Introduction
In June/July 2003 the education department at the Whitechapel supported a project in which artist Laurie Long worked with two Year 4 classes (8 - 9 year olds) and their teachers at Pooles Park Primary School in the London borough of Islington.
This was part of the gallery's 'Download' series which focuses on developing currently under utilised technology in the art curriculum and providing web-based resource files for teachers.
Taking initial inspiration from visiting the exhibition of photography by Philip-Lorca diCorcia at the Whitechapel, and Laurie Long's own work, the children went on to take their own photographs in their home environment using disposable cameras.

They first explored the qualities of scanners and developed skills by scanning real objects.

They then used scanning technology to digitalise the images and learned to edit and add captions on computer software. They wrote imaginative stories based on a selection of visual images provided in postcard format and created a sheet of postage stamps from their own photographic portrait. They developed written statements about the choice and significance of their favourite chosen image.

The final outcome for each child was an edition of four colour printed postcards featuring an image they had taken themselves of something special to them in their lives. Each postcard had a caption which focused the meaning of the image. On the reverse the children wrote their statements and affixed one of their own portrait stamps.

People
The project was managed by Annabel Johnson and Helen Lloyd, Schools Programmers at the Whitechapel.
It was led by photographic and installation artist Laurie Long, and supported by Steve Herne, writer and Art in Education Lecturer at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
The project was developed in partnership with Helen McDonnell and David Ogle, class teachers at Pooles Park Primary School and their pupils, two parallel Y4 Classes (8 - 9 years olds).
This web resource was written by Steve Herne and designed by Carl Stevenson, artist and web designer.

Images
Philip-Lorca diCorcia - courtesy of Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York
Laurie Long - courtesy of the Artist
Workshop photographs and Cindy Sherman installation - Steve Herne

Acknowledgements
Valuable advice and assistance was also provided by: Mark Wilson; former ICT Co-ordinator, Pooles Park Primary School
John Potter; Lecturer in ICT in Education, Goldsmiths College
Claire Kelly; Lecturer in English in Education, Goldsmiths College