Louise Cardon de Lichtbuer
Belgique
instagram.com/louise.ca.dl.photoIntéressée par la photographie depuis mon enfance, le choix d’approfondir mes connaissances plus tard m’est venu intuitivement. En 2016 j’ai choisi de m’inscrire à la formation Photographie professionnelle en 2 ans, spécialisation documentaire/photojournalisme de Spéos.
J’y ai appris à maîtriser toutes les techniques nécessaires à la photographie professionnelle. Et tout aussi important, mon temps chez Spéos m’a permis d’entrer en contact avec des acteurs de l’industrie passionnés et compétents.
La qualité de mon travail s’est beaucoup améliorée et les échanges, ainsi que les cours à Spéos, m’ont encouragée et guidé à présenter mon travail photographique lors de nombreux concours et bourses. J’ai eu la chance d’exposer mon travail à Paris, Londres, Tel-Aviv, Anvers et Tbilissi, entre autres.Aujourd’hui je photographie principalement le domaine du yoga et du sport ainsi que des portraits. Grâce aux connaissances que j’ai acquises chez Spéos, j’ai pu définir et développer mon style personnel et mon identité visuelle au fil des années.
Elvira Viedma
Spain
instagram.com/elviraviedmaWhile studying Audiovisual Communication in Madrid, I became interested in photography. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a group of creative friends who were actively participating in the development of Madrid’s alternative cultural scene. Thus, I started documenting what was happening around me with my analog cameras.
After some years, I decided that I needed a change and came to Paris to study at Spéos into the Professional Photography in 1 year. I couldn’t be happier about the choice I made. The school allowed me to meet amazing photographers that would later on become friends and that would also be a great source of inspiration. Assisting the classes at Spéos really pushed me to go forward in my photography. I would go everywhere with my cameras and wouldn’t be afraid to shoot in any kind of situation, always excited to show the results to my classmates and teachers.
Lately I’ve been more focused on my other passion, mainly the organization of concerts, but photography has always been present. As the years have passed, I’ve kept collaborating with other Spéos students, for photography but also for other cultural projects.
Elvira Viedma
Espagne
instagram.com/elviraviedmaLors de mes études en communication audiovisuelle à l’université de Madrid, je me suis intéressée à la photographie. J’ai eu la chance de rencontrer des amis qui encourageaient ma créativité et qui participaient activement au développement de la scène artistique alternative madrilène. J’ai donc commencé à documenter tout ce qui se passait autour de moi avec mes appareils photos argentiques.
Quelques années plus tard, avec une envie de changement j’ai déménagé à Paris afin de poursuivre mes études en photographie à Spéos avec la formation Photographie professionnelle en 1 an.
Je ne regrette en aucun cas ce choix. L’école m’a offert la possibilité de rencontrer des photographes incroyables qui plus tard sont devenus mes amis et qui sont, même aujourd’hui, une grande source d’inspiration.Les cours à Spéos ont poussé mes limites en photographie. Mon appareil photo et moi sommes devenus inséparables, je n’hésitais pas à prendre des photos n’importe où et n’importe quand.
Ces derniers temps je me suis consacrée à l’organisation des concerts, toutefois la photographie est toujours bien présente dans ma vie.Je n’ai jamais arrêté de collaborer avec les amis que je me suis fait à l’école, que ce soit pour les projets photo ou autres projets culturelles.
Amir Tikriti
I followed the Fashion Photography program in 2017 with Dominique Issermann. I cannot speak highly enough of her. She was very open with her knowledge, patient, instructive and even invited us into her home for classes. It was an amazing experience!
As a matter of fact, the best part about Spéos was the teachers and faculty. They encouraged us to play and experiment, and they were available to us almost whenever we needed. It was evident that they really cared about their work and wanted us to succeed.In addition, I made some amazing friends at Spéos. I keep in contact with many to this day and they make up the backbone of my life in Paris.
