Participatory photography: can it help adult learners develop agency?

Abstract

This article draws on a participatory photography project conducted with 10 socioeconomically disadvantaged adult learners for six weeks within the framework of production pedagogy. Throughout the project, the participants took photographs about their lives in response to three prompts that I gave: (1) take photographs of people that are important to you; (2) take photographs of an event or your community; and (3) tell your experience or story through photographs. Shortly after the project, I conducted interviews with individual participants to examine their experiences in engaging in the project. The study suggests that participatory photography can afford a space where adult learners can develop a sense of agency that seeks to bring about change in their lives in a positive way. I argue that the entire production process from conceptualizing ideas through exploring digital photography techniques and creating tangible outcomes is conducive to this development.

Notes

1. Allen (2012) used the term participant photography instead of participatory photography. I think the difference between the two terms is minor if any. I prefer using the term participatory photography, however, because it seems to bring to the fore action, i.e. the process of participation, rather than subject, who does photography. I want to emphasize action. That’s why I use the term participatory photography.