Photographers to Challenge Senior Stereotypes

Photosensitive is inviting CIS Ontario school student photographers to participate in an annual event called The Beauty Project. They are challenging photographers to capture moments that defy senior stereotypes.



This winter, Our Kids magazine’s office neighbour PhotoSensitive is launching their second project with the Conference of Independent Schools (CIS) Ontario. PhotoSensitive has presented annual photojournalism exhibits on themes related to social justice since Toronto Star photographer Andrew Stawicki and former photo editor Peter Robertson founded the organization in 1990. Last year, thirteen CIS Ontario schools were invited to participate in The Beauty Project. The budding photographers were asked to capture their ideas of beauty on camera. The best submissions were displayed at Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto, home to PhotoSensitive’s exhibits and the World Press Photo exhibit.

This year, eighteen CIS Ontario schools will be providing the talent. PhotoSensitive is assigning the students to take photos that challenge stereotypes about old age. By 2050—as the “baby boomers” become Canada’s seniors, living longer and more actively than the generations of seniors before them—it is estimated one in four Canadians will be over the age of 65. The rapidly aging Canadian population is the theme for PhotoSensitive’s own exhibit this year. Select photographers from the collective will visit some of the participating CIS Ontario schools to speak about the project and to teach and inspire the students to take great photos.

 

Written By Matt Oxman, PhotoSensitive