Gueorgui Pinkhassov: learn to master street photography in Paris

November 6–12, 2023

Join acclaimed Magnum photographer Gueorgui Pinkhassov for a 7-day workshop in Paris. Seven exciting days of street photography to broaden your visual experience and learn how to take and select pictures.

Description

This year, Gueorgui Pinkhassov’s workshop will take place in Paris on the 6th–12th of November. The great news is – it will be conducted in English, so all English-speaking photographers who would like to learn more about street photography from the master are very welcome.

The dates of the workshop fall on the ParisPhoto 2023, so the participants will enjoy the opportunity to visit the fair and afterwards, share insights with the group and discuss the trends in modern photography. Many world-famous photographers will be in Paris on those dates, and some of them even promised to join us and give a talk.

The workshop will include lots of activities, often rather impromptu. Group and individual shooting sessions will take place on a daily basis. Gueorgui will spend as much time as possible with every participant. A significant part of the workshop will be devoted to reviewing and selecting your photographs in a study room with a projector.

What you'll master

The workshop will focus on street photography, and Gueorgui will be happy to share his views and secrets about it. It's okay if you think you can’t take pictures. It's not your drawback, because sometimes being able to make mistakes could become an advantage.

Still, it is not enough. But Gueorgui will prove that it’s easy to take pictures. And it’s even easier to take pictures at ease. All you need to do is adjust settings – both in your mind and your camera.

On the contrary, if you are a professional photographer, Gueorgui will assist in advancing you to the next level. His guru Andrei Tarkovsky once told him, "You should photograph the street. After all, one day it will all disappear." So we will all follow Tarkovsky's advice – go outside and start taking pictures in the street. 

We will meet every day either for shooting or viewing photographs. At the end of the workshop, we’ll select five pictures from each photographer and create a video to represent the workshop results. Take a look at the video from one of the recent workshops: https://youtu.be/3KdNFT3V0wU.

Equipment

The equipment should not restrain you, so make sure you have a lightweight modern camera, with a zoom lens if possible. For smartphones, an iPhone is preferred. Please bring your laptop with editing software, a portable hard drive, card reader, and memory stick.

Schedule: in brief

• Monday, November 6. 7 pm: Meet-and-greet dinner. The restaurant’s location will be announced closer to the date.
• Tuesday, November 7. 11 am – 2 pm: Gueorgui’s welcome talk; Introduction to street photography; 3 pm – 6 pm: Group out photographing together with Gueorgui.
• Wednesday, November 8. 11 am – 2 pm: Learning to select photographs; Gueorgui sharing his tips on selecting and editing; 3 pm – 6 pm: Group out photographing.
• Thursday, November 9. 11 am – 6 pm: Visiting Paris Photo Fair; Learning about trends in photography, attending talks and presentations.
• Friday, November 10. 11 am – 2 pm: Group out photographing, improving skills, implementing new knowledge. 3 pm – 6 pm: Sharing impressions about previous days; review of participants’ photographs taken during the workshop.
• Saturday, November 11. 11 am – 2 pm: Group out photographing; Visiting a flea market and taking a walk in the neighborhood. 3 pm – 6 pm: Reviews of participants’ photographs taken during the workshop.
• Sunday, November 12. 11 am – 6 pm: Final reviews, final group edit.

Schedule subject to change.

Workshop location

The study room is located in "Spring Court", which used to host a former Magnum office. Address: 5 Passage Piver, 75011 Paris.

If you’d like to stay in this neighborhood, look for accommodation close to Jourdain Metro Station. It is a lively international neighborhood with apartments cheaper than in the center. Many beautiful secret courtyards hide in these streets, so get ready for pleasant surprises.

Participation fee

The workshop fee is €2,250. A prepayment of 20% (€450) guarantees your participation. The workshop fee includes tuition only, it does not cover flights, accommodation, local transportation and meals.

The number of participants is limited to 12 people, so applying early is recommended for greater chances of enrollment.

Registration process

Photographers from all educational backgrounds and at all career stages – professionals or amateurs – are welcome to apply. To enroll for Gueorgui Pinkhassov’s workshop in Paris, please contact Kristina Koroleva directly at pinkhassovworkshop@gmail.com.