Fresh Eyes Photography Project is currently active in three New Mexico state juvenile facilities. These facilities include, J. Paul Taylor Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Las Cruces, Youth Diagnostic and Development Center (YDDC) and Camino Nuevo Youth Center in Albuquerque.

At each of these facilities two, 10-week semesters are offered yearly. Classes meet once a week for two hours. A maximum of 8 students are served in each class. Interest in the class exceeds the numbers we are able to accommodate as class size is limited by both the number of available instructors and teaching equipment. (cameras and laptops)

Our teaching methods stress the importance of moving beyond point and click photography. Students learn how to set the manual controls on the camera and how these controls are used to achieve special artistic effects. The final two classes are spent learning the basic principles of the digital darkroom and how to apply these principles to their personal work.

All instructors are professional photographers and volunteers. Oftentimes additional classroom materials are provided by the instructors at their own expense. We are often assisted in the classroom by volunteers from the community and generous time contributions from AmeriCorp.

Across the country there are many thousands of incarcerated young people who could benefit from this program. Generous contributions and gifts from the community help us to expand the program and make classes available to more youngsters. If you are interested in contributing please click here to make your tax-deductible donation.

If you are interested in starting your own local chapter of the Fresh Eyes Photography project, please contact us.