Fine Art Photography Masterclass in Paris with Jeff Cowen and Jim Casper: May 23-27, 2013
May 23-27, 2013. Central Paris
Anonymous Berlin, 118 x 83 cm, Toned Silver Print, 2007, Edition of 3, © Jeff Cowen
This is the second annual 5-day marathon for photographers interested in making a significant vertical leap in their work. It is geared toward fine art photography, with emphasis on strengthening your own distinct visual style and approach, understanding how the international art markets work, and developing multi-pronged marketing strategies to best present yourself to the world.
The Masterclass is coordinated by Lens Culture in Paris, France, in partnership with Bilder Nordic School of Photography in Oslo, Norway.
Price: NOK 12 500 (which is approximately 1 660 euros, or 1 409 GBP, or 2 139 USD) Max 15 persons, hotel with breakfast is included, material costs and travel are not included. See photos from the 2012 Masterclass, and apply online.
The class will emphasize composition, shooting, and editing. Shooting will take place in central Paris and in the studio. Students will have the opportunity to work with street photography, the nude, still life, and abstraction during the course of the class. There will also be group visits to the Louvre as well as some photography-based cultural institutions throughout Paris.
Class members will be expected to bring a body of work in progress to be discussed by the group. Each participant will also receive one-on-one consultations with Jim Casper and Jeff Cowen.
Jeff will stress how digital photographers can learn to use new technology while respecting the tradition of analogue-based photography and its position as a medium with respect to art history.
Career strategies in photography and the artist’s path are also topics for discussion and development. This class offers a unique perspective to create a dialogue with a working artist and an international photography critic, publisher and lecturer.
About Jeff Cowen
Jeff Cowen is known for his painterly style in photography, and also for his sculptural mural-size compositions. He works with the figure, landscape, abstraction and still life. He is represented by several leading galleries and his work is in over one hundred collections and institutions. His first monograph was published by Paris-Musée, and his galleries have produced books for his many solo shows around the world.
He participates regularly in art fairs such as Art Basel, Art Cologne, Art Bolonga, Arco, Photo Espana, LaArt Fair, Art Paris and others. In the fall 2012, his work was exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris in a special museum exhibition by the Huis Marseille Photography Museum during Paris Photo and the Month of Photography.
Jeff Cowen is a New York University honors scholar in Oriental studies. 26 years ago he was the assistant of Ralph Gibson and Larry Clark. His early street photography in New York City and his reportage work of the Romanian Revolution is in numerous collections and has been shown in Museums such as The Filature in Mulhouse and the New York Historical Society Museum.
See Cowen’s work here.
About Jim Casper
Jim Casper is the founder and director of Lens Culture, an international organization dedicated to the celebration and promotion of contemporary photography in all of its forms. He is a curator, writer, publisher and lecturer. He also serves on juries around the world.
Jim will work with each participant to help develop in-depth marketing and communications strategies to prepare photographers for critical and financial success in worldwide art markets. This includes review and editing of projects and portfolios, and — making the most of diverse opportunities to bring your work to the attention of collectors, gallery directors, curators, book publishers, magazine art directors, media assignment editors, agencies and commercial clients.
Practical information – travel and expenses
Included in the workshop fee is a five nights stay in a double room at the Classics Hotel Bastille. The hotel is in a safe, lively neighboorhood, about 20 minutes walk or a short bus ride from the workshop venue. Please note that the fee includes rooms shared by two people each. Travel is not included in the workshop fee. We recommend that you arrive in Paris the night before the workshop kick off, as we’re starting early. We finish the workshop in the afternoon on the 27th of may, so it is possible to travel home in the evening.
Comments from 2012 Masterclass participants
“It has taken me time to land… to focus and to see….and evaluate… to let it all sink… Thank you for an incredible 5 days of challenge… from the smallest of smiles to echoes of the Masters… we were filled with so much. I believe that the vote of the group is that it has been the best workshop… and we have been to a few… You two rock.. what an educating and wonderful experience you challenge all of us. resetting us all .. and from a personal experience resetting me on a much more intriguing journey…Thank you for the warmth and the keen interest in which you approached us..” — A.S.
“It was an absolute wonderful time together with you all. I really enjoyed the workshop.” — N.S.
“Thanks so much for a wonderful few days in Paris and for opening up your home to all of us. Special thanks to Jeff and Jim for a brilliant course. I had an amazing time and only wish it had lasted longer. I hope you will carry on holding these workshops as it was an invaluable experience from which I have learnt a great deal!” — M.N.H.
“I’ve attended quite a few workshops, at locations around the world. This was the best of all of them. I appreciate the personal attention you gave me, and being encouraged to push beyond my own comfort zone to get different kinds of pictures.” — J.B.