For three days, a group of students from the Afenes Association, a collective for people with mental health issues, has explored the streets of Antequera with the aim of capturing details and scenes that often go unnoticed. The workshop, led by Mariano Pozo, director of the Escuela Nómada de Fotografía f22, sought to teach that a camera is used not only for recording but for showing what people normally overlook.
The first session focused on photographic language, addressing technical and historical aspects and analyzing how composition and framing can alter an image's message. On the second day, participants immersed themselves in actively seeking visual elements such as reflections in shop windows, shadows, architectural details, and everyday scenes, transforming the city into a large creative stage.
The resulting photographs, exhibited in the courtyard of the Antiguo Hospital de San Juan de Dios, have surprised with their originality. Beyond the most recognizable Antequera, the images show a municipality full of small gestures, contrasts, and unexpected perspectives, with the camera acting as an invitation to close observation.
“"Each person observes different details, and that greatly enriches the final result."
Mariano Pozo emphasizes the value of photography as a tool for expression and self-confidence, especially for individuals with mental health challenges. "In photography, no one can tell you how you should feel about an image. Each participant constructs their own interpretation of reality, and that builds confidence," he explains. The workshop has not only yielded a collection of images of Antequera but also reflections on the multiplicity of views of the same place and the healing power of photography.
“"The hours I spent taking photos, I didn't think about anything else and I felt good."
