INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP
Storytelling & Social Media Workshop with John Stanmeyer and Linda Bournane Engelberth
Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia ~ 15 – 22 August, 2018
We are excited to share a first ever workshop to be hosted in the most fascinating, visually rich storytelling part of the world…Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the heart and soul of Javanese culture.
John Stanmeyer lived more than 5 years in Indonesia and has been photographing the history and culture for nearly two decades, including two stories from this part of the country for National Geographic and countless stories for Time magazine.
Joining John for this beautiful workshop will be the poetic visual artist and VII photo agency member, Linda Bournane Engelberth. Her work focuses on identity through personal and subjective narratives, as well as rural communities which are in flux. Such a giving, talented photographer, you will be expanded into places and feelings never imagined through Linda’s kind eye and giving nature.
This event is the first in a series of VII photo agency collaborations with John, and in local partnership support with the Panna Foto, an NGO that supports local photographers throughout Indonesia.
Workshop
During the 8 day workshop, John and Linda will collaborate closely with each photographer as they work on their individual stories, most specifically in the storytelling and editing processes. At times, Linda and John will try to go out with photographers, however experience shows that having another photographer around you while working only alters, affects the situation you are in. If a photographer is having difficulty in the field connecting with their story, Linda or John will indeed go out with the photographer, guiding and inspiring wherever needed.
During this workshop you will be guided in how to improve your own voice in photography, how to get close to the subject and make an intimate story. The workshop will be aimed at people that want to make a personal project or that want their documentary photography to be more personal and intimate. It will be a intuitive journey, where the aim is the photographer leave feeling inspired, changed, expanded in both their photography and life. These are far more spiritual events than the pragmatic of photography.
This workshop in deep collaboration with Linda and John will be beneficial for both committed photographers who want to grow vision beyond solely taking pretty pictures and for professional photographers who need to challenge their vision and purpose into new areas of storytelling. We will work together as a group, in near therapy sessions of visual understanding, one to one guiding, through editing sessions and group discussions.
After registering for the workshop, story research begins, with John and Linda working with you remotely through email/Skype to discuss and plan your story idea. This lasts as long as necessary – we want to make sure that you arrive well prepared, able to dive into the creation process right away with the help of your fixer. The research phase is an interesting process similar to the way National Geographic stories are planned and researched in advance.
It is expected that each photographer arrives to Yogyakarta by the morning of August 15 the latest, though we suggest you to arrive at least one day before to be settled in the new timezone. By late morning of the 15th, we will converge at the workshop venue where each photographer will meet with John and Linda, be introduced to their fixer/translators to begin logistics planning for that day’s photography.
Over the next 8 days, you will go deeply into the process of story creation using still photograph or even video. Each photographer works and create their story at your own pace. Expect long days or nights, the process of story creation is so giving that at times you won’t notice or even feel time.
Editing of photography happens each day at the workshop venue, throughout day and late evenings, depending on when your return from photographing. Editing is done both individually and in groups, a fascinating learning experience for all when witnessing how each photographer’s images evolve throughout the course of the workshop, into a completed story. Linda and John review and discuss the photography you create each day, giving you insight and suggestions for your story narrative and the flow, so that the same evening or next day you continue expanding your story. By the end of the workshop, depending on your engagement and story concept, you will have a 20-50 image completed essay.
In previous workshops, many photographers who attended have had their completed stories published in National Geographic, Washington Post, The New York Times, BBC, Vice and more.
During a few evenings of the workshop, John and Linda will present stories they have produced from years of photographing for the world’s leading publications and art projects. One of the greatest experiences is when John brings each photographer into his story planning, research and psyche of creating more than 18 stories for National Geographic.
There will also be engaging discussions and tutorial on the importance of social media through Instagram and career expansion in an ever changing industry.
On the evening of the 22nd of August, each photographer will project their completed work to all attending the workshop, as well as invited guests. Photographers will present and discuss the unique aspects of each story in the exact same manner as a completed story for National Geographic magazine is presented upon completion to editors. This evening event is truly magical, with each photographer learning something new not only about their own work but also the work of their colleagues.
We encourage all photographers to consider staying longer in Indonesia to keep honing their photographic skills. The workshop team can help in offering expertise and insight into places beyond Yogyakarta.
Workshop Fee
Early Bird & Returning Participants
- 15% Discount
- Register and deposit before June 15, 2018
- Returning Workshop Attendee
Early Bird
- 10% Discount
- Register and deposit before July 1, 2018
- New Workshop Attendee
Standard
- .
- Register and deposit after July 1, 2018
- New Workshop Attendee
Workshop Requirements
Please note…this immersive gathering is not about teaching f-stops or how a camera works. This is a workshop about storytelling and the power of photography, art and communication. Each participant need not be a professional working photographer, however you must be a passionate human being first, one who is willing to go places in both your seeing and life, while having a solid understanding of their camera. You can use any camera you wish, even an iPhone ( John often use his iPhones on assignments and Linda creates wonderment with hers).
