Located in the Valle d’Itria in Apulia, Southern Italy, the Visual Storytelling workshop is an opportunity for professional and amateur photographers to improve their skills, reflect, present and exchange experience in a unique and inspiring place, within a small group of participants under the tutorage of a world-renowned photojournalist with more than 40 years of experience.

Manoocher has been photographing news, conflicts and social issues around the globe since 1978, starting with the Iranian revolution and subsequent war with Iraq in his native country Iran. After being exiled from Iran in 1985 he worked for several major agencies, magazines, and the United Nations in Central America, Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle-East. He worked for publications such as: Time, Life, Newsweek, GEO, and National Geographic. In 2002, after the fall of the Taliban, he founded AINA Photojournalism Institute in Kabul. After directing the photo operation for The Associated Press in the Middle East for four years, he is now freelancing from his home base in Southern Italy.

The workshops are designed for all amateur or professional appassionates of photography. It focuses specifically on developing mind and eye for chosing the right angle and frame as well as on developing a story, as well as technical aspects.

The Visual Storytelling workshop takes place in the picturesque Valle d’Itria between Martina Franca, Cisternino and Locorotondo, on our small-scale farm home and vineyard (https://trullocicerone.wordpress.com). Accommodation will be in our trullo (typical Apulian beehive-shaped house) or the yurt. Host Ursula will take care of your culinary well-being (usually dinner, except requested otherwise). As an archaeologist and passionate cook, she prepares historic meals from the region’s past and present with zero food miles ingredients and our own wine and olive oil.

In addition to the workshop, participants can enjoy the calm and peace on our land, use the pool (in summer only) or the archery facilities, visit the surrounding towns or take a trip to the nearby sea.

SCHEDULE

The workshop will take place over a period of one week, with a theoretical session in the morning (adaptable to the participants’ skills and interests), and varying - according to season and personal interests - shooting assignments in the afternoons.

Day 1 Arrival and welcome

Day 2 Slideshow and comments on photography and photojournalism by Manoocher
Review of portfolios of the students
Outdoor assignment

Day 3 The role of art history in photography and photo editing
Review and discussion about the previous day’s assignment
Outdoor assignment

Day 4 The technical aspects of photography: camera use, composition, light, exposure…
Review and discussion about the previous day’s assignment
Outdoor assignment

Day 5 How to tell a story
Review and discussion about the previous day’s assignment
Outdoor assignment

Day 6 Ethics: What ethical guidelines are important in photography and photo editing?
Review and discussion about the previous day’s assignment
Outdoor assignment

Day 7 Review of the participants’ assignments and evaluation of the course
Celebration and certificate of participation

Day 8 Departure