Katrina: Images from FEMA's Airport Village
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
July 2006
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of New Orleans citizens were displaced and have taken temporary and permanent residence in Baton Rouge. These families live on large gravel lots filled with rows of white trailer boxes, where the children often have little to do, still left without access to long-term education.
Pam Connolly, a photographer and teacher from New York, decided to contribute to an ongoing effort by the United Jewish Federation by offering the kids what she knew best: photography. Inspired by Born Into Brothels, Connolly contacted Kids with Cameras for support, and brought the same concept to the FEMA trailer park in the Airport Village. She conducted a two-day workshop, teaching a handful of children the basics of photography before letting them free in the trailer village to practice what they had learned.
Participants include Keonna Collins, Marcus Collins, Loki Drummond, Alexis Lee, Melena Miles and Kierra Springfield, under the instruction of Pam Connolly and Mark Teiwes, a local photographer and family case worker. The kids immediately took to the camera, and though their immediate surroundings are stark and monotonous, each child began to become more aware and active in his or her environment.
After the pictures were developed, the children were allowed to keep their cameras and were given additional rolls of film. The photography workshop continued for another four weeks under the direction of Mark Teiwes.
At the close of the workshop, Pam organized an exhibit at the Louisiana State University, which features works by the children. The exhibit runs from July 31 - August 4th at the LSU Union Art Gallery.
Kids with Cameras is pleased to support the work of the Baton Rouge workshop by presenting a sample of the images online. "These photographs are a view into the reality of their living conditions at this time in their lives," Connolly says. "I am never disappointed with how children see and document their environment. There is an honesty and freshness that emanates from their images." Additional photographs can be viewed by contacting pamelacny@optonline.com.
We are currently accepting donations to continue the workshop in Baton Rouge. We are also seeking a local photographer to continue the work with this group of children on a volunteer basis. For more information, please contact info@kids-with-cameras.org.
» Where We Live Postcard (816k) 
Images from the Katrina Workshop
Click each image to view a larger version.
Self-Portrait by Alexis |
Hand Signal by Kierra |
In Between by Loki |
Car Reflection by Loki |
Marcus and Baby Girl by Marcus |
Tracey's Tent by Loki |
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