May 2011 Archives

When: August 6-10, 2011

Where: Private studio and custom darkroom of Jeff Cowen, in Berlin

Included: Film processing, work print paper, archival mural-size paper, models

Who: Participation limited to 5 pre-selected photographers

Fee: 1,850 euros

This is an intense, hands-on workshop (marathon) for serious photographers who want to master the best of black-and-white film techniques — and experience the magic of making large mural prints from your own negatives in a custom large-format darkroom specifically designed by Jeff Cowen. Lessons and assignments will include: portraiture, the nude (in studio and in nature), still-life, and street photography in Berlin.

At the end of 5 days, each participant will have several work prints in various genres, plus one archival, museum-quality “master” print (mural size) of one of your images that you will make in the darkroom with Jeff Cowen and his longtime darkroom assistant, Csilla Szabó. Jim Casper will conduct one-on-one portfolio reviews with each photographer, and offer advice about career development, publicity and promotion, international markets, and more.

The masterclass includes lectures and demonstrations on:

• working with natural and studio lighting

• creative collaboration with models

• aesthetic choices while shooting, editing and printing

• developing a personal photographic signature and visual voice in your photography.

Each photographer’s masterclass work will be discussed as part of a group process as well as private sessions regarding editing, shooting, printing and presentation techniques. Each participating photographer is encouraged to bring a portfolio of current work to be reviewed and critiqued, as well.


In addition to shooting, evaluating and printing your own photographs, each day will involve formal and informal talks on various subjects such as:

• photography as a career

• marketing, PR, and international exposure

• developing fruitful relationships with collectors and galleries

• working with book and magazine publishers

• how to break through creative blocks

Developing onsite will be provided for 35mm and 120 film (film to be provided by each photographer). All darkroom supplies, including chemicals, and paper for test prints and one final mural-size museum quality print are included in the cost of the masterclass.

Because we have the luxury of only 5 students and 3 instructors (including Jeff's darkroom assistant), the class will be tailored onsite to work on the specific issues of the class members.

Interested photographers should send a brief email summarizing your experience, plus 6-10 examples of photographs (JPEGs) and/or links to your work on a website. Photographers who are accepted will pay a non-refundable 50% deposit in advance, with the balance payment due one week before the masterclass.

Please send your letters of inquiries and samples to: masterclass@lensculture.com.

Jeff Cowen in his Berlin studio. Photo © Bálint Meggyesi

Jeff Cowen in his Berlin studio. Photo © Bálint Meggyesi

Jeff Cowen in his Berlin studio. Photo © Bálint Meggyesi

Jeff Cowen in his Berlin studio. Photo © Bálint Meggyesi

Visit Jeff Cowen's website for more information about him and his work: jeffcowen.eu. Cowen has over 25 years of darkroom experience, including his early work with Larry Clark and Ralph Gibson.

We're in fund-raising mode here at Lens Culture, where our dedicated hardworking staff and volunteers work daily to keep Lens Culture interesting, informative and lively. Since we don't clutter our site with paid advertising, we must rely on donations from our readers to keep the online magazine fresh and engaging.

We have a few very wonderful gifts for the next few people who donate to our cause:

Signed first edition of From Back Home by Anders Petersen and JH Engstrom ($500 contribution)




Signed first edition of Du Mich Auch by Anders Petersen ($250 contribution)




Signed first edition of Alexey Titarenko Photographs ($250 contribution)




You can make your contribution online (see the Google Checkout button to the right), and please specify which of these gifts you would like to receive. We will post notices when these gift items are no longer available, and we will refund your donation if the gift you want is already gone. Thanks very much!

In October 2010, Simon Norfolk began a series of new photographs in Afghanistan, which takes its cue from the work of nineteenth-century British photographer John Burke. Norfolk's photographs reimagine or respond to Burke's Afghan war scenes in the context of the contemporary conflict. Conceived as a collaborative project with Burke across time, this new body of work is presented alongside Burke's original portfolios in this well-produced 17-minute video for the Tate Channel: http://youtu.be/XXrmBhpRG2U

This engaging, insightful video has a strong political slant — but even if you don't completely agree with Simon Norfolk's political opinions, his photographs stand out from the flood of familiar everyday photojournalism that seems to come of the conflict areas. His photos, and this video presenation, are smart, and they make you think. You can come to your own conclusions. And you can also learn about how a dedicated photographer finds a way to make artful photographs in a war zone. His work even echoes some of the more surreal scenes from Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, including Playboy Bunnies entertaining the troops.

You can see earlier work by Norfolk in Afghanistan, and hear our audio interview with him from 2006, in the Archives section of Lens Culture.