Twelve-year-old Aalai Wolffe always thought it was better to be in front of the camera rather than behind it until, that is, she took a course at the Bermuda National Gallery.

She is one of several students taking Exposure, a summer photography course run by Rohan Shastri, a weekly course for 13 to 18-year-olds, running up to September 11.

Aalai joined the course somewhat reluctantly. "I came here with my mother," she said. "We looked at the pictures and I thought they were very interesting.

"She suggested I join the camp, but at first I didn't want to. But she said go ahead and try it."

So to stop her mother from "bugging" her Aalai joined the course and found she loved it.

"I found out there are different ways to take a photograph," she said. "I was trying to take a picture of water, and I was trying to make it freeze.

"Then I remembered what I learned in the course — you use shutter speed to make things stop and look like they are frozen."

Another student, Asha Ushida, 14, said she was also enjoying the course.

"In September when I go to boarding school, they offer photography, so I thought I should know a bit about it before I go," said Asha. "So far, I have learned a lot of stuff. I learned how to use one of the bigger cameras. I would like to be a professional photographer some day."

Melissa Tatem, 14, said she was inspired to try photography by her older brother, Mark, a Royal Gazette photographer.

"I really like taking pictures," she said. "My brother always has different cameras. He lets me try them out.

"In the course, we have learned how to take pictures from different angles."

When asked if she wanted to be a better photographer than her brother, she said "I don't think that's possible. At least it isn't possible now for me."

Course instructor Mr. Shastri, 22, also took up photography due to the influence of a relative and subsequently graduated from the University for the Creative Arts in Guildford, Surrey, England.

"My uncle, Bob Smith, is a professional photographer," said Mr. Shastri. "I got a camera for Christmas when I was 12 years old and I haven't stopped taking photographs since."

The concept for the 'Exposure' course stemmed from a similar project he worked with in London, England.

"That project had the aim of bringing photography to young people, and allowing them to explore and understand their environment in a new light," added Mr. Shastri. "Exposure works in a similar way providing the background knowledge and technical know-how to explore issues that surround Bermuda and that affect young Bermudians.

"I hope that the course will have a positive impact on young Bermudians and inspire and induce creativity in the community," he said.

After the summer camp ends, Mr. Shastri hopes to go travelling.

"Before coming back to Bermuda, I assisted a fashion photographer in England, Jochen Braun," he said. "I have been doing that for about four years.

"It has taken me to a lot of places in Europe. I now know enough about the fashion industry to know I don't want to be in it."

He said he has been teaching for 18 months. "I enjoy it. It is really rewarding when you see someone push themselves and do better. But I think it will be a few years before I settle down to teach full-time."

Mr. Shastri's main interest is tableau photography, where the scene is staged.

"Art photography is about telling a story with one image," he said. "My inspirations are photographers like Jeff Wall, one of the most well known tableau photographers, and Tom Hunter."

Sophie Fox, who helps with the course, said many of the children showed promise.

"If you look around the gallery you can see that," she said. "Every week on a Friday they curate their own gallery space.

"They pick their favourite two pictures. In the morning we do tableau photography and in the afternoon we do gallery workshops. They paint the walls, and hang their pictures. They decide how the space is going to work."

She said for some of the students this was the first time they had taken photographs. "Some of them have done point and shoot photography of their friends," she said.

Exposure classes run from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until September 11.

The course is $235 per week. Spaces are still available. Cameras can be hired. For bookings or to get more information contact Mr. Shastri on 516-8768 or go to http://exposurebermuda.com.