SEEDS Iceland
Photo Marathon

From mid June 2015 until early January 2016 Aishling worked with SEEDS in Reykjavik Iceland. In her role as Photomarathon Coordinator Aishling carried out photography workshops for groups of 8-12 people, with various skill levels. In her service Aishling carried out 11 projects with a duration of 10-12 days each. She was in charge of organizing & executing workshops as well as organizing & curating the final exhibition of each project, organizing the exhibition space & preparing the photographs & posters for each. 

Every two weeks volunteers from all over the world come to Iceland for the intensive photo project. Aishling was skilled in working in this multicultural context. SEEDS projects are attended by participants from 55 different countries. Participants eat, live & sleep in the same building with coordinators for an immersive photographic experience. Every marathon has different themes. Participants explore their vision of Icelandic life photographically. Workshops are lead in English. Participants range in age from 16-73 years.
SEEDS coordinators work with participants to develop their unique photographic voice through workshops & feedback sessions on technical settings, composition as well as developing conceptual framework which progresses the participants individual style. As the workshop ends the group gathers to select the best pictures to prepare them  for exhibition.  While learning more about photography the participants explore Icelandic culture by taking part in it, capturing it and also by working volunteering for the City of Reykjavik. One of the objectives is to deliver messages and draw the attention from the local population through pictures and photos made during the camp.
Founded in 2005, SEEDS is an Icelandic non-governmental, non-profit volunteer organisation designed to promote intercultural understanding, environmental protection and awareness through work on environmental, social and cultural projects within Iceland.  Photo marathon has been running over nine years.
I felt so free in everything we were doing because you guys gave us the feeling that we were great the way that we are and we didn’t have to change us in any way. I learned so much about photography and my camera, I didn’t even think I could learn that much when I booked this camp. It was such an inspiring camp.
- Maya Bosshard, Switzerland