Exposure: Imprints in Time

In the winter of 2020 and early 2021, Rich Mix led In Focus, a six-week creative photography and philosophy course for Muslim and non-Muslim women and supported by Amal - Saïd Foundation. Taking place during the challenging backdrop of coronavirus and national lockdowns, In Focus provided free photography skills workshops for people from the local community. These were designed to bring people together by celebrating and embracing the different aspects of people’s everyday lives. Participants shared and listened to each other’s stories, while simultaneously being taught the skills to translate them into imagery.

Taking place with a hybrid approach of online sessions and in-person activities, our participants came together to share their life experiences, debate issues and support one another, while learning a new skill. Led by photographer Sarah Ainslie and facilitated by Global Learning London’s Liz Allum, our group explored the stories we tell about ourselves and our communities, considering how photography can help to share ideas and connect us.

The workshops culminated in Exposure: Imprints in Time, a free, socially-distanced photography exhibit displayed for all to see in the front windows of Rich Mix, situated along the busy Bethnal Green Road in the heart of East London.