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Tom Koidhis of Fort Smith is among the photographers who captured images during the Arctic Winter Games and the South Slave Friendship Festival. This is a shot of Shadow Trudeau-Edkins dancing in Fort Smith. - photo courtesy of Tom Koidhis

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Work by six photographers from around the NWT ranging in age from 16 to 21 is on display at the visitors centre this month.

The Frozen Eyes Photographic Society exhibit of student work includes photos by Tom Koidhis and Karl Johnson of Fort Smith, Sophie Stefure of Tuktoyaktuk, Chrissie Morgan of Hay River and Jessica Deane and Kevin Rattray of Yellowknife.

Mentored by advanced and professional photographers, the students captured thousands of images during the Arctic Winter Games, the air show, Folk on the Rocks and the South Slave Friendship Festival in Fort Smith.

As organizer of the cultural component of the AWG, Ben Nind approached professional photographer Dave Prichard to assemble a mentoring program for young photographers.

Rhonda Kennedy, Daren Gallo, George Lessard, Pat Kane, Fran Hurcombe, Robert Mulders and Tessa MacIntosh joined Prichard to introduce youth to photography.

Using Nikon DSLR cameras supplied by the AWG, the students shot up to 2,000 photos a day during the games.

"We had such good results with this project a number of us thought it would be worthwhile to continue photo education for young people in the NWT," Prichard said.

With the equipment donated by the AWG, the photographers formed the society and continued helping the youth to shoot events during the summer. The society now has 16 members.

The society plans to further develop photo education programs and will eventually approach teachers and schools with that aim.

In coming years national and international exhibitions of young people's work will be pursued by the society.