Louise Franks is living proof you’re never too old to learn a new skill.

The 100-year-old recently developed a knack for using digital cameras and said she now finds great enjoyment in taking pictures of the Island’s landscape.

Her photographic work will be just one of those featured in Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Mindframe/PhotoVoice exhibition, opening at Bermuda Society of the Arts on Friday.

The therapeutic art programme, which launched five years ago, was originally open to clients of the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) as a way to help them express themselves, develop confidence and tap into a new skill. This was the first year the project was made available to eight seniors from the Continuing Care Unit (CCU), but due to its success it could become an annual thing, explained art therapist Reilly Ingham.

“A lot of the CCU participants had never used a digital camera before or even seen one,” Ms Ingham explained. “We started them off with two information sessions so they could learn how to use the equipment and took them on outings around the Island to try and inspire them with their surroundings.

“They were able to take pictures of different places and things that meant a lot to them.

“Mrs Franks, in particular, caught on right away with how to use the camera which was really nice to see.”

Ms Ingham said that after taking the pictures, the participants had a chance to talk about what their images meant to them and what the overall experience was like.

“With Mrs Franks, we would go to somewhere like the Botanical Gardens and she would tell us about the last time she was there. In some cases that hadn’t been for many years, but she would tell us about what she did there while growing up and what the place used to look like.” Ms Ingham said.

Interestingly enough, Mrs Franks was never really keen on using the cameras of her day when she was younger.

Her sister, Florence Butterfield, was the photographer of the family and known to take beautiful pictures using a Kodak Box Camera that she bought on her first trip to New York City in 1922.

Mrs Franks, however, was more interested in seeing the finished product of the photos.

Even to this day she is known to light up when she sees pictures of her loved ones from decades past. And thanks to the PhotoVoice programme, Mrs Franks has a new appreciation for the art.

Her favourite photograph is one she took of a red flower at Botanical Gardens, which reminded her of happy memories gone by.

“I used to have flowers in the garden myself like geraniums, roses and violets a long time ago,” she said. “I liked the smell of them and just the colours.”

When the centenarian learned some of her photographs would be featured in this week’s exhibit, she admitted it was emotional moment.

“I was just overwhelmed, so much I could cry,” she said. “When they told me [that] morning that one of my photos had been picked I was so surprised.”

Mrs Franks said that she would love to take part in this programme again. “It’s something personal and something I can share,” she said, “but it also felt good to get to learn something new.”

The Mindframe/PhotoVoice Exhibition will take place at City Hall from October 10 to 28.