Jimena Zabaleta - Spéos 2021
© Jimena Zabaleta – Spéos 2021

Program presentation

The Workshops are designed for beginners, amateurs and photography students alike. The various workshops deal with all the major aspects of modern photography: theory and practice, from past to present. Students may enroll for the full Summer Program or choose one or several workshops, depending on their own interests.

Studio

Duration: 15 hours
Dates:
> June 10-14, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
> July 1-5, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Sanjyot Telang

In this practically-oriented workshop, participants are introduced to the techniques of studio photography: use of studio equipment, electronic flashes, basic studio lighting techniques, large format cameras, as well as the Stop System. The course is based on intensive studio practice.

Duration: 15 hours
Dates:
> June 24-28, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
> July 15-19, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Sanjyot Telang

This workshop is open to participants with previous studio experience (for example after the workshop “Introduction to Studio Photography”). Every day a different commercial studio topic is introduced: basic packshot, metal, glass, culinary, use of digital view cameras, etc.

Duration: 15 hours
Dates:
> June 17-21, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
> July 8-12, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Sanjyot Telang

This workshop is open to participants with previous studio experience (for example after the workshop “Introduction to Studio”). By shooting portraits that reflect their own sensitivity, participants aim at developing their self-expression. They learn to optimize shooting parameters such as lighting, lenses, cameras, so as to exploit their creative potential to its best.

Photo Reportage

Duration: 15 hours
Dates: June 3-7, 2024, workshop in English only, from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Leonardo Antoniadis

This workshop presents the different aspects of a photographic essay: the construction on the long term of a story through pictures – the protagonists, the context, what is at stake. Current techniques and tools of photojournalists will be discussed as well as how to contact publishers. The training includes practical exercises.

Duration: 15 hours per week during 2 weeks
Dates: July 8-19, 2024 (July 14 is a public holiday), workshop in English only, from 9:30am to 12:30pm
Tuition: €1,500
Instructor: David Balicki – Instagram ; Website

This workshop mixes theory and practice: presentation of the work of important street photographers who contributed to the history of photography and of the work of contemporary photographers whose approach and style will be analyzed. Different technical exercises are designed to teach participants how to use their camera with more efficiency and how to better understand the use of lenses in order to improve their photographs, whether they are snapshots, urban landscapes or portraits on site.

Technically, lighting will be carefully studied and the participants will learn how to control natural light in the sometimes tricky context of the street. They will also learn about artificial lighting, acquiring some basic studio techniques as well as important advices to mix natural and artificial lights when shooting outdoors.

Lastly, in complement to the pictures made during exercises in the streets of Paris, the participants will be asked to work on commission in between classes and their production will receive feedback during daily collective edit sessions. These critiques will help them to better organise their editing and production, which will be very useful when launching their own personal street photography projects.

Duration: 15 hours per week during 1 week
Dates: July 22-26, 2024, workshop in English only, from 9:30am to 12:30
Tuition: €750
Instructor: David Balicki – Instagram ; Website

This workshop, combining theory and practice, will be devoted to portraiture and will have the streets of Paris as its main setting. During the workshop, the participants will produce a series of Parisian portraits whose coherence will be based on thematic and aesthetic choices which should be personal and precise.

During the course, participants will develop their visual culture by discovering the works of great portrait makers in the history of photography which will be valuable benchmarks for their personal work.

Some exercises will allow the trainees to work on the approach of the models (who to photograph? for what purpose? according to which point of view? which expression to seek?) and to adapt their photographic material as well as possible to the constraints of the portrait (how to frame? what lens to use?). The workshop will teach the students how to insert models in their environment and how to use Paris as a background for their portraits. It will also focus on lighting applied to portraiture. One session will be organized in the studio so that participants can learn the basics of lighting. They will also learn how to better manage natural light in the urban environment, and how to mix it with flash light if necessary.

