Photojournalism Workshops Abroad

Due to the overwhelming number of emails we received every week from students and amateur photographers all around the world, in 2006 we designed a revolutionary workshop abroad program. It was the world's first one-on-one photojournalism workshop program and is now the oldest ans most succesful program of its kind. Zoriah has worked with dozens of students around the world, most of whom are now working, professional photographers and photojournalists. To read some testimonials from past students please click here

The focus of this program is to not only teach visual story telling but give students a chance to fully experience a career that is often misunderstood. While media and films have glamorized the lives of photojournalists and foreign correspondents, the reality is that this is one of the world's most demanding and difficult jobs, both physically and mentally. We have designed Zoriah's workshops to give young photographers an opportunity to experience the true nature of international photojournalism and documentary photography. No other workshop or seminar gives students the ability to work one on one with a professional photojournalist in a real world environment. Each student will have full access to Zoriah through the duration of the workshop, giving them the opportunity to take advantage of his work experience, teachings, methodologies and industry contacts. . Due to the intimate nature of these workshops and the real world working environment, each student can expect to learn and experience much more than they would during one year in a standard university photojournalism program.

Each workshop is either five, seven or ten days long and set in a location that is both of interest to the student and rich in culture with a wealth of photographic and documentary subject matter. During the program, each student will be expected to produce at least one photo essay within the same deadline and parameters of a working assignment for a publication or photo agency. Zoriah will also produce a photo essay during the trip, which will give the students the ability to not only produce their own work and learn on their own, but to be able to observe the way Zoriah works and ask questions along the way. Because we believe the life of a photojournalist is usually a solitary one, each student will be expected to spend two hours a day shooting on their own, with a review session of that work every evening. When not shooting, the students will work closely with Zoriah on editing their work and of course be able to see the process he takes in editing his own work.

Zoriah will stay in the same hotel, eat breakfast and dinner, and travel with his students as if they were a team of journalists working in the field together. This is a rare opportunity to actually work side by side on a daily basis with a full time, professional photojournalist.

 

Requirements and Application Process

This program is designed for professional photographers and committed photography and journalism students who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism, photography or visual story telling. Photography hobbyists are also welcome. Students must be in good physical and emotional condition and must be ready for a very challenging experience. All applicants must have a basic proficiency in digital photography as well as editing software. Interested photographers must submit a portfolio of no more than 20 images and fill out an application. Applications and images may be sent by mail but digital transmissions are preferred. All application material must be submitted at least 30 days before the start of the workshop. Hard copy submissions will not be returned.

Group workshops are available on request and are currently limited to five photographers in order to insure that each student gets the attention that the program is designed to provide. Students are strongly encouraged to consider one on one workshops which give an individual student the opportunity to work with Zoriah one on one for the durations of the workshop.

 

What to Bring

Students are expected to provide their own SLR style digital camera and a laptop with editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, just as if they were on an editorial assignment. Each workshop will have some additional requirements such as appropriate clothing, medicines etc. A full packing list will be provided to students before their departure.

 

War Photography

Although Zoriah has spent a fair amount of his professional career as a war photographer, we do not think bringing students into a war zone is in any way appropriate (the only exception we will make to this rule is if the photographer has already been working professionally for a number of years and can provide supporting documents and a work history.) In some cases a workshop may be held in an area that is recovering from conflict, such as Lebanon. There are many skills a photographer needs to possess before ever going into a hostile environment and the decision to cover conflict should not be entered into lightly. Zoriah will be more than happy to discuss his experiences with students and provide them with resources to research and explore this type of journalism.

 

Portfolio Review Session

Each workshop begins with a portfolio review session. Students are asked to bring a portfolio of no more than 20 images (preferably in digital format on their laptops,) which will be reviewed and critiqued on the first day of the workshop. This gives me the opportunity to see where a student stands in his or her development and what skills should be focused on during the workshop.

 

Accommodations

Accommodations will vary depending on the location but students should be prepared for minimal luxuries. Part of working as a photojournalist is being able to adapt to difficult situations. At times workshop students may spend at least a portion of their time sleeping on uncomfortable beds and showering in cold water. Certain workshops are held in locations where they may stay with a local family for a day or two or even an orphanage or refugee camp.

 

Costs

Costs vary depending on the location of the workshop, accommodations, available meals and how much travel will be done during the workshop. Students are responsible for their own expenses during the workshop and will be given a list of what to expect for his or her specific program. In most developing countries students get by spending very little.

 

Dates

Workshops are generally held during University holidays such as Winter Break, Spring Break or during the summer. As long as students book far enough in advance the dates quite are flexible.

