中的普通手机和六周的手机摄影课程所拍摄的照片！
这些LB老年人的年轻指导老师——达米恩、金和尼克，他们也是旅游杂志初创公司《Depths Magazine》的联合创始人，出于希望老年人掌握基本摄影技能的愿望，在这两个活跃乐龄中心开设了每周一次的课程。每节课结束后，学员们会接受一个作业，要求他们走出家门，在自己的社区中应用所学的知识，并在下一堂课提交照片供评审。这无疑需要投入、勇敢展示自己以及对摄影的真正热爱；而老年学员们都坚持了下来。
随着时间的推移，这三位老师对老年学员们的热情和作品质量深感震撼，他们知道，必须为这些学员找到一个平台，让他们的作品被更多人欣赏，而不是在最后一堂课结束后仅存留在他们的手机中。于是，三人开始了寻找合适展览空间的艰辛旅程，最终，他们的努力在3月的某个周末得到了回报，成功获得了在ION艺术廊展出的机会。
在“乐拍我的故事：我的邻里”开幕当天，当这些老年摄影爱好者走进展厅时，他们脸上的笑容格外灿烂，他们在自己的作品上签名，并骄傲地与作品合影，其他前来支持的中心老年学员们也为他们欢呼。这次从手机摄影新手到展览者的整个旅程，无论是对学员还是对老师来说，都是值得的。
这个温馨的故事来自Lions Befrienders，这个组织致力于陪伴老年人。欲了解更多关于他们的服务，访问Lions Befrienders。
此故事转载自Lions Befrienders网站。
This story is reposted from Lions Befrienders website – https://www.lionsbefrienders.org.sg/stories-when-seniors-turn-shutterbugs/
This heartwarming narrative comes from Lions Befrienders, an organisation dedicated to journey alongside seniors. To learn more about their services, visit https://www.lionsbefrienders.org.sg/.
This work includes translation generated by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.
此作品包含由OpenAI开发的AI语言模型ChatGPT生成的翻译内容