Navigating multiple roles as a researcher in a Photovoice project

Hazel Bryce

doi:10.1921/gpwk.v22i3.754

Authors

Hazel Bryce

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/gpwk.v22i3.754

Keywords:

Photovoice, insider, outsider, curation, participatory, groupwork

Abstract

Abstract: This article focuses on my experience of facilitating a Photovoice project within the context of a government funded outreach mental health team based in the UK. An auto ethnographic lens was used to explore my experience of being simultaneously a facilitator, researcher, participant and mental health professional during the project. Photovoice is a participatory action research methodology which values and shares peoples’ expertise and intimate knowledge of their own communities, through the use of photographs and written captions. The theme for this group project was: the experience of participating in social activity groups that were facilitated by the outreach team. In this article I discuss and reflect on Photovoice methodology, and consider the multiple roles that I adopted and how this relates to insider and outsider positions whilst working with groups. I suggest that the notion of co-curation could be used to further understand and explore the exhibition that was produced. Co-curation is the process of collecting artefacts to produce an exhibition together which represents a shared aspect of life. In this instance photography is the chosen medium to facilitate co-curation.

References

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