 

Workshop Subjects

This program covers a vast array of subjects including:

Preparing for and researching a project and destination. What to pack and what not to pack. How to avoid common pitfalls like lost data, a broken camera or lens, computer viruses, travel illnesses, dangers and distractions while in the field etc. Health and nutrition in difficult living situations and what to do if you get sick or injured.

Photographing under adverse conditions. Gaining your subjects trust and photographic ethics. Night and low light photography. Working without a flash or tripod.

The digital darkroom, editing and workflow in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Tips and tricks for “saving” a photograph or putting the finishing touches on a “perfect” photograph. Digital dodging, burning, contrast, hue, saturation, cloning (and when not to,) cropping etc. Color and black and white: when to use each, how they sell, how to think in one medium or the other or both. JPEG vs. RAW file formats and how to work with each and convert. Mac vs. Pc. Choosing editing, captioning, ftp and slideshow programs.

Camera selection. Lens selection. Memory card selection. Accessory selection. Canon vs. Nikon vs everyone else. Buying new vs. buying used and how to get the best deals. How to read manuals and get the most out of what you own. How to work with your camera and use its many functions. Camera and lens field care.

Uploading images to agencies while in the field. Preparing an image for transmission to agencies and editors. Captioning images and the five W's (Who, What, When, Where and Why.) Working with editors, deadlines, assignments, freelance projects etc. Building and presenting a story online/digital lightboxes and personal websites. The nuisances of working with editorial clients and how to limit them. Building a contract for freelance work and what to look for (or look out for) when signing a contract with an agency or publication. Copyright information and how to use it in the real world. Preparing for the future and impending changes in the industry.

 

Hometown Workshop Program

Can't afford the time or travel expenses for a workshop abroad, let us send Zoriah to you? The hometown workshop program was designed to offer an alternative to the workshop abroad program in which Zoriah will fly to your hometown to work you one-on-one. Just like the workshop abroad program, the hometown workshop will be tailored to the needs and interests of each individual student. The workshop begins with a portfolio review session then the planning of a photographic assignment to be completed in your own comunity. Zoriah will work with you,completing the same project by your side, allowing you to watch the way he works and be guided along the way. A portion of each day will be devoted to the editing process, working together on preparing a story as if it were a real editorial assignment for a newspaper or magazine.

 

 

Available Workshops

Workshops and their locations are usually tailored to the interests of a specific student or group of students. A few ideas and past workshops are included below for reference, actual workshops will be tailored to the needs and desires of each individual participant. This is only a small list of available workshops, please contact us for available dates and more information.

 

- Cambodia: Landmine victimsand rehabilatation, AIDS, poverty and urban slums, sex tourism and many other subjects available

- Vietnam: Comparing urban and rural poverty. Students spend half the workshop photographing in Saigon and the other half in Chau Doc or another small village

- Kenya: Fishing Lake Victoria - Document the lives of fishermen and their families from small villages on the banks of Lake Victoria

- Pakistan and Kashmir: Working in Extreme Conditions. This workshop is designed to give higher-level students a chance to experience work under adverse conditions

- India: Beggars life. Spend one week documenting the life of homeless or or what locals call an "untouchable" man or woman

- China: Modernizing an Ancient Culture. Document how modernization and progress effect an ancient culture in the amazing city of Shanghai

- Haiti: The Environment. Take an inside look at the environmental impact of poverty in this workshop that focuses on how coal use and production has destroyed Haiti's forests. The workshop begins in Port au Prince and then moves to the mountains of Seguin where conservationists try to preserve the only 2% of trees that still remain in their country.

- Uganda. Document storeis for local NGO's, covering subject matter such as life in the slums, child drug addicts and child prostitution

- Nicaragua: Shanty Towns. Documenting life in extreme poverty

- Bangladesh: Urban Poverty. Photograph life on the streets where thousands of families live in abject poverty while new business pops up around them every day Explore the neighborhoods of this dynamic city and be welcomed by the lovely locals who always seem to be happy to be photographed.

- Lebanon: Palestinian Refugees. Spend time photographing the lives of Palestinian refugees living in camps around the country

- Thailand: Slum Kickboxing. Explore the Klong Toey Slum in Bangkok and see how children spend their time training in Muay Thai instead of ending up on the streets

- Cuba: This Street Photography workshop focuses on documenting the lives of workers and everyday Cubans in the streets of the vibrant and highly photogenic city of Havana

- Philippines: Poverty's Environmental Impact: Work in urban slums to show the impact of poverty on the ocean and environment

- Turkey: The New Face of The Refugee Crisis. Live in an urban jungle pupulated by refugees from around the world while documenting their lives

-Japan: Technology and The Modern World. Explore the role of technology in our lives in one of the most advanced cities on planet earth. *Japan workshops have higher tuitions and higher living costs

