A GROUP of residents from Carrowshee Park and Sylvan Hill housing estates in Lisnaskea have created their own digital ‘keepsakes’, thanks to a digital photography course provided by the Housing Executive’s ‘Shared Communities Project’.

The course ran for five weeks, and it started in June with a demonstration of the software and the various manipulation tools the class would be using.

The lucky participants had the opportunity to enhance some photos by removing blemishes, straighten objects, changing the perspective of an image and cloning.

They also restored some old photos, changing them from colour to black and white, and learned how to introduce spot colour.

Since then, the group have been out and about capturing images of what they believe is good in their community. They then used these images to practice their newly acquired skills.

The group now intends to use their photos to mount an exhibition in August.

Kathleen Breen, the secretary of the Carrowshee Park and Sylvan Hill Community Group, welcomed the opportunity of the photography course for local residents saying:

“Although it’s only been a few weeks since this started, I can see those participating are already looking at their area in a new light.

“We are delighted with the opportunity from the Housing Executive to take this course. Viewing life through a lens is helping us all gain a new perspective on where we live which, I have no doubt, will do a lot to strengthen already firm community relations.”

Claudia O’Neill, the Housing Executive’s Cohesion Advisor, said the residents had been very enthusiastic participants in the ‘good relations’ projects.

“Their approach to the photography course is no less. We were delighted to be able to support an initiative that has brought the communities together to collectively seek and highlight what is best about their community.”

Like everyone else, she was looking forward to the August exhibition.