Photography project aims to capture town's pride

People are attempting to capturing the visions and heart of a town using a range of photography techniques.

The Window to my World workshops sees residents of different backgrounds and abilities in Middlesbrough use their smart phones and digital cameras, as well camera-less and pin-hole camera methods, to celebrate the area.

The free project, led by Young at Heart, will see the finished artworks displayed in the town centre before being exhibited at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art.

Director, Rachel Stark, said: "The workshops are bringing the community together, giving them new skills and allowing them to reflect what they like about Middlesbrough."

The project aims to celebrate Middlesbrough through the eyes of its residents by inviting people from all backgrounds and cultures to share their stories, experiences and perspectives through images.

The 12-week scheme introduced accessible photography skills, creative experimentation and alternative processes to participants. Those processes include using Cyanotype, a camera-less printing process, and also making pin hole cameras using a box or tube to focus and capture light.

Stark said each week participants are taught different techniques and asked to help each other's development by critiquing work.

Tutor Rachel Marsh said: "We've been getting a variety of people so it's nice to learn about them, as well and showing people photography is accessible to everybody."

She said at first she taught people the basics using their smartphones or digital cameras before moving on to more old-fashioned processes.

She said it was "important to learn the old techniques" and to "craft something".

Barbara Whiting joined the workshop to inspire her writing, which she said she had enjoyed since she was a child.

The former English teacher from Hartlepool said being able to tell the story of Middlesbrough's ecology and history through a visual medium would help her writing.

She said: "I hope to learn and go out and take pictures of seals and lots of things I'm proud of in our area."

Young at Heart's social media page states it brings people together through creativity, food, culture and wellbeing, tackling isolation and loneliness in the community.

Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite artwork through the Young at Heart community café.

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.