You, me, city, sea: we are all coral

Quite often, when we are learning something new, it can be a struggle to grasp a concept unless we can connect it to something tangible, something relevant. So, when we asked photographer, marine biologist and all-round coral expert Martin Colognoli to join our Canon Young People Programme and teach nine city-dwelling teenagers about coral conservation and the ecology of the ocean… well, there was only one thing to do.

Which is how Ali, Ouways, Enes, Awa, Mariame, Pranitha, Ramata, Kandioura and Mansour found themselves standing on the Cap Blanc-Nez, near Calais, overlooking the sea. “What’s that land over there?” one asked. “That’s the English coast,” answered Martin, to looks of astonishment.

Guiding them through three exciting days of coastal exploration, he showed them how we use images to connect us with our world. Most of us will never experience the extraordinary beauty of a coral reef in person – and yet protecting them is just as important for our teenagers in Paris as it is to communities in London, farmers in West Africa or families anywhere who depend on the ocean’s health. So, this trip was eye-opening in many ways, not least of which was their chance to see what the world holds outside the capital.

Because these students, aged 13 to 17, are from Goutte-d'Or, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. It’s one of the most diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods in the city (the name literally translates as ‘drops of gold’), but it has traditionally also been a complex area, with very real social challenges. Which is why les Enfants de la Goutte d'Or (EGDO) was founded, to support children and young people with everything from education, sport and culture to behaviour strategies. It was through their relationship with Canon France’s Young People Programme that Martin was introduced to the group.

Their first day was spent in Boulogne-sur-Mer, home to Nausicaá, the largest aquarium in Europe, where they had their first exposure to both corals and cameras. “This was a big discovery,” remembers Martin. “Because some had never even seen the sea and here we were, looking at fish, talking about the ocean and learning about coral. The look of amazement on their faces! They loved it and were so happy to be there.”

There is something deeply touching about childhood wonder, especially when those formative experiences happen as they hurtle towards adulthood. “They didn’t know what a hostel was. And were not used to going to restaurants to eat. Many had never been away from their families before. All these experiences were completely new to them,” he says, adding, “and then they were learning so much about coral too.”

Because “even adults don’t feel connected to coral” Martin knew that he needed an approach that resonated with the teens. Alongside an aquarium guide, he reminded them that coral can be found in all sorts of places, not just in tropical regions, and talked about his experience setting up the NGO Coral Guardian. He used his artistic project WE ARE CORALS as a way to bring the very human qualities of coral to life. “They co-operate underwater and we can be inspired by that. We also looked at how coral takes up space for the long-term, just like we do.”

But it was on day two that some came face-to-face with the sea for the very first time, standing on the clifftop, pointing their cameras at Dover (“it was really windy, cloudy and raining – then it suddenly stopped and we had sun for two hours!”). And a moment like this, with the crashing waves beneath them, was the perfect time to tackle the really big questions – “Why is the sea salty? How does the moon control the tides?” They visited a local museum that answered even more questions about the coastal ecosystem. Then it was time to return home to Paris and apply their new knowledge to a very special photographic project.

The Canon France offices gave a warm welcome the following day and after a VIP tour of the Customer Experience Centre, they settled into a photography workshop with Martin, making portraits inspired by WE ARE CORALS for an exhibition at FGO-Barbara, a huge cultural centre in the heart of Goutte-d'Or. It was a very different experience to be in the studio, learning how to professionally light a portrait. However, it pulled together everything they had collectively learnt, which became clear when journalists spoke to the teenagers about their experience. “They were telling them things they didn’t know two days before!” laughs Martin. “Co-operation, symbiosis, the way corals live with algae – they learnt a lot!”

The run up to the exhibition was, then, a time of real anticipation for all involved. Friends and family were invited to a private view, which was incredibly exciting and, says Martin, “they were all really happy to be the artists of the moment”. Speeches were made, parents were thrilled and the photography couldn’t have been more highly praised.

It was also hugely touching to see their photography sharing walls with a very special selection of portraits by Martin. By combining each of the young people’s faces with images of the beautiful corals they had spent three days learning about, he symbolised a profound sense of connection – “not separate from nature, but part of the same living system”.

The photographs also told a powerful story of three days of learning and how conversations about the ecology of coral reefs can change you, even if you’d never seen the sea before. It was, for Martin, something he will remember all his life, “the wonder in their eyes, discovering new things, so willing to learn.” Perhaps the teens of Goutte d’Or can now picture themselves as part of the future we all want to see.

We’re supporting efforts to save the unseen world of coral. Follow the progress of our work here.