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這段日子正專心設計一個特別的項目。所講的正是香港亞洲協會 剛開始舉辦的攝影『影·亞洲』的藝術通達計劃中的一個伸延項目：黑暗中的影像。

早於今年三月已開始與亞洲協會研究及設計一些與是次影展相關的伸延項目。在多個討論方案中一個主題為黑夜拍攝的工作坊就最為吸引。拍攝的環境正是亞洲協會身處於1863至1868年間建成的前英軍軍火庫建築群。

I have been working on a challenging project the last few months!  The project I am talking about is ‘Visioning in the Dark’, an Arts Access Program that goes together with Picture Asia: Double Take Education Offerings by Asia Society (ASHK) Hong Kong.

I was introduced to ASHK in March to design some extension programs for the ‘Double Take’ photo exhibition with the work by Mr. Brian Brake and Mr. Steve McCurry.  Several ideas were raised and one of the proposed programs draw my attention.  To exercise photography in the dark around the complex of Asia Society, the former explosives magazine compound built by the British Army in the mid-nineteenth century.

為使項目內容更為挑戰及注入深層意義，在得到各方面的支持下我把單純的拍攝活動演化為一個由攝影師合拍視力有障礙的人士共同利用攝影術去進行創作的項目。這項目的著眼點不止在於攝影技術上的交流，更重要的其實是希望透過攝影師與視障人士的創作交流及互動使各參與者從合作中互相啟發。

To make the program meaningful, I suggested to modified the exercise into a more challenging project; collaborating professional / serious amateur photographers with visually impaired participants to create art pieces with photography.  The concept behind the collaboration is simple.  Through the creative process of exchanging ideas and concepts as well as the physical involvement of taking photographs, all participants inspire and be inspired.  And the result will way beyond beautiful photographs.  This is ‘Visioning in the Dark’.

在有限的時間內我們成功地邀請到九位資深攝影師成為今次項目的骨幹成員。再加上得到香港展能藝術會的認同及全力支持，為我們揀選到二十位不同年齡及不同視障程度的人士共同參與。我們更得到 PhaseOne 相機及 Epson HK 的全力贊助提供拍攝器材及數碼打印支援。

Within a month, a group of nine photographers has been invited. And with the help and support from the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK), twenty participants in various degrees of visually impaired have been recruited.  Special thanks to PhaseOne digital camera and Epson HK to sponsor equipment and digital output facility for the project.

九月九號星期六，各被邀請的攝影師齊集位於石硤尾賽馬會創意藝術中心的通達服務中心作首次聚會。是次活動主要是接受由香港展能藝術會各同事特為今次項目而設計的訓練課程。大家除了強化語言表達的能力之外，在不同的工具配合之下更親身體會到不同視障甚至完全失去視力下活動的挑戰。

September 9th Saturday afternoon was the first gathering with the group of photographers at ADAHK’s Jockey Club Arts Accessibility Service Centre (JCCAC, Shek Kip Mei).  It was an important gathering as we were guided by our friends at ADAHK to understand more on the skill and tips in communicating with our visually impaired participants.  Special learning tools were introduced, tips on more efficient verbal expression were taught.  We even have each photographer blind folded and completing task to understand more from the angle of their visually impaired partners.

而在九月十號，攝影師及參與項目的視障朋友在亞洲協會的會場內正式會面。在香港展能藝術會的悉心安排下通過互動遊戲，大家很快便分成十個小組。同時也全面地參觀了這個前英軍軍火庫的建築群，因為這也正是他們在十七及十八號進行攝影創作的場景。在此更要感謝 PhaseOne 相機的技術顧問 「輝哥」不辭勞苦地背著兩套器材跟著大隊大半天。

September 10th Sunday afternoon was another important session as photographers and their visually impaired partners met the very first time at HKAS.  Through warm up exercises and games, teams were formed.  Guided by the professional from ADAHK, the teams were exploring the venue at HKAS as they are free to choose locations and topics to be use for the up and coming photo session.  Special thanks to Mr. Fai Chan (輝哥) from PhaseOne camera (sponsoring their ultra high end medium format digital camera system for the photo sessions) who came to show the teams how to work with the PhaseOne camera.

十七、十八日便是各組盡情創作的時候。無論結果如何，希望各參與者在共同創作及互相啟發的同時能真正的享受攝影的樂趣！

Our big days will be September 17th Saturday and 18th Sunday.  All participants will come (five teams each day) and create their art piece through teamwork.  Looking forward to the photo sessions.

 

Thank you to my friends who provide everything to make this project come true:

Ms. Helen Chen, Ms. Winsome Tam, Ms. Pauline Wong, Ms. Cassandra O’Brien and friends at ASHK

Ms. Lena Lee, Mr. Edmond Chan, Ms. Cecilia Leung, Ivan (my VI friend) and friends at ADAHK

Mr. Gary Wong, Ms. Shane Chan, Ms. Hippo Chan and especially Mr. Fai Chan 輝哥 at PhaseOne

Mr. Sun Lau from Epson HK

Miss Monica Tam, Mr. Stephen Cheung, Mr. Oswald Cheung, Mr. Tim Lau, Mr. Dennis Fung, Ms. Kitty Chou, Mr. Michael Lau, Mr. David Lo, Mr. Dick Lau and Mr. Bowman Poon my photographer friends

Siu Ping Pak, Erica Keung, Edward Lam and Sally Yeung our assistants / volunteers

And Mr. David Young who introduce me to ASHK