Amir Tikriti
Etats-Unis d’Amérique
amirtikriti.comJ’ai suivi le programme Photographie de Mode en 2017 avec Dominique Issermann. Je n’ai pas de mot assez respectueux pour parler d’elle. Elle partageait son savoir-faire avec nous, était patiente, instructive et elle nous a même invités chez elle pour des cours. C’était une expérience unique pour nous !
En fait, la meilleure partie de Spéos était les enseignants et professeurs. Ils nous encourageaient à faire des expériences et s’amuser sur nos shootings. Ils étaient presque toujours disponibles lorsque l’on avait besoin de conseils. Il était évident qu’ils se souciaient de nous et voulaient que l’on réussisse.
De plus, je me suis fait des amis incroyables à Spéos. J’ai gardé contact avec beaucoup d’entre eux, et ils sont devenus l’épine dorsale de ma vie à Paris.
Raul Guillermo
At my arrival at Spéos, I was already doing photography as a hobby for quite some time. However, I knew that I needed to explore further, especially because I was not sure if I wanted to pursue documentary or fashion photography. I visited the school before enrolling into the Professional Photography in 1 year program and I found it perfect for what I needed. I also liked the idea that you are able to follow classes both in photojournalism and fashion, and for the second part of the program decide to specialize in one. My time in Spéos taught me to open my eyes and embrace the unknown.
All the experiences and people made me evolve in my way of seeing, they taught me to open myself and move forward. Today, thanks to this period of my life, I feel more confident and determined on accomplishing my projects, to go deeper on subjects and to talk about my work easily.
Raul Guillermo
A mon arrivée à Spéos, je faisais déjà de la photographie depuis quelque temps. Cependant, je savais que j’avais besoin d’explorer d’avantage et d’approfondir. Je ne savais pas si je voulais faire de la photographie documentaire ou de la photographie de mode. J’ai visité l’école avant de m’inscrire et je l’ai trouvée parfaite pour ce dont j’avais besoin. Suivre à la fois des cours de photojournalisme et de mode m’a aidé à me spécialiser, dans le cadre de la formation Photographie professionnelle en 1 an.
Ma formation à Spéos m’a permis de prendre conscience de la complexité de la photographie et d’élargir mon champ des possibles. Les expériences et les rencontres que j’ai pu faire durant ma formation sont encore aujourd’hui de précieux contacts pour mon évolution professionnelle. Grâce à cette formation, je me sens plus confiant et déterminé pour accomplir mes projets, approfondir les sujets qui me tiennent à cœur et à parler facilement de mon travail.
Habib Dargham
Lebanon
www.habibdargham.comLeaving my family and friends was quite a hard thing to do. Spéos helped me start anew in Paris and understand the system and business of photography in France. Most importantly, Spéos has become like a second family: the friends and the connections I made through the school were the beginning of my career.
The school is an experience for everyone, always up to date in their teaching, and always following up with their students post-graduation. Even though I did the fashion program, this didn’t stop me to expand my knowledge in photojournalism, and Spéos gave me really important advice that helped me win the Grand Prix Paris Match du Photoreportage Étudiant 2021 with my series Le cri d’un silence (“The cry of silence”).
Photography is creation, it’s an art that you can’t learn, it’s an experience and Spéos is here to help you do exactly that.
Habib Dargham
Liban
www.habibdargham.comQuitter ma famille et mes amis afin de prendre un nouveau départ à Paris fut pour moi difficile. Spéos m’a aidé à prendre mes marques à Paris et à comprendre le système et le business de la photographie en France. Mais aussi, Spéos est devenu comme une seconde famille : les amis et les contacts que j’ai noués grâce à l’école ont marqué le début de ma carrière.
L’école est une expérience pour tout le monde, toujours à la pointe de l’enseignement, elle assure par ailleurs le suivi de ses étudiants après l’obtention de leur diplôme. J’ai suivi le programme de mode, mais cela ne m’a pas empêché d’approfondir mes connaissances en photojournalisme.
