DESCRIPTION
This tuition-free seminar will, over 12 weeks, equip you with the necessary skills to produce photo essays suitable for publication in an editorial context. This edition will be taught by Ali Arkady.
The first half of the course covers basic concepts to ensure a solid practical and theoretical foundation and includes assignments to build a short photo essay. The second half advances to a higher level, including business concepts for freelance journalists, multimedia training, and presentation skills. This material will be presented through lectures, group discussions, critiques, and assignments. During the seminar, you’ll explore how to develop a lasting career in visual storytelling, including conceiving, researching, and planning project ideas. You’ll be exposed to ethical challenges as you navigate how to document the lives and stories of others. Problem-solving assignments will help you to unlock ways to work intellectually and emotionally so that your journalism becomes more powerful and subtle.
SEQUENCE
Each week will begin with a lecture on a relevant concept in photojournalism and documentary practice. This lecture will be given by the seminar leader or a guest with high-level experience in the topic.
After this lecture, the seminar leader will brief you on the assignment, due before the following week’s class. The assignments involve key subjects and approaches in narrative photojournalism and documentary photography.
During weekly feedback sessions, you’ll present your work for discussion with the seminar leader and other students. Everyone is expected to contribute to the conversation. You will also be encouraged to work together outside of these sessions to edit and critique each other’s work.
WORKLOAD
You can expect to spend at least six hours weekly in Zoom classes/meetings and complete assignments. The online classes must be attended in person, and you are expected to participate. Some assignments may take much more time than others. This course is intended to help those for whom education in visual journalism is necessary to progress their career. It is not a resumé builder.
Please do not apply for the course if enrolled in another education program.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
This seminar will develop your ability to work on short photo essays in an editorial context. It will help you to:
- Respond professionally and creatively to story briefs
- Understand the visual potential of ideas/situations you are researching
- Enhance your ethical literacy
- Make single documentary pictures and picture stories or series
- Produce short videos for clients
- Edit your materials
- Work to a deadline
- Present yourself and your work professionally to an editor
- Develop the skills needed to get access and permission to photograph people in different settings
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Although the topics and assignments in the first half of the course may initially appear basic to more experienced photographers, our advanced alums have found that completing the assignments helped them to become more thoughtful practitioners.
Level 1 courses are the beginning of The VII Foundation’s educational pathway. To be considered for Level 2 courses, participants must obtain a passing grade in Level 1. Students who miss more than two classes will not receive a passing grade and will not be considered for Level 2. Although Level 1 programs are offered in some cases in languages other than English, it is necessary to achieve at least a B1 level in English to attend Levels 2 and 3.
Participants who have completed Levels 1 and 2 with a passing grade may be invited to apply to attend Level 3, an intensive, in-person four-week program, often held at either The VII Foundation’s Alexandra Boulat Campus in Arles, France, or the foundation’s center in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina.
Timeline
Chosen participants will be emailed to register about two weeks before the class begins. Applicants who are not selected to attend will be notified once the class is full, which may be only a week before the class begins.
Course leaders will hold the class at times according to their schedule and will accommodate participants’ schedules when possible. This means that classes may take place in the evening. If you have a set work schedule, please let us know as early as possible.
Apply Now
Eligible applicants (see details at the top of the page) who wish to apply for this tuition-free program should complete an application form. (Please register for AwardForce, then select the name of this program.)
Application deadline: January 5, 2025, at 23:59 EST.
