Donna DeCesare

Cádiz 11 - 15 June 2007

The Intuitive Photographer: Photographing the Moment at Hand and Creating Stories. How do you follow your intuition while constructing an image? Are there personal resources we can tap into or feelings we can learn to trust that will help us convey the essence of a subject?   This 5 day workshop will address establishing a comfortable rapport, gaining access and going beyond the obvious by committing heart,   mind and time to the discovery of honest pictures.   It is designed for photographers,   photography students and aspiring documentarians   who want to "get closer" to their subjects as well as produce photographs that convey a sense of time and place with spontaneity as well as developing a narrative thread or storyline.

Donna DeCesare will share the techniques she uses to gain access to situations and get close to individuals in order to make intimate and truthful images of social significance.   Character and place are as important in the construction of visual documentary narratives as they are in works of literature.   She will present her own documentary work and the works by other documentary photographers to open a discussion of strategies for making spontaneous, respectful and revealing photographs.   Issues to be covered are: gaining trust and access, learning to trust your inner sense of what is appropriate without caving in to your fears, journal-keeping to develop clarity and openness.   It is assumed that workshop participants have basic technical control of their cameras use of different focal length lenses, selective focus,   vantage point, linear perspective, control of motion and basic flash as well as available light photography.

Students will be required to bring 12 images of past color or black and white work, a 35 mm digital camera is recommended.   The class will review past student work and offer suggestions for how to get closer to subjects and to gain the kind of freedom of access and spirit that makes seeing an intuitive experience.   Students will be expected to photograph an assignment (a short picture story) which pushes the boundaries of their previous work.   In the final critique students will discuss their experience of this process and compare their former work with the new work made. Students will leave this workshop with new images and a new openness that will expand their vision

To Apply: This workshop is designed for serious amateur and professional photographers. Appplicants should send a short written description of their photographic experience, including name, email, and telephone. Also a selection their best work. (6 - 10 photos. LOW RESOLUTION!)

Location: University of Cádiz. Facultad de fílosofia y letras

Film: Digital recommended

No. of participants: 12

Tuition: 200 euros