Through the week, the photographs taken during the exercises in the streets of Paris or between classes will be analyzed during collective editing sessions. The trainees will thus obtain critical and constructive feedback on their production, enabling them to learn how to select and organize their photographs as well as possible. This will allow them to acquire the autonomy necessary for the realization of future personal projects based on the practice of photographic portraiture.

This workshop aims at acquiring skills and knowledge on how to photograph landscapes and to master the long exposure techniques. Starting with a theoretical introduction, the participants will practice every day in small groups on location. Images made during the day will be analyzed at night to define personal improvement objectives for the next day. Last but not least, participants will be able to discover the richness and beauty of the lights and landscapes of Biarritz and the Spanish Basque Country.
> Discover the Landscape and long exposure photography – Workshop in Biarritz (France)

The view camera brings us back to the origins of photography, using sensitive metal or glass plates, now replaced by film or digital backs. Large format film starts with 9 x 12 cm but can go up to 50 × 60 cm. The large format camera workshop is intended for those who wish to acquire new techniques or to enrich their know-how that will enable them to stand out from other photographers. Participants will learn how to use large format cameras, which requires taking pictures one by one, and result in a different aesthetics to the one allowed by small and medium-format cameras (from 24 × 36 mm to 6 × 9 cm). Last but not least, they will also be able to discover the richness and beauty of the lights and landscapes of Biarritz and the Spanish Basque Country.
> Discover the Large format camera – Workshop in Biarritz (France)

The “Ocean in movement” workshop aims at acquiring the best skills to photograph the ocean in its different movements: those of the waves and those who ride them (surfers, kitesurfers, bodysurfers, standup paddle surfers, lifeguards…).
The workshop begins with theoretical training. The following days, the participants practice in small groups various approaches under different conditions. An analysis of the images taken follows in the evening to allow the definition of personal improvement objectives for the following day. Via their interaction with the ocean, the participants will be able to discover the richness and beauty of the light and landscapes of the Basque Coast and the South of the Landes.
> Discover  “Ocean in movement” – Workshop in Biarritz (France)

Dark Room

Duration: 15 hours
Dates: June 17-21, 2024, workshop in English only, from 9:30am to 12:30pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Philippe Bachelier

This workshop presents black & white darkroom techniques for printing with modern silver gelatin papers. You will learn how to control paper exposure, paper contrast, and paper development in order to produce a fine print. You will also discover the technique of dodging and burning to make balanced prints. By the end of the week, each participant will be able to judge the quality of a print and produce good black & white pictures. To follow the workshop, a film camera is indispensable.

Photoshop & Internet

Duration: 15 hours
Dates: June 10-14, 2024, workshop in French only, from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Federico Garcia Mochales

In this workshop, participants learn essential Photoshop skills (layers, layer masks, selection tools) whether they have a beginner or intermediate level. They are introduced to the fundamentals to analyse and retouch their photos, giving them the basics to use the creative functions of Photoshop.

Duration: 15 hours
Dates: June 17-21, 2024, workshop in French only, from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Federico Garcia Mochales

In this workshop, participants approach technical and creative Photoshop skills more in depth. They are introduced to various post production techniques to imitate the style of Sebastiao Salgado, Dan Winters, but also to the dodge and burn techniques, hair cut out, blur, liquify tools as well as the cosmetic retouch.

Duration: 15 hours
Dates: July 1-5, 2024, workshop in English from 9:30am to 12:30pm, workshop in French from 2pm to 5pm
Tuition: €750
Instructor: Claire Stalder

This workshop offers Adobe CC users to try out different solutions to develop their online visibility. From social media and online platforms for photographers to building their online portfolio with Adobe Portfolio, they will experiment with different strategies to increase their presence on the web.

Enrollment and Contact

Registrations are open all year round and subject to availability.
Feel free to contact Spéos if you have any questions about this program.
At any time you are most welcome to come and visit the school, just make an appointment!