Spéos m’a aidé à évoluer dans les domaines que j’aime et m’a donné des conseils me permettant de remporter le Grand Prix Paris Match du Photoreportage Étudiant 2021 avec ma série « Le cri d’un silence ».
La photographie est une création, c’est un art qui ne s’apprend pas, c’est une expérience dans laquelle Spéos peut vous aider.
Valérie Chauffour
France
www.valeriechauffour.comWhen I left Air France I had been practicing photography for some years but I needed to get my overall skills to the next level. I wanted to join a short and efficient course and it was better for me to stay in Paris — my home town — at that time. So Spéos appeared to be the best choice, and it was indeed. I would definitely recommend the Spéos programs: lots of great new courses, the school is always evolving, successfully bringing new talented photographers out to the world.
Anna Shumanskaia
Russia
www.annashumanskaia.comI had always wanted to become a professional photographer and it was probably a hand of fortune that led me to the stand of Spéos at the Salon des Étudiants in Paris (we went there to look for the school for my daughter). The girl representing Spéos was Russian and I didn’t speak any French at that time! It was a pure intuition choice, which I’m really happy about!
I enrolled in The Entrepreneurial Photographer in 2 years program, in French, having studied the language for 9 months only. It was a real challenge for me! I found myself in a new world with the discovery of technical terms which I didn’t know even in Russian! But thanks to the friendly teachers and groupmates I started feeling at ease. My favourite part of studying was shooting in the studio, which permitted me to express my imagination without limits! Photojournalism part was very interesting and inspiring too! Photoshop, Visual Identity, Visits of Exhibitions, Printing Techniques…
Everything was new and magical for me! So it was a wonderful period which began a new chapter of my life.Since that time I have been participating in different exhibitions and International Art Events. I have also been working as a freelance photographer for the press and individuals and have had two personal projects published in photo books.
My Spéos life was fantastic and I recommend it to those who want to turn their photography passion into a profession.
Liza Moura
Brazil
http://www.lizamoura.comAfter a course in Art History, I wanted to immerse myself in Photography. At Spéos, I was precisely oriented towards finding my own photographic and visual identity. I followed the Professional Photography in 2 years program. I had the opportunity to have highly qualified professionals as teachers, real masters in photography who transmitted me a knowledge that I had never imagined existed before entering school!
The photojournalism team is excellent, it transmits not only the technique but also the passion. This school opened me to a different world. It’s a unique experience.
Through Spéos, I had the opportunity to know the Paris Match Student Grand Prix where I submitted my final study project (a series entitled “Jaurès, the corner of hope”) and I won the Public Prize with the most voted report!
With this work, I was also chosen to exhibit in Arles with the BYOPaper project. It was a good start.At Spéos, the exchange of experiences is constant, not only with the teachers, but also with the other students. I met people from all over the world and I made friends that I will keep forever.
I highly recommend the Spéos School to anyone looking for a high level of training and a memorable experience. Many thanks to the Spéos team and in particular to Phillippe Bachelier, Ana Cruz and Leonardo Antoniadis.
Robert Hyde
United States
www.roberthyde.xyzThe Spéos/Magnum Creative Documentary program was exactly what I needed; a fast-track to a professional photography practice.
The administrative team at Spéos is highly competent and the teachers and guest lecturers know their fields intimately. The workshops at Magnum were instructive, inspiring and formative and the staff was warmly welcoming.
Invitations to exclusive Magnum events and the opportunity to collaborate with students in Germany and Denmark were unexpected pleasures.
Penelope Thomaidi
Greece
www.penelopethomaidi.comStudying at the Creative Documentary 1-year course with Spéos and Magnum Photos has been an intensive and very productive experience that widened my understanding of both the photographic practice and the photographic industry.
Learning on the side of Magnum photographers and recognized professionals of the industry was a great privilege. We were encouraged to be critical towards our production and challenged to overcome difficulties in order to get the most out of our photography. The development of our graduation long-term project was quite a life-changing experience.
