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You are in: Kent > People > Your Stories > Photographer Extraordinaire

Christopher Diedo, photographer.

Christopher Diedo, photographer.

Photographer Extraordinaire

Christopher Diedo, from Dartford, shows a remarkable talent for photography, and doesn't let his Down's Syndrome hinder his art.

Christopher has significant to severe learning difficulties and has no formal training or qualification in photography. He doesn't let any of these difficulties stifle his talent.

His work was selected to form part of the "Shifting Perspectives 2009" organised by the Down's Syndrome Association.

Cut the Sky. Photo by Christopher Diedo.

Cut the Sky. Photo by Christopher Diedo.

Christopher has always been a fighter, and was the first pupil with Down's Syndrome to be placed full time in a NW Kent primary school, after his parents won an appeal for Christopher to go to the same school as his older brother and sister.

He went on to secondary school in Bexley, and, again, was the first full time pupil with Down's Syndrome in the borough to attend a mainstream secondary school.

Christohper Diedo and the winners of the poetry competition at Dartford Grammar School.

Christohper Diedo and the winners.

Christopher's first exhibition of his photographs recently opened at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford. As part of the exhibition, pupils at Dartford Grammar School were invited to win one of Christopher's photos by writing a poem about their favourite scene. Christopher spoke to the 900 pupils at their end of year assembly, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The winners were Thomas Scanlon, Lucas Gregory, Dorothy Allen-Pickard and Ann C Clarke.

Chris won a camera and vouchers in the Annual National Mencap "Snap" competition. His two winning entries, a Bronze award for 'Grave Words' and a 'Photographer of the Future' award for 'Seascape', were exhibited at the Proud Camden Gallery, London along with other winning entries.

last updated: 29/07/2009 at 12:42
created: 13/05/2009

You are in: Kent > People > Your Stories > Photographer Extraordinaire



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