Where We Stand - The Story
A film photography project made by our community.
Over the past month, we’ve been sharing pictures from a film photography project on Samos. You may have seen a few frames already, this post is the story behind them: why we made this project, who created it, and what we wanted to show.
We called it “Where We Stand” because that’s what it tries to capture: Not stories reduced to crisis, but the ordinary reality that continues alongside it. The spaces we build, the relationships we form, and the way community takes shape here, day by day.
This project wants to put forward the vision and voices of our community volunteers, and they are the artists behind these photos.
Why we made this
Samos is often photographed through a specific lens. Many images focus on the most visible parts of displacement, the emergency, and the response (or lack of one) around it.
That’s part of what’s happening here, those realities exist and they absolutely need to be documented and talked about. In many ways, they’re the reason we do the work that we do… but it’s not the whole story.
At Samos Volunteers, we spend our days in spaces where something else also happens: people learn, share, translate, support each other, and build routines that make life feel a little more normal. We wanted to show that side of Samos too, as it is seen by our community. This is a community story.
“Where We Stand” documents that reality from within the community, through the eyes of people who live it. Community Volunteers are not only part of our day-to-day work: they shape it. They interpret, facilitate, mediate, connect people, and keep our spaces running in ways that are often invisible from the outside.
This project gave space for something simple and important: for people to choose what to show, how to show it, and what everyday life here looks like through their own lens.
“The photos we took were a reflection on how we want to express and share our angle on how we see the community we’re living in. The moments that were captured were pure and genuine, This work was all from the community volunteers, who represent the community, and gave or shared their feelings through these pictures” - Mo
Who made it
The photographers behind this project are SV community volunteers, people from the refugee community who support Samos Volunteers in daily operations.
They are the ones who help make Alpha Centre and Alpha Land feel like spaces where people can breathe. They welcome newcomers, support and facilitate activities, translate difficult conversations, they are simply central to how our spaces and the organisation function.
“As a refugee myself, having spent four and a half months volunteering, I want to honestly say that the project made a significant contribution.
The photography, which closely followed the refugees, showcased the excellent morale and positive interactions with the Alpha team. Their dedicated service left a lasting positive impression, which the refugees still recount in their online groups. Photography played a crucial role in telling the story. Through the camera and spontaneous moments, it created a silent narrative that reflected the true lives of the refugees. The camera was present with us at all times.” - Naba
Why film?
All photos in this series were shot on 35mm film, in half-frame format.
That choice mattered. With film, you’re more intentional: fewer shots, more thought. And since you can’t check the screen, it’s a way to focus on the present moment and to accept whatever comes out of it at the end.
Half-frame provided some extra space for experimentation. You still slow down because it’s film, but you’re not trapped by the “only 36 shots’ mindset”. You can take risks, shoot the in-between moments, and not worry about wasting film or needing to get a “perfect” shot.
In a place where so much is decided by external systems, this project created a space of full control. From shooting, to multiple rounds of selecting and editing. The final series of 10 images was chosen through discussion and votes: what feels true, what feels respectful, and what represents everyday life here.
“Where We Stand” isn’t only documentation, it’s also a statement. How people on the move are represented matters, and they should have control over how their lives are shown. And it’s a reminder that the everyday deserves to be seen, too.
“It was an amazing experience for me. I felt every shot that I took. I believe that each photo has a story and feelings, that made the photographer take it . I really enjoyed the film Photography project. It felt more authentic and thoughtful than digital, and I’m glad I was part of it. “ - Mazen
Thank you
To everyone who made this possible, the photographers : Naba, Mo, Faris, Hassan, Ahmed, Marah, Mudo & Mazen, to the community and the volunteers who supported the process, and everyone who has followed, shared, and supported our work : thank you.
If you like the project, share it with others, and consider supporting Samos Volunteers so we can keep our spaces open and our community work going.
Where We Stand is a snapshot of a moment, but the community behind it is real, and it continues every day.