The Creative Eye with David Burnett

A reporter with an artistic eye: how to be creative in storytelling

Goal

Learn and improve how to build a news reportage by covering an editorial story defined with David Burnett. Refine storytelling and story composition by analyzing real-situation problems, images analysis, editing and captions writing. Most of all, the workshop with David Burnett will help you discover your own visual language as well as practical and conceptual know how to confront real situation reportage making.

This workshop will also focus on how to bring creativity to news storytelling, while staying close to the real scene.

Biography

David Burnett was born in 1946 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Early in his career he became the last photojournalist to cover the American war in Vietnam for Life magazine. He has since worked in over 70 countries, documenting the coup in Chile (1973), revolution in Iran (1979), famine in Ethiopia (1984), the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), and the US military intervention in Haiti (1994).

A co-founder of Contact Press Images in 1976 with Robert Pledge, he is the winner of the 1973 Robert Capa Gold Medal, the 1979 World Press Photo Premier Award, the Overseas Press Club of America’s Olivier Rebbot “Best Reporting from Abroad in Magazines and Books” Award in 1984, and a first prize in the World Press Photo in 2005.

David served as a WPP juror in 1997 and President of its jury in 1999. He taught the WPP Masterclass in 2007.

A veteran journalist of the political scene in Washington, he has photographed every American president from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

He has covered every summer Olympics Games from 1984 to 2008 and is the author of E-motion: The Spirit of Sport.

In 2006 he produced a 26-page essay on the traces of Hurricane Katrina for the National Geographic magazine.

In March 2007, his story on Orlando appeared in National Geographic.

During the 70s David was a contract photographer for Time magazine, a role he has reprised since 2003.

In February 2009, commemorating Bob Marley’s 64th birthday, David published “Soul Rebel:An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley” (Insight Editions, 2009); a companion show opened to acclaimed reviews at Washington, DC’s Govinda Gallery.

His book on the Iranian Revolution “44 Days: Iran and the Remaking of the World” (NG/FocalPoint, 2009) was published in September 2009.

He is based in New-York City.

“David Burnett is a living legend of photography and to take part in one of his workshops is a plunge in the history of the XXth century.

David, with his 40 years of experience in photojournalism, is still in the spotlight, he was able to evolve with the times, keep creative while keeping his own photographic identity.

He is the best example of persistence while also being a redoutable advisor on a technical point of view, where he excels. And not to mention this great humanity that is the secret of the masters.” Véronique Sutra, Founder & CEO at Eyes in Progress.

David Burnett is a co-founder of Contact Press Images. www.davidburnett.com.

If you want to be kept informed about David Burnett, you can go on Facebook, LIKE Eyes in Progress or his agency’s page and add us on your list of interests.

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Program

«I still think what I see as an artificial boundary between journalism and art, is one that really ought to be more diffuse, transparent. I suppose art is art only if you premeditate what you're doing. So they say. But I think there is something inherent in the photographic process, the seeing, the understanding, which has every bit as strong an element of connection as anything in the art world. I have always thought the process a bit skewed in favor of those who decide. So perhaps we have to decide for ourselves. I remain a reporter, but, dare I say it, with an artistic eye [...].

The one thing I think I would advise young photographers, in particular, is that in most cases no one can be as hard on you as you will be on yourself. Do not settle for easy. Do not settle for that first image. Craft it, work it, and make something more out of it. » David Burnett

This will be a hands on workshop with shooting sessions, individual assignments, daily group discussion and editing sessions.

You'll be expected to fully immerse yourself, take risks and push your boundaries in order to move forward into another level in your photography.

Day 1

Masterclass - Projections
David Burnett will spend time talking about his own work and the different projects he has worked on. He will share his photographic references with the group and discuss the challenges of being a working photographer.

Portfolios reviews and projects definition
Each participant will receive and in-depth critique of their work which will also be used as a jumping board for workshop assignments. In order to make the most of the 4 workshop days, participants are highly encouraged to come to the workshop with defined ideas on the subject they want to photograph during the workshop. However, a session will be devoted to refining each participant’s story and a list of suggestions of projects will be provided by Eyes in Progress.

Days 2 & 3

Masterclass - Projections
Each day begins with a masterclass session when David Burnett focus on one aspect of his work.

Portfolios reviews and projects definition

Shooting session
Each participant goes shoot his own project. Help with directions, contacts and translation in Paris will be provided by the workshop team if needed. Participants are encouraged to come back as often as they can to the studio so they can show their photographs and get the feedback and improvement suggestions of David Burnett.

Back at the studio
Through the selection and discussion of the best images of the day, the participants will work towards developing their own photographic style and hopefully, see their overall approach improve.

Day 4

Final portfolio editing
Each participant will work on a large edit of his images, then they are printed and laid down on a table (10×15 format). The final editing and sequencing is made during a one-to-one session with David Burnett, participants are encouraged to attend the sessions of each other. Once the final edit is done, the participants may work on the post-process and captions. They are then to write a personal statement on the work and on themselves, which will be send to the photography expert of their choice.

