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While out gardening one day, a boy who was using a watering hose, and getting very wet in the process, noticed the rainbow effect from the sunlight shining through the spray. I discreetly watched from a distance and could only guess at his thoughts and feelings. I sensed his excitement, daring himself to take it further but how could he without getting a "stop it" shout from me? He took the risk. (The possibility of my getting drenched was in the back of my mind too!) I wanted to be open and as willing and as safe as possible so I just watched and shared his delight from a distance as he wallowed in the freedom of giving himself a thorough soaking, grinning all the time. This freedom to revert to pleasures of childhood play occurred on another occasion when two boys who were being supervised by two staff were permitted to engage in a water fight. I was able to catch this blissful boyhood enjoyment with my camera. The elation and huge sense of fun was just wonderful to witness. These boys were re-learning to play, and discovering that exhilaration can be fun without danger — unlike the serious things such as joy riding, for which many of them had been placed in the remand unit. The photographs have proven to be a huge bonus, offering the boys and their families a permanent reminder that there can be laughter and fun and a sense of achievement, even in a remand unit. As I mentioned earlier, I have given considerable thought to how photography can open up exciting possibilities in building positive self-images. I still wonder how these boys with appallingly low levels of self-esteem can be so open and eager to be photographed, taking great pleasure in the pictures of themselves. These are often pinned up on their bedroom walls. Occasionally I would arrange for certain prints to be enlarged to full A4 size and these were particularly prized. How many so called healthy adults can look at pictures of themselves in wonder and approval, let alone display them for daily viewing? |
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