In todays fast moving world, we are constantly being pushed to produce content rather than taking the time to focus on creating photography that we really care about. I love supporting photographers in bringing awareness to the way they approach their process of creating images.
In this two day workshop, I want to create a space in which we can reflect on our process when taking images.
Practically speaking, we will observe the light and space that we photograph in as well as our role as photographers. Playing with the light, composition and our choices on location is so much more fun than trying to fix our images on the computer afterwards. Developing our personal way of looking at the world and picturing it, is what makes our photography distinctive.
But only reading and working with light and composition doesn’t make a great photograph. Who you are and how you bring your personality into your photographic process influences the photo session and the photos that will come out of it. But what does that mean to bring my personality? How do I select the photos that you show others? What is the camera of choice and why? A lot of questions will come up when we explore all these topics and I am excited to get a little bit closer to finding our own answers together.
For a timetable of the weekend and Info on what to bring and organize, please visit the website: www.kenbuslay.com/seeingthelight (You’re already here)
If you have any questions, please get in touch via hello@kenbuslay.com or @kenbuslay on IG. I’m looking forward to meeting you and your photography soon
Is this the right thing for you?
I believe all kinds of photographers can benefit from diving into the topics we will discover and discuss in this weekend workshop. If my photography speaks to you and you are curious, just come!
Personally, I am mostly interested in photographing humans in a portrait or documentary setting so I will be sharing from that perspective. If you are only into architecture or still life photography, maybe this isn’t the right workshop for you. If you want to get better at making your life look great on Instagram, I probably don’t have much to teach you either.
Before the workshop
I would like to integrate your photos, stories and questions into our workshop. I come to share about my photography philosophy but we can all learn from each other. Therefor, please make a selection of 10 -20 of your favorites photos. This can be a series you completed already, a work in progress or single images that may not have a series format. Every field of photography is welcome! Prepare a few words to introduce yourself and your photos to others. Learning to write and speak about your own photography is a great first step towards bringing awarenes to your process.
Send your photos, work description and questions to me at least three days before the workshop. If you have prints of your selected photos, please bring them! Large photos are great for viewing on the wall but small prints between 10x15cm to 20x30cm would be fun to lay out and move around.
Use WeTransfer to send one folder with your digital images and description to hello@kenbuslay.com
Friday
9.30AM - 1.30PM
Let’s start the day with getting to know each other and our works. We will speak about the photos we have taken in the past. Being the creators of our own photography, we have a personal attachment to the photos we take but how do others perceive them? Critically talking and reflecting about our own work in a safe space is very valuable. I would like to create this safe space that goes beyond short comments on social media. Toge- ther, we can learn from each others mistakes and achievements.
1.30PM - 3PM We will find a place around the corner to have lunch and coffee together.
3.00PM - 5PM
Let’s talk about portrait photography. I would like to take a little tour through different approaches to portrait photography. There are so many different ways, that is when it comes to technical questions like lthe use of light and exposure. But also the personality of the person who is photographing has a big influence on the kind of photos we take. We are going to explore these questions with examples of different photographers, always trying to find out ways for you to implement this into your own work.
5PM - 7PM
Let’s go out into the streets and explore the light as the sun is about to set. Paying close attention to the light situations we photograph in is essential, the word photography comes from the latin language, meaning: Painting with light. Slight differences in choice of location and angle make huge differences in the outcome of our photos. We will walk around and carefully investigate the use of light and space in portrait photography. But what you learn here will help you in any situation.
Saturday
8AM - 11AM
This time is for you to go out and take pictures. You could ask a friend to have a portrait session together or just take your camera out to the street and photograph whatever interests you. This is an invitation to implement the things we learned about on Saturday. I would like to limit you to taking only 36 images, as if you only had one roll of 35mm film or three rolls of 120film in 6x6 format. You could even shoot film and have it developed and scanned by Filmtastic this morning. Limitation is a great teacher and helps us to focus and be more aware or our decisions when working with a camera.
11AM - 3PM
Back in our workshop space, we can look at the photos we have taken together. This is a space for reflection and valuable, direct feedback.
3PM - 4PM
Let‘s have a quick lunch together, just to get to the finish line.
4PM - 7PM
Image selection, editing and presentation: Taking photographs is one thing, making a selection that is interesting to others is another topic and a very important one. Let’s kill our darlings as we say as photographers. We will also have a brief look into photo editing and presentation. Whatever time we have left will be open for questions of any kind.
This timeline is can be adjusted as we see fit during the day.
You want to join? Let’s go!
Maximum number of participants is 8. Location: Filmtastic Film Lab & surroundings, Bangkok.
Bring your camera of choice, laptop, money for food and curiosity.
Send photos and description via wetransfer to hello@kenbuslay.com at least three days before the workshop. Bring prints if you have.
Find a friend to photograph on the morning of the 1st of March. You can also just take pictures in the street instead of having a portrait session.
Payment is due until 23th of February (early bird) or 28th of February (regular) and is non refundable. You can pay via line @filmtastic or directly at Filmtastic. Sign up via hello@kenbuslay.com or directly at Filmtastic.
