Phantomas
Well-known
I just sent an email to Nicos Economopoulos (of Magnum) inquiring about a possibility to join one of his traveling workshops. He'll be running several 1 week full-time workshops in various locations around the world. I've settled on joining him in Beirut. If I'm accepted, that is.
I've been toying around with the idea of joining such workshop for a couple of months now. The idea came unexpectedly from a local guy who bought a camera from me recently. Last year he has joined a Magnum workshop in Barcelona (they still run them) where he got a chance to pick a Magnum photographer as a tutor for a week. I always thought these types of workshops are exclusively for highly talented and/or professionally dedicated people. But after I saw the guy's portfolio I got confidence that I can join too (nothing wrong with his portfolio, but it was nothing groundbreaking or out of ordinary). At that time I was contemplating making a trip on my own with sole purpose of working on photo project (which I will still do, hopefully numerous times). The news of a possibility of a workshop with photographers that I highly admire (Magnum) provided an easy solution - work on locale, learn from a pro. Another important factor is that I admire documentary and street photography and would like to further myself in that field (for personal fulfillment, no other reasons).
I wanted to ask if some of you guys have taken similar workshops. Would like to hear your experiences, stories, etc. I would really appreciate if you could recommend such type of workshop(s) too. Mind that I'm not interested in photo courses dealing solely with technique and useless to me topics like landscape, architecture photography or snapping away only to achieve technical perfection. I'd like to learn to work on a real location, real subject, real stories. I have found a couple of such workshops. So far the ones offered by Nicos caught my eye. But I'm open to alternatives.
Here's the link to Nicos' site: http://ontheroad.gr/ontheroad/home.html
PS: the guy who told me about Magnum workshops told me a story about another group that was working under supervision of Antoine D'Agata in Barcelona. Those of you familiar with his work might imagine that he was pushing his students into danger zone - following hustlers, drug dealers, prostitutes, etc. As a result half of his group ended up robbed and/or beaten
I've been toying around with the idea of joining such workshop for a couple of months now. The idea came unexpectedly from a local guy who bought a camera from me recently. Last year he has joined a Magnum workshop in Barcelona (they still run them) where he got a chance to pick a Magnum photographer as a tutor for a week. I always thought these types of workshops are exclusively for highly talented and/or professionally dedicated people. But after I saw the guy's portfolio I got confidence that I can join too (nothing wrong with his portfolio, but it was nothing groundbreaking or out of ordinary). At that time I was contemplating making a trip on my own with sole purpose of working on photo project (which I will still do, hopefully numerous times). The news of a possibility of a workshop with photographers that I highly admire (Magnum) provided an easy solution - work on locale, learn from a pro. Another important factor is that I admire documentary and street photography and would like to further myself in that field (for personal fulfillment, no other reasons).
I wanted to ask if some of you guys have taken similar workshops. Would like to hear your experiences, stories, etc. I would really appreciate if you could recommend such type of workshop(s) too. Mind that I'm not interested in photo courses dealing solely with technique and useless to me topics like landscape, architecture photography or snapping away only to achieve technical perfection. I'd like to learn to work on a real location, real subject, real stories. I have found a couple of such workshops. So far the ones offered by Nicos caught my eye. But I'm open to alternatives.
Here's the link to Nicos' site: http://ontheroad.gr/ontheroad/home.html
PS: the guy who told me about Magnum workshops told me a story about another group that was working under supervision of Antoine D'Agata in Barcelona. Those of you familiar with his work might imagine that he was pushing his students into danger zone - following hustlers, drug dealers, prostitutes, etc. As a result half of his group ended up robbed and/or beaten
aniMal
Well-known
Hehe - can imagine what happened in Barcelona...
I have been travelling for years, most of the time with expensive cameras, but always felt - and stayed safe. Never had to turn around or change my mind on passing through any places, except for downtown Barcelona...
But it sounds just great - I know I should do something like this if I want to take my photography up on another level.
Good luck - and just do it!
I have been travelling for years, most of the time with expensive cameras, but always felt - and stayed safe. Never had to turn around or change my mind on passing through any places, except for downtown Barcelona...
But it sounds just great - I know I should do something like this if I want to take my photography up on another level.
Good luck - and just do it!
bostanem
Member
im also highly interested in this workshop. i mean just the idea of sharing ideas with these guys is very exciting. this year, 2010, i hope to join in Beirut or Sarajevo as well. I admire Economopoulos's works, especially ''in The Balkans" is totally amazing... He and Alex Webb are the guys who mostly shaped my view.
Phantomas
Well-known
Bostanem - right on! Let's do it!
I just got an email back from Nikos' assistant. She said that the requirements are not very tough and looking at my work - I'm in All I gotta do now is clear my schedule for March so I can join in Beirut. If that dosn't work I'll aim for Albania or Bosnia. Beirut is a priority though.
Bostanem - keep me posted on your progress, would be cool to meet a fellow RFFer at one of those workshops
I just got an email back from Nikos' assistant. She said that the requirements are not very tough and looking at my work - I'm in
All I gotta do now is clear my schedule for March so I can join in Beirut. If that dosn't work I'll aim for Albania or Bosnia. Beirut is a priority though.Bostanem - keep me posted on your progress, would be cool to meet a fellow RFFer at one of those workshops