While every class with Magnum gave food for thought related to the way we take pictures, Spéos teachers taught us how to organize our production and be prepared to meet the standards of the professional world. At the end of the course, a series of lectures and portfolio reviews was a unique chance to meet in person important players of the French photographic world.
The human approach and the kindness of most of the people we interacted with, was itself a source of inspiration which makes me to consider myself lucky to have studied with Spéos and Magnum Photos.
Shortly after the course, I became member of a photographer’s collective and I feel that the experiences and the relationships that started in Paris are the best beginning for my professional activity.
Daniel Barreto Mezzano
Peru
www.danielbarretomezzano.comI followed the Creative Documentary Course by Magnum Photos & Spéos and I spent an amazing year meeting several Magnum photographers giving us an insight on how they work as well as learning the ropes on how to build a photo story and presenting it to the media.
Sergio Corona
Italy
www.sergiocorona.comI had the opportunity to explore, make mistakes and build my practice during my time at Spéos with the Creative Documentary Course by Magnum Photos & Spéos. In the world outside it’s rare to have an opportunity to have genuinely explore and be challenged. The program provided me with an amazing community of colleagues and friends who I am still in touch with today and often work or collaborate with.
Adam DelGiudice
United States
www.delgiudicephoto.comMy experience studying at Magnum & Spéos International Photography School has been a dream come true and a life experience I will always remember. Under the guidance and critical eye of some of the titans of documentary photography I’ve grown as both a photographer and a person. There is no substitute for experience and this experience has been life changing, to be able to do workshops with the photographers I look up to and to have my work critiqued by them has honed my talents allowed me to solidify my vision.
I will have graduated this program changed for the better and am extremely grateful to everyone at Magnum both the photographers and the gracious and hospitable staff at the agency for giving me this incredible opportunity to nurture and develop my passion for photojournalism.
Lance Laurence
United States
lancelaurence.comThrough my time in the Magnum Photos & Spéos Creative Documentary storytelling Master Class, I learned how to better organize a photographic essay and how I could make a series stylistically coherent.
Before I came for the program I just made “pretty pictures.” They often times looked as if they were created by different photographers and they didn’t offer much deeper insights. Now I have a much better understanding of how to create a story that is structured well and conveys a narrative that resonates with viewers.
Antonia Sehlstedt
Sweden
antoniasehlstedt.format.comIt has been a beautiful experience in many ways, to grow and be challenged throughout this year with the guidance of teachers, storytellers, photographers and staff of Spéos International Photography School and Magnum Photos, all representing and passing on a deep love and respect for photography.
I hope all aspiring artists, all aspiring everything will have the opportunity to do a workshop with someone their work speaks to. I think it is very important to find a mentor, a guru. I discovered many great photographers during the year but above all great people, passionate about what they are doing and about bringing good work and journalism to the world and that’s really what it all comes down to. Special thank you, Susan Meiselas and Stanley Greene.
Taushik Mandal
India
https://www.instagram.com/taushikmandal/During the time when I was finalizing a career change from Engineering to Photography, my research got me to Spéos Paris. What appealed to me most was the school’s high ranking and a very informative website with Alumni listing.
This Alumni Directory is crucial as it allows prospective students to look up past scholar’s portfolios and gauge the progress made after a stint at Spéos. There is no doubt that Spéos Alumni have stunning portfolios and a similar aspiration shaped my decision to sign up for the Professional photography in 1 year program back in 2016.
I particularly enjoyed study topics in Printing techniques, Photojournalism, Visual Identity, Image Management/Publication and Styling for commercial photography assignments.
Living in Paris in itself is a great education in art and history. The city is a massive art gallery and the numerous museum visits and gallery openings that I attended further shaped my education. Not to forget my fellow artists who were making the same journey as me, living, collaborating and enjoying with them the slices of life taught me so much more too.
I highly recommend this whole experience to anyone who is willing to shift out of their comfort zone and make or add photography to their personal and professional art practice. Furthermore, I also recommend being open to new experiences, I could write a book on mine but yours could be the next volume in the series!
-
+33 (0)1 40 09 18 58
