My Street

A screen-free photography and storytelling project about people, place and everyday life

What stories live just outside our front door?

My Street invites teenagers to slow down, step outside and see their local neighbourhood with fresh eyes. Through analogue portrait and observational photography, participants explore the character, details and rhythms of the street around them, the people they pass, the overlooked corners, the signs of community and the quiet stories woven into everyday life.

Using film cameras rather than phones or digital devices, young people are encouraged to look more carefully, think more intentionally and engage more meaningfully with the world around them. The result is a creative, thoughtful and confidence-building experience that combines photography, storytelling, observation and human connection.

The project develops visual literacy, communication skills and social awareness, while removing the pressure of screens and instant results.

Three stylized, gradient-colored silhouettes of people, representing a diverse group, with blue, purple, and pink hues, set against a futuristic, abstract background.

13 to 18 years old

A stylized digital illustration of a calendar icon with a purple and blue gradient, set against a black background with streaks of light.
Neon sign of a clock and an hourglass on a gray wall.

1 hour. 3 sessions

Weekends

Storytelling

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Portrait

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Documentary Photography

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Storytelling - Portrait - Documentary Photography -

Curiosity Starts Outside

My Street is about discovering that meaningful stories do not always happen far away. Often, they are already close by, in familiar roads, shopfronts, pavements, neighbours, passing moments and the small details most people no longer notice.

This project encourages teenagers to observe their local environment with curiosity and care, using analogue photography as a way to document what they see and how they feel about it. Along the way, they begin to recognise that streets are not just places we move through, they are places where identity, memory, routine, culture and connection all quietly exist.

This makes the project both creative and personal. It is not simply about taking photographs. It is about learning how to notice, interpret and tell real stories from everyday life.

Enquire about this project
An infographic with four sections, each featuring an icon and text. The first section has a sun icon with a cross over a phone and camera, labeled "Screen-Free Creativity," describing hands-on learning with film cameras and urban focus. The second section has a shield with a checkmark, labeled "Trusted & Safe," mentioning enhanced DBS and safeguarding-led delivery with outdoor planning. The third section shows a silhouette of a child with a checklist, labeled "Tailored to Your Child," emphasizing personalized project sessions based on child's interests. The fourth section has an open photo book icon, labeled "Tangible Outcome," describing a mini photo zine and outdoor display near trees.
Colorful row houses with pastel facades on a city street, a white bicycle parked against a black fence, a tree on the sidewalk, and a cloudy sky.

Real Streets. Real Stories.

In a world of fast scrolling, instant images and constant digital noise, My Street offers something refreshingly different.

It invites young people to slow down and engage with the real world, face to face, street by street, frame by frame.

Analogue photography changes the pace completely. There is no instant preview, no deleting, no endless retakes. Each image asks for thought, care and attention. This naturally encourages patience, decision-making and a stronger connection to the creative process.

For many young people, this can feel freeing. It takes away the pressure to be perfect online and instead opens up space for genuine curiosity, experimentation and expression.

    • Encourages patience and intention

    • Removes instant judgement

    • Makes each photograph feel valuable

    • Slows down social interaction

    • Builds confidence through process

    • Analogue camera use

    • Framing and composition

    • Portraiture with consent

    • Observational photography

    • Editing and sequencing

    • Storytelling through images

    • Develop awareness of their local community

    • Build confidence speaking to others

    • Learn respect, consent and empathy

    • Create a tangible photographic outcome

    • See their street as a shared space

    • Parental consent for street photography

    • Clear rules around privacy and boundaries

    • No names or addresses without permission

    • Adult supervision at all times

aims & benefits

Creative

Develop analogue photography skills.

Build confidence in observation and framing. Explore texture, light, form and scale.

Introduction to analogue portrait and documentary photography.

Understanding of how images can tell a story.

Environmental

Increase awareness of local streets and neighbourhood spaces.

Understand how streets shape community life, safety, identity, and well-being.

Encourage pride, care, and a sense of stewardship for the places we share every day.

Well-being

Promote calm, focused outdoor exploration.

Encourage connection to the local neighbourhood and everyday surroundings.

Support mental well-being through mindful observation and real-world human connection.

  • Analogue camera.

  • Film or Polaroid.

  • Tripod.

  • LED Lighting.

  • Backgrounds (optional).

  • Sketchbook.

Outline of an open briefcase with a modern, gradient color scheme transitioning from blue to pink.

materials

Provided by the artist

Stylized illustration of a stack of coins colored in gradient shades of blue and purple, with one coin leaning against the stack.

ESTIMATED COST

£350 for 3 sessions.

Get started today

Start a project enquiry

About the Project Leader

David

Artist, Photographer & Arts Educator

David is an artist, photographer and senior arts educator with over 25 years of professional creative practice and extensive experience in higher education.

He is a faculty member in the Cultural and Creative Industries Department at Barking & Dagenham College and Programme Leader at the University of East London, School of Arts and Digital Industries. David holds a BA (Hons) in Photography and a Certificate in Education and has been teaching Photography, Art and Design since 2008.

Alongside his academic career, David has worked as an art photographer and publisher since 1997, bringing real-world creative industry insight into his teaching. He is fully Enhanced DBS certified and known for his calm, thoughtful approach to nurturing creativity, critical thinking and visual literacy in young people.