New Workshops in Asia Announced
Jack Picone, winner of a 2003 FiftyCrows International Fund for Documentary Photography Award and WorkShopAsia founding member, will lead a weeklong workshop in Luang Prabang, one of the last truly ancient and exotic destinations in Asia, together with co-founder Steven Coleman, British photojournalist and acclaimed photography book designer. Legendary photographer Philip Jones Griffiths will also take part as a visiting instructor, offering rare access to his expertise as one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic and powerful storytellers.
The Luang Prabang workshop sessions, with a maximum of 16 participants, will be based at a large Laotian-style wooden villa set in beautiful tropical grounds in the centre of town. Accommodation will be provided next door at The Apsara, a boutique hotel with stylish traditional décor overlooking the Khan river reserved exclusively for workshop guests over this period. After arrival on Sunday February 5th, our workshop will begin late the same afternoon with an introductory get-together and a projection of selected work of instructors and participants. Like any working photojournalist, you will be given an assignment brief to interpret as you wish as you delve into the bustling, hypnotic spirit of Luang Prabang. The aim is to produce a documentary photo essay with a striking visual narrative, to be shown on the final evening. Instructors will hold individual and group sessions to supervise and edit the assignments, and dialogue intensively on topics such as photographic composition, portraiture, advanced camera techniques, how to research ideas and tell an original story, how to market a body of work, and how to hone your personal style. The workshop’s schedule will be demanding but highly rewarding.
Luang Prabang is one of the most inspiring and romantic places in Asia. Its unique blend of ancient Buddhist temples and French colonial architecture has earned the city a listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But the former royal Laotian capital, situated at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers, is no museum. It is a living, working city where tradition and ritual remain central to daily existence, and where many locals shun the breakneck pace of Asian modernity in favour of more spiritual rhythms. The town and its environs – from mist-shrouded mountains to temples filled with saffron-robed monks to forgotten hilltribe villages – offer the chance to immerse yourself in the visual possibilities of an exotic, unfamiliar world and stretch your potential and insight as a photographer. Instructors and field assistants will be on hand constantly to help navigate any areas of difficulty and discuss all your photographic concerns. WorkShopAsia does not aim to impose fixed opinions or photographic orthodoxy but to explore all areas of our craft in a vibrant, open forum. In this way, the workshops are fulfilling for instructors and participants alike. At the end of the working day, Luang Prabang is the perfect place to relax. Those who want to switch off from photography can escape to a local restaurant on one of the secluded alleyways or browse the colourful night market, while others can gather for lively after-hours discussions at one of the many lantern-lit, riverside eateries or French-style cafes.
Application: The workshop is strictly limited to 16 participants. Subject to meeting the workshop requirements, places will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. WorkShopAsia is open to professional photographers, photography students and advanced amateurs with a competent grasp of their analogue or digital camera equipment.
Fee: US$2,700. Including all workshop sessions and seven nights accomodation at The Apsara in individual rooms with terraces and private bathrooms. Breakfast included. Does not include international or domestic flights to Laos or visa fees.
To receive further information or to apply, please contact: info@workshopasia.com
