Do you know our Christmas card from 2023? Anton Trexler took the photo. An 18-year-old photographer who fulfilled a dream together with his grandfather and travelled to Namibia – specifically to steps for children in Okakarara. For five days, he runs a photography workshop with the steps children in the afternoon, where the children photograph their Namibia. In the morning, he photographs the younger steps children for us in kindergarten and preschool.
26 cameras meet
26 stormy and enthusiastic children and young people
- The task: Photograph the steps grounds independently with the camera for 90 minutes.
- The most popular motifs: Plants
DAY 1 – The first time with cameras
For a whole afternoon – that is, a whole steps afternoon after school – the girls and boys in Okakarara took photos together in small groups or on their own. Each child was equipped with a camera that Anton, the 18-year-old photographer from Wiesbaden, and his grandfather Bernd Torke had previously collected from friends and relatives and brought with them to Namibia.
The task: Photograph your favourite places on the steps grounds!
Beforehand, there was an instruction on how to use the cameras. Again and again, the shots were looked at and checked on the small display, also with the friends or Anton.
DAY 2 – The first image review
At the end of the first afternoon, Anton collected the cameras again and printed out a few pictures for the next day. He pinned these to the wall to look at and discuss the different motifs and settings with the Schutzengel children and young people. Together they looked at the pictures and collected what they liked about them.
Children photograph their Namibia – with a camera they set out independently in search of motifs that interest them.
What we like:
- Colours
- different angles
- movement
- interaction
- viewing direction
- lines to the middle
- structures
- shapes
By selecting the images, indirect feedback could be given and the pupils started the second photo afternoon with a few more ideas regarding angles, play with colour and structures.
DAY 3 – People, animals, plants
On the third day, photographs were taken in three groups, each with one theme. The first group focused on plant motifs, the second group photographed people and the third group explored the animal world with the camera. For the first time, the young people were also allowed to go in search of their motifs outside the steps premises with the cameras.
The animal group presents its results.
DAY 4 – My journey to school
On the fourth day there was a new task: now the young people were allowed to take the cameras home overnight in order to photograph their home and their journey to school. This afternoon would actually have been free – but all 26 pupils voluntarily came back to steps to continue taking part in the photo workshop with Anton.
DAY 5 – The farewell
The fifth day was a day of farewell. The steps young people agreed: a great project is now coming to an end.
„We will miss you, Anton“ said one of the guardian angel boys to Anton on the last day. A clear response showing that he liked both the project and working together with Anton.
„The individual perception of their environment through the camera made an impression on me. My passion for photography made an impression on them too. I hope that one day I can return to see my „Cool Gang“ again. Perhaps they have by then become star photographers. Or perhaps they have simply had a bit of fun taking photos.“ – Anton Trexler
Dear Anton, thank you very much for your commitment and for taking us along into the photography project at steps in Okakarara! We are sure that the children and young people will remember the wonderful time with you for a long time to come. We now wish you every success for your upcoming exhibitions!
