Mumbai based photographer Rajen Nair has been motivating children with cancer and hearing loss to take pictures during pandemic lockdown to keep their mind off stress and worry.
You have been able to teach photography to children with cancer and hearing loss even during the Covid pandemic. Could you tell us how you managed amidst the lockdown?
Due to Covid lockdown, my photography classes and outdoor photography activities were discontinued. Some students had expressed fear about the corona virus and what would happen to them, and if they would survive the pandemic. This was during the first wave. I told them not to worry and to avoid watching news. I felt that the best way to take their minds off unease and uncertainty of the pandemic was to keep them engaged. I thought of continuing our creativity by going online. So I created two social media handles called @CancerArtProject for cancer survivors and @EnabledPhotography for deaf and disabled. These were platforms to share their photos, videos and art work.
PC: Shubham Kumar, Cancer Survivor
It must have been a challenge to reach out to children and motivate them to shoot pictures during the stay at home period. How were you able to encourage them?
My students were happy and excited about getting their work posted on social media. That itself was big motivation for them. There was no need for me to encourage them. They were enthusiastic about this project. I have posted photos and art work from the past one year and, at any given time, I have backlog of photos to be posted.
PC: Saurabh Verma, Deaf
What was your objective in continuing classes even during lockdown?
I wanted to continue our photography classes mainly to keep children involved in creativity to relax them and to keep their mind off anxiety and tension of the pandemic. The social media gave me an ideal opportunity.
How did photography help children overcome their anxiety and frustration?
During our zoom online meet I could sense them more relaxed, tension free, their fear put to rest. They looked forward to seeing their work posted and be seen by many in social media.
Do you guide the children to focus on particular images and pictures that would make them relaxed and happy?
Since going outdoor were restricted due to lockdown, I told them they can from their window take pictures of skies, birds, people walking on the street, rains. I also told them they could do portrait photography of their parents and siblings.
Are there any particular colours that can be calming and reduce stress?
They had no choice of colours. With the lockdown there were a lot of limitations. They had to click whatever nature offered and whatever was available in their natural surrounding.
Do you think a particular type of photography, like nature photography, would be more effective in easing the mind?
Nature helps in soothing and calming the minds, so nature photography does helps.
PC: Saud Ainarkar, Deaf
What kind of pictures have the children been taking? Does it reflect their emotions and state of mind?
They basically shoot skies, sunsets and landscapes photography.
PC: Md. Khwasis Ansari, Cancer survivor
What was the feedback of children who turned to photography during the lockdown?
They said they enjoy getting involved in something creative. They are happy to see the likes and comments they get on social media. Also, they are happy to make new contacts and get followers on social media.
Did you notice any difference in your students during Covid due to photography?
Basically it gave them new insight about themselves and new perspective about photography.
PC: Anup Jha, Deaf
Would you say that photography is therapeutic and impacts emotions and mental processes?
The whole idea of my teaching photography to them is to make them feel happy, overcome shortcomings and limitations, provide them a new visual tool of expression, and also to get them thinking that photography could be a possible career option in future.
What have been the memorable moments for you with photography during Covid?
We enjoy our zoom meetings, where we have lots of fun. We sing and chat. And there is plenty of laughter and joy. Interacting and seeing each other takes away lots of our worries and stress.
Go check out the two social media handles - @CancerArtProject for cancer survivors and @EnabledPhotography for deaf and disabled
Read more about exciting Photography initiatives:
Photography Lessons For Kids To Fight Cancer with Rajen Nair
Photography to the Visually Impaired by Partho Bhowmick
Photography For Therapy and Self Esteem
Photography as Expression and Independence for Persons with Disability
