Photography has a long running history within Mladi Most and has always proved successful and popular – there are currently 15 students from both sides of Mostar who work in an adequately equipped darkroom. Participants are taught technical camera handling skills, along with traditional and experimental techniques in developing and printing. Methods of selection and editing of material for public display are also taught along with exhibition organisation and promotion.

The Photo co-ordinator and assistant work one-on-one or with small groups, guiding the students through basic and more advanced skills workshops. Through this work a supportive relationship is developed between mentor and student as well as between the students as they are connected and collaborate together through group work.

Photography is presented as an opportunity for each individual to creatively present their ideas and perceptions of the world around them, to state a critical view created through the lens of a camera. The public exhibitions are a way of creating a voice for these personal perceptions. They are also a statement of the group’s desire and ability to work together; with others of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.

More advanced individuals are encouraged to be increasingly independent in their work and come to use the dark room on their own. They also work in small groups to develop their ideas for more adventurous projects - such as more creative methods of exhibiting or printing their work. The most responsible and advanced students are also guided into positions of leadership for the beginner levels, simultaneously learning administrative and teaching skills, which also widens their future job prospects.

There is a continuing relationship with the Vukovar youth group, ‘Youth Peace Group Danube’ (who participated in Mladi Most’s Summercamp in 1998) which has developed through the Photography Project. In January '99 a Photo exchange took place in Mostar where Vukovar participants worked together with Mladi Most’s Photography students creating pictures for a collective exhibition. This summer, from 28^th June to 10^th July, the Mostar group participated in a Photo Summercamp near Vukovar, where a temporary dark room was created and the participants worked together to produce a second collective exhibition.

+ Together with the English photojournalist, Natasha-Marie Brown, the group was working towards an exhibition to be opened at the Beginning of December ’99 in Mostar. The theme of this exhibition was ‘A portrait of Mostar’. This included 2 projects: The first was a study of Mostar at night in colour. Students were encouraged to experiment with exposure, ambient light, flash, filters etc. The second was a portrait of the people of Mostar, where each student took a roll of black and white film and had to take 36 different portraits of strangers. This encouraged students to communicate with their subjects and to build confidence both verbally as well as behind the camera.

+ In November ’99 the first issue of the photography magazine RETROVIZOR was published. The magazine, sponsored by SHL (Schueler Helfen Leben) was launched at the opening of our exhibition ‘A portrait of Mostar’. The magazine included a review and pictures of the Portrait of Mostar project, presentation of other photo groups and professional photographers within and from outside BiH, an interview with a professional photographer as well as a technical trouble-shooting section about equipment. By presenting the groups' work and images they produce the publication also serves to give young photographers a voice in the public.

+ Introductory photography classes were also expanded to collaborate with the YWELN (Young Women’s Experimental Learning Network) for a three month period starting from the middle of September ‘99. The project, which involved 14 young women from the area of Mostar, was based on weekly creative photography workshops moulded around the young women’s ideas and issues. The women's work will be exhibited in February 2000.

During the last year the Photography-project was exhibiting at events in Mostar, Travnik, Sarajevo, Vukovar, Berlin and Seitenstetten in Austria.

Based on the success of the photography project and the group’s interest in this type of work we want to reach out to other young photographers and establish a network between different photo groups and individuals throughout BiH and the former Yugoslavia.

Within the Photo-Network young, innovative photography groups and individuals from BiH, Croatia and Yugoslavia will collaborate throughout the year in a series of seminars, publications and exhibitions. The visual aim of the Network is to create a ‘ Portrait of former Yugoslavia in the year 2000, five years after Dayton’, by focusing on:

• A critical presentation of former Yugoslavia since the peace agreement from young people’s perspective.
• Gathering multiple perspectives from different areas, cultures and experiences.
• Bringing these perspectives to local and international communities for recognition and consideration and so contributing to the process of future change.

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