Workshop 6. Documentary Practice and Narrative: The Long Term Project
Teacher: George Georgiou (London, UK)
The workshop addressed the issues of contemporary documentary photographic practice and approaches, taking a deeper look at the long-term project in photography. The aim was to build up an understanding of different forms of narratives and different ways of structuring work. Besides a detailed examination of their existing projects, the students had to identify and produce a short narrative through sequence, combination, or juxtaposition. The work was treated as a starting place for identification and development of a critical perspective on the original long-term projects of the participants.
Requirements/technique: Each participant should bring selected project/s from their own work and be prepared to discuss their aims in the context of a group. DSLR cameras are preferable, although film is also possible, provided work in progress can be supplied for daily critiques.
George Georgiou Born in London to Greek Cypriot parents, George Georgiou has been a practicing photographer for the last 20 years. For the last decade, he has photographed extensively in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey, living and working in Serbia, Greece, and for five years in Istanbul. His work is focused on long term projects around identity, urbanization and the space people find themselves in when caught between communities, cultures, or ideologies. His awards include two World Press Photo prizes in 2003 and 2005, a Pictures of the Year International first prize for Istanbul Bombs in 2004 and a Nikon Press Award UK for best photo essay 2000. He has been published in most of the world’s major magazines and exhibited in a number of countries. He has carried out numerous workshops and portfolio reviews in Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Serbia, Kosovo, Slovenia, London, Nigeria and Latvia (with ISSP) and mentored many photographers in the regions he worked. His first book, Fault Lines/Turkey/East/West, looking at the complex concept of East and West, will be released in May 2010. George Georgiou is represented by agencies Prospekt (Italy), Panos (UK) and Signatures (France).