Each photographer needs their own laptop, external hard drives to store their photos. It is highly suggested to use Adobe Lightroom for both editing and toning. Working in Bridge/Photoshop or another program only causes workflow issues, slowing the process during your daily sessions with both Linda and John. Photographers working in video will be required that you handle all the editing of the final film yourself using editing programs such as Final Cut or Premier. Photographers wanting to record audio should bring their own digital or analogue audio recorders and be familiar with programs like GarageBand, Logic Pro or Pro Tools. Also remember to bring power cables, plug adapters and any other accessories you feel you need to connect to 220v power. Feel free to ask Linda or John for any additional insight.
Additional Insight
The workshop venue will be held in the center of the ancient Javanese capital of Yogyakarta. To make this workshop truly affordable and accessible to all, we have chosen a beautiful hotel that is affordable for all, the Green Host Boutique Hotel. Room rates as of writing are less than $50 per night in your own private room with bath, fast internet and breakfast. For those willing to share rooms, the cost will be less.
John and Linda will be staying also on site, where we commune as family over the entire 8 days of the workshop…for the many of you who have attended previous workshops, you know how intimate and enriching this togetherness is.
Once registered for the workshop, John and Linda will work with you in choosing just the right room for your needs.
Here are the details at the Green Host:
www.greenhosthotel.com
All hotel room costs are to be paid directly by each photographer. We are taking no commissions or fees. This is how we can keep workshop costs low, not needing to hire more staff to manage tasks that can easily be done directly by each photographer.
We will be making a deposit to secure all rooms, sorting the difference with you between the deposit and your direct payment once we are together at the hotel in Yogya. We do this for all workshops so don’t worry if this may seem confusing!
Spouse/partner/children of a participant are welcomed however they cannot partake in the actual workshop.
If you are fluent Bahasa Indonesia there is likely no need for a translator but it can be helpful for someone with you to deal with local customs and insight. To support those who are not fluent in these languages, we have arranged talented fixer/translators who are motorbike drivers to work with each photographer – moving around the wonderful craziness and beauty of Yogyakarta is best done with your fixer on a slow, moving scooter. For those wanting to use a car and driver, it is easily available for an additional fee (see below).
Your fixer fee with transport is $30 per day. We asked that whenever eating out with your fixer, please support their meals. With expenses being low in Indonesia, food costs are minimal unless eating at fancy restaurants.
The fixer/translators we will be working with are also local photographers, adding even deeper beauty to relationship you will have in both your photography and friendship.
For those photographers working on stories a long distance from the Yogyakarta or who want added comfort, a car and driver is available for $45 – $57 per day include fuel. Your decision to use a car should ideally be made before arriving to Yogyakarta although it can also be arranged on a day by day basis if needed.
Yogyakarta has an international airport and we recommend all participants try to book their flights from their departure city to Yogyakarta (airport code JOG). If you wish, you can fly into the capital, Jakarta (airport code JKT), then use one of the many local airlines from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. All arranging of flights are to be done by each participant. John and Linda can help suggest routes and options when needed.
The hotel will provide airport transfers based upon each photographers arrival. Details for transport will be organized as the workshop date draws near.
All photographers will oversee organizing and booking their own flight arrangements from their home cities to Yogyakarta. Like all expenses of these workshops, we want to keep costs as low as possible, allowing each photographer to choose, with no middle person needing fees. John and Linda will also help offer guidance when needed.
Deposit
A $1,150 nonrefundable deposit is payable on confirmation of a space in the workshop. It is recommended to make the deposit immediately upon confirming a space in the workshop as these intimate events fill quickly.
Discounts and Fees
To receive the 15% discount options for returning photographers, deposit must be made by June 15, 2018, with the remaining balance must be paid by July 1, 2018. Note: Register early to take advantage of both the special discounts and to make sure there is space. If no balance of payment is received by July 1, your discount will be canceled and you will need to pay the full workshop fee by after July 1, 2018 to keep your space in the workshop at this very special rate for the Workshop Family.
Two receive the 10% discount options, deposit myst be made by July 1, 2018, with the remaining balance must be paid by July 15, 2018. If no balance of payment is received by July 15, your discount will be canceled and you will need to pay the full workshop fee by after July 15, 2018 to keep your space in the workshop.
For those who register after July 1, 2018, not taking advantage of the various discount options, full payment must be received by July 15, 2018, to keep your space in this small, intimate event.
Cancellation Policy
$1,150 deposit is not refundable for any reason of cancellation — The reason for this is due to the high preparation costs, staffing fees and other significant expense to run international workshops prior to the start of workshop. The remaining balance of the workshop fee (after deposit) is refundable up until July 15, 2018. No refunds will be offered after this date.
Bank Transfer Fees
All wire transfer fees are the responsibility of the registering/participating photographer. Please read Liability Waiver.