Moss Park 'through a lens': Youth get behind camera to capture their community

A group of young people snapping photos of Toronto's Moss Park neighbourhood over the past year say getting behind the camera let them capture a side of a downtown community that's sometimes misunderstood.

The 15 youth had the chance to depict their community in a new light, and learn a thing or two about photography along the way, through a series of free photography workshops hosted by the non-profit organization Neighbourhood Information Post (NIP) beginning in the spring of 2022.

Now, a selection of their snapshots will be featured in a photo exhibit.

Adnaan Haneef, 16, was one of the participants and says he hopes the exhibit will let more Torontonians get to know a neighbourhood that's often made headlines for the wrong reasons, including its homeless encampments. 

"When you're in Moss Park where everything is just [in] motion. Looking at it through a lens and through a camera kind of gives you a different perspective and makes you ponder on some of the more in-the-moment things," Haneef said. 

"Since it's a low-income area and a smaller community, some people see it in a negative light," Haneef said. "I think this photo book will help people look at it in a different way, especially being able to see the youth who are reflective of [Moss Park]."

A total of 20 photos were selected and compiled to be included in the photo book, which will be on display at Parliament Street Public Library for two weeks starting Tuesday. 

Brian Gregory, program leader, said the project aimed to introduce the art of photography to the youth in Moss Park and provide them with skills for both their personal and academic life. 

Each participant, ranging in age from five to 21, was given access to a professional camera kit but could use any device they wanted to capture their photos.

"The approach that we provided them with was something that they could universally use, no matter what type of a camera they were using," said Gregory. 

"We saw immediate growth in the way that they could communicate their ideas, their thoughts," he said, adding some of the photos included in the photo book "capture the essence of the youth in the community."

Gregory said he taught students how to capture high-angle and low-angle photos, and how each makes the subject appear on camera.

"Being able to show them these tricks and watching them go about acting them out on their own, it was really, really special," he said.

"Not all of these kids knew each other, so they got to build relationships and friendships with each other," he added.