General Information
Who Attends
Our workshops are for working and emerging professionals, as well as for serious and accomplished amateur filmmakers and photographers - people who want to create a meaningful body of personal work while they work toward their next level of artistic and technical achievement. Participants include working and emerging media professionals as well as professionals from other fields who have made a commitment to serious photography, film or DV documentary storytelling.
Participants must be knowledgeable in basic digital photography, comfortable with digital SLR cameras and be savvy with digital workflow. Portfolio reviews are required for advanced master classes, and all workshops list technical prerequisites and level of experience. If you are in doubt as to your suitability for a specific workshop, email us at Info@WorkshopsInternational.com and we can provide assistance in selecting a workshop.
Technical Requirements
Digital Photography
All of our photography workshops are conducted using digital photography. Digital cameras are a must, as are laptops with editing software and digital storage backup. We use digital projectors and large screens to review and critique your work, as well as to present the faculty's lectures and the final screening. If you want to shoot film, plan to bring it home for processing. We also encourage you to bring a small point-and-shoot digital camera. Even a phone camera is often not only acceptable, but is less intrusive and allows you to make images where a larger, more professional looking camera would be inappropriate, or not allowed. Also, the smaller cameras have an aesthetic all of their own, which in certain situations is more appropriate than images shot with larger and sharper cameras.
Digital Video Technology
Digital video technology is changing even as I write this. New cameras are being introduced every few months, but do not let this stop you from investing now. High Definition Digital Video cameras are now in the price range of most high end digital stills cameras. Even consumer and prosumer video cameras are being used by professionals. For those of you who are shooting primarily for the web, the high end cameras may be overkill. You are encouraged to bring your own video camera with you, this is especially true for documentary workshops where you will be shooting your own stories. For the high end technical camera workshops, sponsors will be providing the cameras, otherwise cameras will be provided by The Film Workshops.
When to Arrive
Most workshops begin Sunday evening with a welcome reception at 8 PM. There is a briefing on the week's schedule and an introduction to the faculty, teaching assistants and staff and a discussion of how the week will progress.
End of Class
Some workshops end Saturday at noon, whilst others will have wrapped up the bulk of their week's work by Friday evening, when we screen all completed projects following a group dinner. Saturday morning is generally reserved for a debriefing, sharing of addresses, resources and setting and sharing goals for the weeks that follow at home.
Non-refundable airfares
We cannot recommend that you book a non-refundable airline ticket, unless you have received confirmation from us that the course for which you have registered is going ahead as planned.
Trip insurance
We do recommend some form of trip insurance to cover medical and travel emergencies, lost tickets, or change of travel arrangements.
Course Cancellation
Occasionally, we cancel a class because of low enrollment. In this case, we will refund all monies paid, in full. We cannot be responsible for non-refundable airline tickets unused because of a course cancellation. Our limit of liability is to return all monies paid to The Workshops.
Instructor Replacement
It is the nature of the business that occasionally a listed instructor is unable to participate because of a change in his or her professional schedule. If we are forced to replace an instructor, we will do so with someone of equal or similar credentials. When time permits, we will inform all those registered.
Visas, innoculations, media warnings
Instructions and recommendations for workshops that require visas, innoculations or have other restrictions are included in the course information PDF, where applicable.
Otherwise, you can check with VisaHQ to see what requirements are listed for specific countries.
No Smoking Policy
There is no smoking in, or near any Workshops classrooms, labs, studio or common spaces.
Sharing Your Work and Career
Sharing your work with the class, the instructor and the subjects you photograph is an important part of every workshop. A more personal and in-depth discussion based on your portfolio will take place later in the week. A small booklet of your images can go a long way to introducing you as a photographer to people you meet in the field. This mini portfolio can lead you to getting access and more intimate images. Bring a selection of your personal photography (small prints 8X10 or 11X14), a portfolio, loose so it can be spread out on a table for viewing or as a CD, DVD or on your laptop, a thumb drive or portable hard drive. This is true for all photography workshops and most video workshops. If your work is in film or video, bring a DVD of your showreel.
What to Bring
Besides your work and cameras, bring a notebook for note taking. A small tape recorder will be handy for taping lectures and making field notes. A more professional digital field recorder will be needed for interviews and discussions and for picking up sounds in the field for those creating a multimedia presentation. A small point and shoot camera, either film or digital, can be helpful in situations where a professional camera may preclude access. Also, returning the next day with small prints to hand out, can go a long way to breaking the ice with the people you may wish to spend time with making more photographs.
Camera Equipment
For those on a photography workshop, bring your digital camera (two bodies are recommended) and a selection of len
ses (especially wide angle), the charger (information on electrical service for each location will be provided), cords and a means to store and edit your images. Also, bring a back-up medium, laptop, external hard drive or digital file storage devise
(such as the Epson P-3000, or Western Digital portable drive). A second battery will be helpful for long days in the field, as will additional cards (at least 4). The discussion of RAW versus JPEG files, will be made the first day of class. But, it will be a matter of quantity of images which will be more important in the learning process than the quality of the files. A tripod and a camera bag that does not look like a camera bag is also recommended. Bring your camera's manual as well. Bring a wide angle lens, at least a 20mm or 28mm, plus a range of other focal lengths.
Video Equipment
For those on a film or dv workshop, all camera equipment will be supplied. See necessary requirements for each course. You may bring your DV camera if you have one, as well as a tripod, microphones, charger and extra batteries and cables, sufficient stock if needed. Bring your lap top with editing software. Do not bring lights. A stills camera is also helpful, especially in the initial research stage, as it can be used as a visual journal.
Multi-media Equipment
If you are attending a multi-media workshop, or plan to create a multi-media project while in your photography class, in addition to your camera, video or stills, you will need a professional tape recorder. There are many on the market such as a Fostex FR-2LE portable digital audio recorder that uses the same cards as those used in various digital cameras. You will also need a laptop with audio editing and image management software: Apple's GarageBand or Microsoft's Expression Media, Soundslides, or Audacity.