Alan Chin’s Porch On TAP Residency: A Lens on Creativity and Connection
Can simply taking a photograph change how we see the world, and each other?
For Alan Chin, co-founder of Facing Change: Documenting Detroit, photography is more than art—it’s a way of navigating life’s complexities, building community, and unlocking potential.
Chin’s residency blended creative practice and community engagement through three central components: analog photography skill-building, mentoring Inside Southwest Detroit’s youth photography interns, and a trip to New York City during the annual Photoville festival to interact with the works of other photographers and organizations.
The Magic of Analog Photography
Participants in the first Darkroom 101 workshop series developed technical skills and learned to slow down, engage deeply, and connect meaningfully—with their craft, their peers, and their community. A pivotal moment came in the darkroom when participants saw their first film negatives transform into positive images. Chin described their experience as "thrilling" and "magical."
“The power of joy and discovery was evident as participants watched their photographs come to life, demonstrating the transformative potential of hands-on learning.”
Mentorship played a central role in extending the residency’s impact beyond the darkroom workshops. Alan Chin worked together with Gabriela Baginski, a skilled fine arts photographer and 2017 alum of Documenting Detroit’s fellowship, to mentor the first Portrait Studio interns in street and portrait photography throughout the summer.
A Transformative Trip to New York City
One highlight of the residency was the trip to New York City. Each day, participants explored a different aspect of photography, the city, and its people. Centered around a visit to Photoville, a celebration of visual storytelling with outdoor exhibits across all five boroughs, the trip exposed participants to a broad world of lens-based inspiration.
Chin hosted the group at his Brooklyn loft and studio for a home-cooked meal, sparking conversations about art, creativity, and life. Chin challenged them to see beyond the frame, teaching them “not only to frame compelling images but also to explain their projects and invite others into their creative process.”
The trip became a lesson in perspective and connection, showing how photography is as much about relationships as it is about capturing images.
An Invitation to Rethink Possibilities
As the director of Documenting Detroit, a key partner in the Avis Street Photo Studio, and resident artist for Inside Southwest Detroit’s Porch On TAP program, Chin brought a wealth of experience and unique vision to the neighborhood, offering a transformative workshop series for aspiring photographers.
Alan Chin’s Porch On TAP residency was an invitation to rethink creativity, collaboration, and possibility.