Activities
Five regular formats for people who like photographs and local stories, from walks on Belleville streets to quiet evenings of listening. Here is what each one involves and how to join.
Five formats, one shared interest
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Neighbourhood Photo Walks
A relaxed guided walk on local streets and in public spaces. Members practise documentary photography at an easy pace, with Daniel on hand to help newcomers feel at ease with their cameras.
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Portrait Study Evenings
Hands-on evenings spent with natural light and window light. Members learn to make honest portraits of neighbours who have agreed to sit, and talk about how to ask and how to listen.
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Story Circles
Small gatherings where members share personal stories and discuss how to retell them with care and consent. Priya guides the conversation and helps each person shape what they wish to tell.
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Print Review Nights
Bring printed work and receive friendly, constructive feedback. Luc helps with sequencing photo essays, so a loose set of pictures begins to read as one story from first frame to last.
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Oral History Listening Sessions
Shared evenings of listening to recorded local memories, played alongside archival family photographs. The pace is slow, and the aim is to hear each voice and the place it comes from.
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A practical guide to joining an activity
Every activity is open to anyone who likes photography or local stories, whatever their experience. Some members arrive with a good camera and years of practice, others with a phone and a curiosity about their own street. Nobody is asked to prove anything before they come along.
The simplest first step is to write to us through the contact page, mentioning which format interests you. The organisers will tell you when the next gathering is planned and what to bring. Daniel looks after the walks, Priya hosts the story circles, and Luc coordinates the print review nights.
The groups are kept small on purpose. A walk or a circle works best when everyone can be heard, so we would rather run an extra evening than crowd a room. If you are unsure whether a format suits you, say so in your message and we will talk it through.
Consent sits underneath all of our work. When a photograph or a story involves another person, we ask first, explain where it might be shared, and respect a change of mind. Members are encouraged to practise this habit at every gathering, not only when work is published.
You are welcome to come and simply watch or listen at first. Many people take a few sessions before they share a print or a story, and that is entirely fine. What we ask in return is courtesy, patience with one another and honest, kind feedback.
Useful to bring along
- A camera of any kind, including a phone, for walks and portrait evenings
- Printed photographs, loose or mounted, for print review nights
- A notebook for story circles and listening sessions
- Comfortable shoes and a layer for the weather on walk days
- An idea of what you hope to learn or tell, even a rough one
- Questions about consent or sharing, which we are glad to discuss
Questions about taking part
These are the questions newcomers ask most often. If yours is not here, write to us through the contact page and an organiser will reply.
Do I need a good camera to join a photo walk?
No. A phone is perfectly welcome, and many members use one. The walks are about looking carefully at streets and public spaces, not about equipment. Daniel is happy to help anyone who is unsure how to set up their camera before the walk begins.
Is there a fee to join the activities?
The brief for this site gives no fees, so we do not quote any here. Please ask through the contact page and an organiser will tell you plainly whether anything is asked of you for a particular evening.
Can I attend if I have never shared my own stories before?
Yes. Many people begin by listening. Priya hosts the story circles and makes sure no one is pressed to speak. You can share when you feel ready, or not at all, and still be a welcome part of the circle.
What happens at a print review night?
Members bring printed work and lay it out for the group. Luc guides a friendly conversation about what is working and how the pictures might be ordered as a photo essay. The feedback is meant to be constructive, never harsh, and you choose what to show.
How do portrait evenings handle consent from sitters?
Portraits are made of willing neighbours who have agreed to sit. We talk through how to ask, how to explain where a picture may be shared, and how to respect a change of mind. Consent is part of the lesson, not an afterthought.
What are the oral history listening sessions like?
They are quiet, shared evenings. A recorded local memory is played, often beside archival family photographs, and the group listens together before talking about it. The pace is unhurried, and the focus stays on the person speaking and the place they describe.
Can I bring a friend or family member?
Usually yes, though the groups are kept small. Please mention your guest when you write to us so the organiser can plan the space. A friend who simply wants to listen or watch is as welcome as one who brings a camera.
How do I find out when the next gathering takes place?
Write to us through the contact page and tell us which activity interests you. An organiser will reply with the next planned date and what to bring. We do not publish a fixed calendar on the site.