The Paris New Years Workshop

What better way could there be to bring in a new year than with fellow photographers, a master photojournalist, at a top Paris restaurant?

 

© Philipe GarzaThe Paris New Years Workshop will offer participants an amazing opportunity to start the new year off with a fantastic one-week photography workshop in the worlds’ most beautiful and visually exciting city. With this special workshop, the group will bring in the New Year together at one of Paris’ top restaurants. No one knows how to bring in the New Year like Parisians, and participating in a Paris New Years’ Workshop will be an experience of a lifetime.

This one week workshop is designed for students interested in exploring the rich humanistic traditions of street photography at a very special time of year. Turnley, who has lived in and photographed Paris for the past 25 years, worked early in his career as the assistant to the famous French photographer Robert Doisneau. His acclaimed book, Parisians, by Abbeville Press, with a preface by Doisneau and Edouard Boubat, is a wonderful contemporary portrait of daily life of this unique city.

Students spend much time exploring and photographing the rich daily life of Paris. They will be exposed to the work of many of the greatest photographers of all time who have documented the Paris scene: Kertesz, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson, Brassai, Atget, Izis, Ronis, Boubat, Ronis and Turnley, among others. Students will visit many of the rich museum spaces for photography, will meet several prominent members of the Paris photographic community, and get to meet one of the greatest black and white printers of all time. Students will be encouraged to work on their own personal portrait of the daily life of the city.

The workshop deals with the humanistic traditions of street photography, and students will be expected to think not only in terms of single images in a fine art sense, but will be highly encouraged to think of the notion of telling a story with a group of pictures. Students will be encouraged to photograph the life of Paris and accept the challenge of photographing people, as well as the environment and visual landscape of the city. Peter will help the students with this process and offer tips for overcoming any hesitations or mental blocks of timidity in this process Students will create a photo-story with 15 photographs on a theme of their choice about Paris or the life of the city. Peter will work with students in the choice of their theme, which can be very broad, such as “Paris at New Years”, “My impressions of Paris”, or very narrow, such as “The life of the Seine River”. It is not important that students know in advance what their theme will be, but they will be expected to accept the challenge of choosing a theme early in the workshop and sticking to it in order to create an interesting and coherent photo-essay. Students will choose at the outset if they will shoot their story in black and white, or color. They will be expected to stick with their choice once it has been made.

Peter will discuss technique, intent, composition, and the creative use of the camera and lens. He will review and critique your portfolio, and works-in-process, discuss careers, getting published and give you an idea of where you are, and what to do next to become better. This workshop is for experienced photographers and photography students who want to explore Paris, while working with and learning from one of today's masters of photojournalism. This is an opportunity to be inspired by the street and nightlife of Paris and to produce a new body of images. Students will explore the rich tradition of the "decisive moment" and be encouraged to contemplate the themes of humor, sensuality, light, elegance, and art and joie de vivre of the Paris landscape. This seven-day workshop should be one a wonderful experience for all participants. There are lectures, presentations, by Peter and several of the most prominent members of the international photographic community.

COMPANIONS This is an ideal workshop to bring along a spouse, son or daughter or partner. Non-photographic companions may join the group sessions and meals but are not involved in the critique or review sessions. Companion supplement is $400.

HOTELS Peter has found three very nice hotels, in different rates, but all within walking distance of his apartment, where classes will meet. Below are the names, rates, web sites and phone numbers. We are asking that each you call and reserve a room in the hotel of your choice. You can also see each of these hotels on their respective web sites, and book on-line through a variety of sites. There are many other good reasonable hotels you can research on-line in Le Marais near Peter’s apartment where the daily class meets. Peter’s apartment is located on the rue des Guillemites, Paris 75004. It is in the very heart of the Marais.

Hotel Turenne le Marais
6 Rue de Turenne
75004 PARIS FRANCE
Tel : (+33)1/42784325
Fax : (+33)1/42741072
E-mail : hotel@turennemarais.com

Hotel Abbatial Saint-Germain
46 Blvd. St. Germain
33-1-4634-0212
fax 33-1-4325-4773
E-mail: contact@abbatial-saint-germain-hotel

Hotel Saint Roch
25, rue St Roch
75001 Paris
Tél. : 33 1 42 60 17 91 et 33 1 42 96 06 36
Fax : 33 1 42 61 34 06
email : hotel.st.roch@gofornet.com
Two steps from the Louvre

Hotel Caron du Beaumarchais
12 Rue Vielle du Temple, Paris, 75004

ARRIVAL Plan to arrive on Saturday or latest by noon on Sunday. The first workshop session will begin at 2pm on Sunday. Flights from the States are often in the evenings, which mean you could fly Friday evening, and arrive in Paris on Saturday and give yourself an evening to get acclimated before the workshop begins on Sunday.

DEPARTURES The workshop ends at noon, Saturday, with a final show of the students’ final 15-image photo stories made during the week. Students are free to leave on Saturday afternoon, which would enable those needing to get back to the States to work on Monday the time to do so. Those wishing to stay in France longer are free to continue their trip after the final class.

TECHNOLOGY This is a digital workshop. Students are encouraged to use a DSLR or digital rangefinder camera. Students will need to know how to download their digital images each evening so that the days work can be brought to class the next day on a flash drive, external hard drive, CD or DVD, for review with Peter.
The students will also be encouraged to stick with one format of camera.  Participants will want to bring your laptop with imaging software loaded. Your laptop should have image management software, such as Apple’s Aperture, Adobe’s Light Room or, as Peter suggests, Photomechanic, which can be downloaded, free, on a trial basis from the site of camerabits: http://www.camerabits.com/products/

WHAT TO BRING Besides your DSLR cameras, bring a body of your creative work with you to share—a portfolio or CD of images. Your portfolio can be prints or digital images. The workshop will have an LCD projector and there will be a final show of all of the students work during the final session.

