A photography workshop run by the Afaf association has culminated in an inspiring exhibition featuring the work of volunteer participants from diverse backgrounds. The exhibition, titled "New Perspectives on Roanne," opened on Wednesday, November 5th at the association's headquarters located at 10 Avenue du Grand Marais in Roanne, showcasing 21 large-format photographs and 12 smaller prints captured by amateur photographers over the course of two years.
For the past two years, volunteers have gathered every other week to learn photography fundamentals under the guidance of Guillaume Descave, a professional photographer and documentarian who served as their workshop instructor. The participants, including individuals named Angie, Ekaterina, Imre, and Esra, represent a remarkably diverse group that brought together people from various continents and cultural backgrounds.
Descave explained the workshop's ambitious goals during a recent interview about the project. "The aim was to introduce adults to photographic techniques using real cameras and to explore the streets of our city to capture all its richness," he said. "The objective wasn't to take souvenir photos, but to think about photography." Over the two-year period, approximately 70 people participated in the workshop, collectively taking nearly 1,000 photographs organized into three distinct phases: buildings, animals, and portraits.
The photographs currently on display were selected by the workshop participants themselves through a collaborative decision-making process. Each exhibited photograph is accompanied by an innovative QR code feature that allows visitors to access commentary in both French and the photographer's native language when scanned. This multilingual approach reflects the international diversity of the workshop participants and makes the exhibition accessible to a broader audience.
Reflecting on the experience, Descave described it as profoundly meaningful both personally and professionally. "I take away an extraordinary adventure, a humanly rich experience, a project carried together with very diverse groups," he noted. "During certain sessions, all continents were represented with one common point: French – certainly sometimes clumsy French, with different levels – but the participants communicated with each other in this language that brings them together, and it was very moving. Some of them have even formed real friendships."
The exhibition is designed to be mobile and can be presented outdoors, extending its reach beyond the association's walls. Future showings are already planned, including a display on December 6th at the Scarabée venue during the departure of the 100th edition of the Roanne-Thiers event, and from January 31st to February 8th at the Château de Beaulieu in Riorges.
The Afaf association, which facilitated this community photography project, maintains regular hours from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM, and can be reached at 04.77.72.41.95. The success of this workshop demonstrates how creative arts programs can bridge cultural divides and foster meaningful connections within diverse communities while celebrating local heritage through fresh artistic perspectives.
