This community arts project was funded by Govia Thameslink Railways (GTR). in October 2023 through their ‘Your Station Your Community’ initiative.

This funding was awarded to St Albans Arts Team following a successful and very competitive bid and facilitated by Chris Blanch, Senior Arts Development Officer.

Ex-offenders from HACRO attended four photography sessions at St Albans South Signal Box with professional photographer, Pete Stevens. The project aims were to 

promote improved self-esteem, positive mental health, community cohesion, and learning new skills. With the support of HACRO, they seek to make positive changes to their lives and fully contribute to society.

The images will be displayed on the platforms at St Albans City Station, St Albans South Signal Box from Spring 2024 and featured in the Catching the Chain Exhibition in St Albans Cathedral in October 2024’

Students were equipped with compact Fuji digital cameras and encouraged to follow a 

S.N.A.P approach to their work. In this, the student is taught to Slow-down, Notice Appreciate and then Photograph (using composition, lighting and finally timing).

As a short course it was not possible to introduce any editing skills and therefore the images were cropped by the tutor. From  the raw photographs a total of thirty one images were chosen for display ("the galleries"  above).  The photographs were captioned by the students in open discussion. A final "best picture" is to be chosen in due course.