POSTCARD EXCHANGE 

Starting this past winter The New Orleans Kid Camera Project kids conducted a Postcard Exchange with young photographers from Rochester, NY who are part of Studio 789 Wilson Foundation Academy Photo Club.  Studio 789 started as an eight week pilot project in the spring of 1999 and is now in its ninth year as a 22 week after school photography program for students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades.  Community Darkroom (where Ariya and Tara formerly worked and taught) at Genesee Center for the Arts & Education conducts this program. 

Students in Studio 789 learn how to use a professional fully adjustable 35mm camera, go on field trips in the community, make their own black and white prints, compose writing to accompany their images and learn to use Photoshop and In Design.  They used their own images as the postcard and they asked our kids all kinds of questions about their friends and families, what they liked to do and what it was like to live in New Orleans.   







What's good Dean, (this means what's up)
my name is Angelica but you can call me Gelly.  I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana.  I love New Orleans, but i want to go to college in New York.  So how is it up there?  It's real crazy here.  I'm a member of The New Orleans Kid Camera Project and I love it.  We take pictures and develop them in the darkroom too.  We also go on field trips and have lots of fun.  Oh and by the way I have a picture that looks exactly like yours.
Gelly 








Hi Brittany,
my name is Lashay.  Before the storm hit we were in Poplarville, Mississippi.  Things are not much better here in New Orleans because of violence.  My favorite thing to do in photo club is to take pictures.  I like to take pictures of people.  Where do you live?  And what is it like?  How old are you and when is your birthday? That's all for now.
LaShay








Hi Thomas,
No, I didn't meet Oprah. I'm also interested in the TV shows that you like. I also like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The Suite life of Zack and Cody is about two twins that are living in a hotel and they are close to shutting it down because they start trouble. I am in the 5th grade at Milestone Sabis Academy of New Orleans. I just made a pinhole camera and I painted it blue. Have you ever made one? I like to take pictures of all kinds of things. What kinds of pictures do you like to take?
Erica







Dear Stacey,

No, I wasn't scared when Katrina hit. Yes, I went to school in Lafayette. I have three sisters. I think your picture looks like a heart that can fly. I would like a tattoo when I am an adult. My favorite sport is football and my favorite thing is running. My picture tells about people in New Orleans who are rebuilding. What do you do on Saturdays? Did a hurricane ever hit New York?
Nicholas

We would like to thank all of the students and teachers for providing the opportunity for our kids to share stories and images in such a personal and fun way. A special thank you to Beth Lyons, a lead teacher for Studio 789 and the person who got this ball rolling, and Sharon Turner the director of Community Darkroom, as well as Jen Perena.