Final projections

Teaching language: English.

Workshop hours: 9h30 to 17h30.

Previous Workshops

2015

6-BD_Eyes_in_Progress_Image_libre_droit_David_Burnett

2014

Apr 13 - Apr 16, 2016
4 days in Paris - 980 €

Early Bird 930 €
before Jan. 13th

DONE

PARTICIPANTS’
WORKS

Conditions

- Only 9 students will be admitted for each session. Students will be granted admission to the workshop based on a review of a selection of 10 of their photographs.

- The 980€ fee does not include transport, accommodation nor on the ground expenses. For participants coming from outside the European Union, please be aware that there is a bank fee when making the payments via bank transfer.

- In order to confirm your application, an advance payment of €100 is advised. Once the application is completed, we will send an email via PayZen to the participant in order to settle the payment. If the candidate is accepted, this amount will be deducted from the overall cost of the workshop.

- In case the participation is not confirmed, he will get a full pay back of the 100€ fee.

- If accepted, the participant will receive a course contract confirming the success of his application by email.

- To confirm registration, the participant must return this contract to us, signed, within ten days, along with payment of 30% of the cost of the workshop.

- The rest of the fee must be paid by the first day of the workshop at the latest. The participant will then receive a receipt.

- A dossier in order to get prepared for the workshop will be sent to the participant at least two weeks before the course begins.

- If you're willing to participate in more than one workshop, we do offer a 10% discount on the following workshops' price.

Pre-requisite

- Successful candidates will be expected to arrive comfortable with their equipment and ready to photograph.

- Participants working digitally should bring their own laptops, and everything needed for digital editing.

- Participants working on film can use external laboratories services to develop their films but at their own expense and within the given time. Eyes in Progress will provide a list of laboratories and prices and the workshop team will be able, whenever possible, to bring the films to the lab and back once they're developed.

- Participants are required to find their own accommodation in Paris. However Eyes in Progress will provide you with a list of affordable places.

Education material

- Photo books

- Projector and screen

- 1 MAC with photo editing software

- Professional A3 printer

- Negative scanner

- Photo paper

A technical assistant will be present during the workshop.

After the workshop

- The portfolios produced by each participant will be published on the site of Eyes in Progress.

- An evaluation committee comprised of professional photo editors, journalists, creative directors and gallery curators will then critique these portfolios. It will be published on the student's page on Eyes in Progress.

- In case the participant does not want a portfolio review after the workshop, the workshop price will be reduced of 70€.

- Video interviews in which the students discuss their work, their motivation as photographers, as well as what they learned during the masterclass will also be posted on the site. In case the participant is not willing to have his video online, we won't publish it, however, we do encourage to record the video anyways as a practical exercise on how to orally express himself as a photographer.

- Social media modules will be available in order to share the page with friends and contacts.

- Each participant will be awarded a certificate of completion of the course.

- The participants will be required to evaluate the course when it has been completed, to show their level of overall satisfaction and the extent of their acquisition of new skills. These evaluations will help us to improve our courses.

- If the participant is not willing to have his profile online (portfolio, review, video), we will of course respect his decision and will not publish it.

Deadlines

- There will be two rounds of applications review:

> If you apply before February 13th 2016: successful applicants will be informed via email by February 15th, 2016.

> If you apply after February 13th 2016: successful applicants will be informed via email by March 15th 2016.

It is possible that the workshop is completed with the first round of applications, in that case, the second round of applications will not be processed.

Applications will be open until March 13th 2016.

- In case the participant comes from far away and needs to make early travel arrangements regarding the workshop's date, we will study his request to review his application ahead of the official deadlines.

- Eyes in Progress reserves the right to cancel groups with less than 7 participants. Students will be given either a full refund or offered a place with an alternative photographer. In the event of a cancellation, students will be given at least 3 weeks advance notice. Eyes in Progress reserves the right to change or alter the program advertised.

- If a participant decides to cancel for whatever reason, this must be confirmed in writing:

. Eyes in Progress will reimburse all the registration costs except for the €100 administrative fee, if the participant informs Eyes in Progress of cancellation at least 3 weeks before the first day of the workshop. Beyond this time limit, Eyes in Progress will charge the following:

. 50% of the cost if cancelled between 6 and 20 days before the workshop commences.

. 100% of the cost if cancelled less than 5 days before the workshop commences.

. All workshops that are commenced but not completed through the fault of the participant need to be paid in full.

- Eyes in Progress is not responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses in case a workshop is cancelled. We recommend that you buy refundable air tickets and/or travel insurance.

SPECIAL NEED ACCESS

Eyes in Progress is committed to using all possible means to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to participate in the workshops. For this, the director of Eyes in Progress will assess all required adaptations and implement them.