CAMERA GEAR A DSLR camera or digital rangefinder camera is required. Students may also work with a high end point and shoot camera such as a Canon G10. Two bodies are recommended, with a minimum of at least one wide-angle lens, such as a 17-35mm zoom, or 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, or 50mm lens. In order to shoot comfortably in low light situations, it will be preferable that students have a wide-angle lens that is relatively fast and has a wide aperture such as 1.4., 1.8. 2 or 2.8. Students should bring several memory cards (at least 1 G cards are recommended), extra batteries and necessary battery chargers.

Students should make sure you have a back-up system on which to download each day’s work. This can be your laptop, a portable external hard drive storage device, flash drive, or cds or DVDs. You will need a means of getting your edited images in a folder to Peter each day for review—flash drives are the most practical, but you can also use an external hard drive, or cd or DVD.

RESEARCH AND PREPARATION Research and preparation are important parts of any adventure. There are many very thorough guidebooks about Paris, and extensive information about Paris and France to be found on the Internet.

MEALS The first and last meals are included in the cost of the workshop. You will be a guest of the workshop for a group opening dinner on Saturday night, and a final dinner on Thursday night. There will also be a very nice New Years’ Eve meal offered by the workshop at one of Paris’ top restaurants. This will be a unique and wonderful way for the workshop group to bring in the New Year together with a special, wonderful New Years’ meal and atmosphere. Aside from the three group meals, breakfasts, lunches and dinners are independent but students are encouraged to join each other in local restaurants and cafes. Expect to be paying around $50 a day on meals.

For more information about teacher Peter Turnley, please consult his personal website: www.peterturnley.com

Turnley has published five books of his work:

  • Parisians
  • McClellan Street
  • In Times of War and Peace
  • Beijing Spring
  • Moments of Revolution

Terms and Conditions for Destinations Workshops

1. Reservations & Payments

A deposit as indicated on the registration page is required to confirm your reservation for the workshop.  Final payment in full is due 45 days prior  to the date of departure for your workshop.  Maine Media Workshops + College (“Maine Media”) reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by the due date.

2. Cancellations

All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of the postmark, or upon receipt of an email providing notice of cancellation. If you provide written notice of cancellation  60 days or more prior to the departure date for your workshop, your deposit, and any additional payment, will be refunded in full, less an administration fee of $55.00. If you provide written notice of cancellation less than 60 days prior to the departure date for your workshop, your full deposit will be forfeited; any additional funds paid to Maine Media for the workshop will be refunded.  No refunds of any amount will be made to persons who (i) fail to provide written notice of cancellation, or who (ii) begin a workshop, but fail to complete the workshop.

3. Basis of Rates

All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars; all payments must be made in U.S. dollars.

4. Insurance

It is strongly advised that you purchase Trip Cancellation, Baggage, Emergency Medical Evacuation, and/or Accident and Sickness Insurance Protection. Camera equipment, computers, and baggage are carried entirely at the owner’s risk. Maine Media shall have no responsibility for any lost, damaged, or delayed property, or for an individual student’s medical needs, accidents, injuries or illnesses.

5. Itinerary Changes

The itinerary for your workshop is subject to change without prior notification.

6.  Passports and Visas

A valid passport is required for all travel. You are required to notify Maine Media as to the nationality under which your passport is registered. If you are a U.S. citizen, Maine Media will notify you if your destination requires a visa.  Non-U.S. citizens are required to contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements for their workshop. Participants are responsible for obtaining their passports and visas. To participate in the workshop, you must have a passport that is valid until at least six months after the date on which your trip is scheduled to be completed.

7. Medical Issues

All participants must be in good health.   You must advise Maine Media of any health condition, physical condition, or emotional or mental condition that may require special attention or that may adversely impact the other participants in your workshop. All students are required to complete a “Waiver of Liability” form and submit it at the time of registration.  This document may be found on the course description page.

8. Liability Waiver

Every participant is required to sign Maine Media’s Waiver of Liability before departure for their workshop.   Click here to download.

9. Responsibility & Photography

To ensure a safe photographic experience, you are required to obey local customs and be considerate when photographing people or sensitive locations.  The faculty member for your workshop has the right to expel any person from the workshop for behavior that is in violation of the law; that is disruptive; or that compromises the group’s safety or enjoyment.  No refunds will be made to any person expelled from a workshop. Maine Media shall have no obligation to pay any costs incurred by a person as a result of that person being expelled from a workshop. 

Sign and Return Waiver Form

 

Instructors

Peter Turnley

Peter Turnley is a photojournalist renown for documenting the human condition and current events.  He is also a widely acclaimed street photographer who's lived in and photographed Paris since 1978-one of the preeminent photographers of the daily life in Paris of his generation. His work is often seen in the world's most prestigious magazines: Newsweek, Harper’s, Stern, Paris Match, Geo, LIFE, National Geographic, The London Sunday Times, VSD, Le Figaro, Le Monde, and DoubleTake. He is now based both in New York and Paris.

His photographs have been on the cover of Newsweek Magazine 43 times. He worked as a contract photographer for Newsweek Magazine between 1984-2001. He has covered nearly every major news event of international significance in the past twenty years. His pictures have been published the world over and have won many international awards including the Overseas Press Club Award for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, and numerous awards and citations from World Press Photo and Pictures of the Year competition of the University of Missouri.

Turnley has produced portraits and covered many of the world's most influential people of our time; Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Putin, Mandela, Arafat, Schroeder, Chirac, Clinton, Reagan, Bush Sr, Lady Diana,  Pope Jean Paul II , and Obama, to name a few.

http://www.peterturnley.com/