« [... ] Adults bring more neuroses, habits, and fears, along with their more developed talent and purpose. They are hampered, in a way, by their photographic baggage, their professional dreams, or their desire to emulate or outdo other people’s photographs. For these reasons my adult students are as much in need of guidance as the kids, but in certain ways they also present a greater opportunity for growth. [... ] If I know an adult photo student wants to make photography their profession, then I’ll take a more critical approach to their images and I try to get them to express their intentions so they become clearer and stronger about why they want to do this. [... ] The amateur who just wants to improve their photography requires a different approach. To me it’s important to help them grow while also preserving their love and joy for the craft. We all know people who are wonderful in some art form yet drop it because they lose the joy when they realize they’re “not good enough” to “make it” professionally. In fact, many very talented people just don’t have the stomach to handle the pressures, rejection, and bullshit involved with being a professional in something that is so personal and subjective. » Ed Kashi (from RESOLVE, collaborative online community )
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
Ed Kashi 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. Participants are highly encouraged to come to the workshop with defined ideas on the subject they want to photograph during the workshop. However, a list of ideas in Amsterdam will be sent to the participants before the workshop begins, Eyes in Progress is able to help in establishing contacts with local associations and persons.
Day 2:
Masterclass – Focus on how to define a story-telling project
During this morning session, Ed Kashi will talk about how to define a storytelling project and the importance of the photographers’s point of view. He will give several examples on how to precisely define an angle to a story that is personal to the photographer and consequently will bring value to his story.
Shooting sessions
Each participant goes shoot his own project. Help with directions, contacts and translation in Amsterdam will be provided by the workshop team if needed. Participants are encouraged to come back and forth at the studio in order to have feedback on the shooting process and recommendations/advices to improve.
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 3:
Shooting sessions
Each participant goes shoot his own project. Help with directions, contacts and translation in Amsterdam will be provided by the workshop team if needed. Participants are encouraged to come back and forth at the studio in order to have feedback on the shooting process and recommendations/advices to improve.
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 is made during a one-to-one session with Ed Kashi, the other participants are encouraged to attend the sessions of the others. They are then to write a personal statement on the work, which will be send to the mentor of their choice.
Teaching language: English.
Workshop hours: 9h30 to 17h30.