I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”
— Diane Arbus
Hamburg Werkstatt Fotografie (HWF) is located in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg with an impressive view of the River Elbe. HWF is a unique space dedicated to the appreciation, knowledge, questioning and creative development of photography and visual culture. HWF was founded in 2023 and offers education, exhibitions and events, and through these will open a forum for dialogue about the powerful impact of photography on our complex societies. HWF is honoured to have the Swedish photographer, Anders Petersen as a patron. His honest approach to life via photography is the very essence of what HWF stands for.
Berlin Werkstatt Fotografie (BWF) is an education program that begins in March 2024 and is located at the BWF Atelier in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin.
BWF is offering a 12 month program in Berlin:
The Scottish filmmaker, John Grierson coined the term documentary in the 1920’s and defined it as ‘the creative treatment of actuality.’
HWF/BWF offers an educational program based on Grierson’s deceptively simple definition, designed for students to engage with documentary photography, with reference to the complex theoretical and discursive history of this particular and rapidly evolving genre. From the onset students will be set small yet stimulating assignments to begin the process of questioning the very essence of the photograph and the practical issues of effectively engaging with the subject. Conceptual, experimental and straight approaches are all encompassed. Passion is the fuel and an essential motivation for any photographer too actively and intellectually engage in the real world. Key issues are researching, shooting, editing and sequencing projects during the process of making the work. It is only in the doing of the work that the meaning of the work begins to make sense. A great emphasis is placed on finding a natural visual voice, via technique and the appropriate visual attitude to the subject.
THE BERLIN PROGRAM BEGINS THE WEEKEND 16-17 MARCH 2024
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Deadline: 04 March 2024
The program is designed for 12 students.
The 12 month program is divided into 18 physical seminars and 4 online seminars. 1 weekend per month divided into 2 seminars. 10 Creative Practice seminars (Saturday). 10 History and Theory seminars (Sunday).
You have a choice; students can participate on both seminars or just the Saturday (practical) seminar. Fees are explained below.
The program will be taught by Michael Grieve, photographer, director of ArtFotoMode and Hamburg Werkstatt Fotografie.
The Sunday seminars will feature a variety of invited guest lecturers including so far;
Uli M Schueppel, filmmaker. Uli will make a presentation of his filmmaking and concept of ‘emotional geography’ on the 17 March
Anne Barkin, editor and director of Photo-Letter
Damien Daufresne, visual artist
Judith Weber, photographer
Patricia Morosan, photographer
Calin Kruse, founder of Dienacht Publishing and director of Leipzig Photobook Festival
Stefan Frank, photographer, writer
Francois le Blond / Moon Prints, master printer
And private visits to galleries, institutions and archives including the Michael Schmidt Archive with curator Thomas Weski, and the Kicken Gallery.
The education program location is BWF Atelier, Wilhelmstrasse 7, 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg.
Fees
SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 3,240 EUROS PER YEAR
SATURDAY: 1,650 EUROS PER YEAR
SATURDAY/SUNDAY OPTION CAN BE PAID WITH INSTALLMENTS
STUDENTS HAVE 20% ON ALL HWF WORKSHOPS
TO APPLY: To apply send a portfolio of 10-15 images and/or a link to a website, plus a bio and a written statement as to why you want to study at HWF. Send as a PDF to info@1750635357hambu1750635357rgwer1750635357kstat1750635357tfoto1750635357grafi1750635357e.com1750635357
Summer Semester
16-17 March 2024
20-21 April 2024
25-26 May 2024
15-16 June 2024
July 2024 tba
