Seeing Tipton Through a New Lens: Aleena’s Three 15 Photography Walk
Over the summer, the Creative Black Country team welcomed Aleena, a third-year undergraduate student from the University of Birmingham, who is currently undertaking a placement with us. Here, Aleena shares her experience of joining us on one of our Three 15 Tipton pop-up events.
On an unassuming Wednesday morning, I travelled to Tipton excited to learn more about photography - a growing interest of mine. The event taking place was part of a project run by Creative Black Country called ‘Three 15’ which aims to bring arts and cultural experiences to under-represented communities closer to their homes. I had sat in the prep meetings between Megan (Three 15 lead for Tipton) and Bobbie (Black Country Housing), and they were quite excited by the photographer, Ilona, who had worked globally. As one of my first workshops, I was also eager to see how a community comes together and how these workshops build relationships and confidence.
The simple plan of taking photos and walking along the canal was already a beautiful idea, and the addition of a talented photographer, Ilona, added a special and novel feeling. A Polish photographer based in Birmingham, Ilona shared her own story of studying Chemistry in Poland before finding true joy in working with a camera. Ilona’s guiding hand helped many of us learn new features and skills on our phones. As we walked, she showed us how to adjust saturation levels, add a grid on iPhone to create more symmetrical pictures and how natural lighting can elevate a photo.
Many of the members who had joined were residents of Tipton and lived not far from the canals; some even excitedly pointed out their homes as we crossed them and captured their usual environment with increased passion. One participant recalled the industrial history of Tipton whilst another had bought a professional camera which she never had the chance to learn how to use. I remember seeing a particularly satisfied and happy smile on her face at the end. It was a fun and accessible way to get into photography.
Perhaps most telling of the walk’s success was the debrief in the café afterwards, where people eagerly shared their photos. The photographer’s own conviction that a photo can tell a story had passed down to us. People had learnt something new, and more importantly, they had been encouraged to build confidence in their own ability.
The Tipton photography walk was a beautiful and heartfelt morning spent enjoying the company of others and acquiring new skills. Whether it’s in the planning, the accessibility, or even just bringing a feeling of warmth, CBC’s commitment to bringing joy, engagement and creativity was clear. This lovely activity - to capture the beauty in the everyday - was a demonstration of the efforts of a team that truly cares.
After all, as one participant remarked: ‘And it was for free! What can you get for free nowadays?’
