{"id":30804,"date":"2024-09-02T15:51:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T13:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cherrydeck.com\/blog\/?p=30804"},"modified":"2024-09-02T15:51:31","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T13:51:31","slug":"fotohane-darkroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherrydeck.com\/blog\/fotohane-darkroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Fotohane Darkroom: The Analog Photography Project For Children Along the Turkish-Syrian Border"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fotohane Darkroom is a project making a meaningful difference in the lives of children on the Turkish-Syrian border. Through analog photography, these young individuals access new ways to see their world and express themselves creatively.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In an environment where childhood is often overshadowed by hardships and uncertainty, Fotohane Darkroom is making a difference\u2014one photograph at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project was born from the personal experiences of co-founder Serbest Salih, who grew up in a similar setting where creative outlets were scarce but deeply needed. Together with Amar Kilic, Salih embarked on a mission to “create a safe and creative space for children living in challenging circumstances<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fotohane Darkroom offers these children something invaluable: a chance to explore their creativity and express themselves through photography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our mission is to offer a creative outlet and foster expression among Syrian, Iraqi, and Turkish Kurdish children through the art of photography.<\/p>\nSerbest Salih \u2013 Co-founder of Fotohane Darkroom<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Why Analog Photography<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In a world dominated by digital technology, the project intentionally focuses on analog photography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason is simple: there\u2019s a special quality to the analog process that resonates with the children. It\u2019s slower, more deliberate, and requires a level of patience that contrasts with the instant results of digital devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Co-founder, Salih tells us: “The magic of seeing their images come to life during the development process is a moment of wonder that they don’t easily forget.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n

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“These are photos of my friends inside my home. I wanted to capture them spontaneously, without planning.”
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Photo by Helin (14 years old)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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“I’m very happy that I took this photo\u2014it looks very artistic to me and feels like time has stopped.”
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Photo by Ciwan (13 years old)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Workshops<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The heart of Fotohane Darkroom lies in its free workshops, where children are introduced to analog photography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, 2024, Fotohane Darkroom held its first workshop, marking the beginning of a journey to give these children the tools and guidance to tell their own stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these regular workshops, children learn everything from shooting to developing their photos in the darkroom. “This hands-on process allows them to connect deeply with the art form, and the resulting photos are often incredibly powerful, reflecting their unique perspectives.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Their photos showcase the talent and insight of the young photographers and illustrate the impact of our project.<\/p>\nSerbest Salih \u2013 Co-founder of Fotohane Darkroom<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n