Foundry Photo Workshop

Foundry Photojournalism Workshop History

The Foundry Photojournalism Workshop was set up by Eric and Sharon Beecroft in 2008 when they asked some of the top working photojournalists to donate a week of their time for a workshop idea a reality. The response was overwhelming. The enthusiasm and passion for photography and teaching displayed by these journalists made Foundry possible, and in the subsequent thirteen years, instructors volunteered their time and talent, bringing with them a commitment to a better future through responsible visual journalism.

Foundry Photojournalism Workshops have been held in Mexico City (2008 and 2017), Manali (2009), Istanbul (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Chiang Mai (2012), Sarajevo (2013), Antigua (2014), Bali (2015), Cape Town (2016), Kolkata (2018), Kigali (2019), and online in 2021 and 2022. Worldwide, Foundry alumni have gone on to successful careers, publishing stories for National Geographic, The New York Times, Time, Stern, Paris Match, and others while winning prestigious awards from the Pulitzer Prize to POY to World Press Photo and more, with some even returning to Foundry to teach the next generation.

In 2019, the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop entered a new chapter under the leadership of VII Academy and PhotoWings. The program welcomes photographers of all levels to learn from some of the best photojournalists and educators in the world.  

In 2022, Foundry was composed of participants from underrepresented communities in the United States. A total of fourteen tutors taught six students each in a series of three classes and a one-on-one session with each participant. The three-day final event highlighted lessons from the field from the teachers in videos filmed by program partner PhotoWings, followed by a live Q+A session that all attended. Guest speakers lectured and answered questions about the creative process, how to work with photo editors and general business practices. Portfolio reviewers from national and international press, galleries, and agencies offered one-on-one advice.  

Foundry Photojournalism Workshop International 2023

Now in its fifteenth year, the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop offers Majority World students and those from underrepresented communities in G20 countries who could not otherwise afford it a chance to learn from some of the world’s most well-respected photojournalists and photography professionals.

In 2023, Foundry again brings participants worldwide together to learn visual journalism in an online celebration of our industry with classes taught in ten languages and is supported by VII Academy and PhotoWings.