- Paris: A Timeless City. Explore this gorgeous city and learn to photograph its character in a way that shows its timeless nature

- Sri Lanka: Child Poverty. Work on a photo essay about the lives of children living in poverty. Explore the island to compare and contrast urban vs rural poverty and the effects of both on the lives of children

- New Orleans: Life After Katrina. Document the long standing effects that Hurricane Katrina has had on this city and its residents. Photograph the neighborhoods that still lie in ruin years later

- Laos: Shoestring Travel. Students travel through Laos and produce a story geared to budget minded travelers and backpackers

- Brazil: Amazonian Deforestation. Work in the Amazon Basin documenting the environmental impact of clear cutting

- South Korea: Urban Life and Technology. This street photography workshop is unique and focuses on technology in the lives of the Korean people. Explore this modern city and photograph the high tech society which finds its home here

- Honduras: Travel and Underwater Photography. Students produce a travel story with two to five days being underwater photography instruction by Zoriah and the master divers at Ocean Connections PADI Dive Shop. *students without a scuba diving license will complete a three day licensing course durning the beginning of the workshop

- Egypt: Street Life. This street photography workshop focuses on the winding streets and alleys of Cairo. Students learn technical and editing skills while documenting daily life in this unique city.

- Cambodia: Land Mines. See the effects of land mines and other munitians on the population of an impoverished country. Visit land mine rehabilitation clinics and see the struggles faced by those who have lost limbs decades after the munitions were placed

- Detroit: Urban Decay. Document the effects of the US economy after years of transition. Visit the decaying urban neighborhoods of this visually stunning city and produce a photo essay street life in this city

- Burma/Bangladesh Border: Rohingya Refugees. Document the plight of the Rohingya people as they live in a country with few rights and no opportunaties after having fled nearly certain death in their home towns in Burma

- Morocco: Travel Photography. Travel from Cassablanca to Marakesh and produce a travel related photo series

- Indonesia: Child Drug Addicts. Photograph the lives and struggles of children addicted to inhalants

- Israel and Palestine: Compare and contrast life in Jerusalem and life in the West Bank city of Ramallah

- Mexico: Fossil Fuel Impact. Document car culture and its effects on the environment in one of the worlds most polluted cites, Mexico City

- New York City: Marketing, Connections and Where to Start. This 5 day workshop is designed for students who already have an established portfolio. Students will work on refining their portfolio, building picture stories and marketing them to editors and agencies. Students will meet with industry professionals, editors and other professional photographers for portfolio reviews and guidance sessions. *New York City workshops have higher living costs

 

Please email for more information on any of these programs or if you would like to have a program tailored to you or your groups needs and interests

 

 

Workshop Tuition 2015

5 Day One-on-One Workshop - $6,000

7 Day One-on-One Workshop - $7,000

10 Day One-on-One Workshop - $8,500

(The 10 Day Intensive workshop will usually take place in two locations within the same country, for instance an urban and then move to a rural setting.)

 

Chernobyl Workshops

5 Day One-on-One Workshop - $8500*

tuition for this workshop also includes permits, paperwork, lodging, meals, translator/guide, local transport.

 

European Travel Photography Workshop Tuition

4 Day Liveaboard One-on-One Workshop - $4000*

 

Hometown Workshop Tuition

4 Day Hometown One-on-One Workshop - $3500*

 

*Workshops begin the first full day in the field

*Travel and expenses are in addition to the tuition fee and vary depending on the workshop

*Hometown workshops require the student to cover Zoriah's travel and expenses on top of the tuition fee

*Liveaboard travel photography workshops in Europe include room and board on Zoriah's ship

 

We believe firmly in teaching students how to think for themselves and learn on their own once the workshop has come to a close. We want to give each student the tools they need to find answers and solutions to their problems when they arise for the rest of their lives. Photojournalism is about knowledge, education, exploration and giving back to the world. Too many educational institutions focus on filling students heads with facts while forgetting to teach them how to learn! It is our goal to inspire my students to be the best that they possibly can and never, ever stop learning and growing and teaching themselves new thing

*Because we schedule Zoriah's time and begin to make travel arrangements when deposits are made, we are unable to offer refunds on the deposits. If you have experienced a death in the family or major emergency we will do our best to work with you to apply the remaining deposit, minus costs incurred, towards a future workshop experience.

*For group workshops we reserve the right to cancel the workshop if we do not receive enough students/participants enrolling to make the workshop viable (If the workshop is cancelled, full refunds will be issued minus any costs accrued up to that point, including PayPal fees

View Student Testimonials and Recent

 

*Because we schedule Zoriah's time and begin to make travel arrangements when deposits are made, we are unable to offer refunds on the deposits and workshop tuition.