ENCOUNTER: Photography Masterclass with Ari Versluis

About

Examining and recording identity expressed through street dress codes

As part of its 2016 Summer Academy, SomoS presents the Encounter Photography Masterclass directed by internationally acclaimed photographer and educator Ari Versluis (Exactitudes Studio). It is inspired by Ari Versluis’ new photo series with the same name, which traces a new layered and fragmented cultural "Über-Diversity," emerging between the cracks of the ever growing worldwide sameness of self-representation.

FOCUS: The politics of street-casting & the practice of street photography in the broadest sense, including notions of identity, lifestyle, fashion, politics, activism, cultural- and social transition.

PRACTICE: The experience will guide participants to speedily produce perceptive documentary photography, as well as enable staged photography shoots on the topic. For this purpose, a fully equipped photo studio covering 100 square meters is set up at SomoS Art House for the duration of the program. Individual advice will be given daily during the process, fueled by contextualizing theory. Participants will work in Berlin, which is unique in its subcultural vitality and diversity.

THEORY: Included are personal guest lectures, Q&A's, video sessions with leading creative minds from different fields such as style chronicler and social commentator Peter York, creative director Nicolas Santos (Dust magazine), Jessica Gijssel (Girls Like Us magazine), lifestyle researcher and writer Adriano Sack, and visual artist Charl Landvreugd. Legal concerns and conceptual aspects of street photography/casting, developing a critical eye for your own work, and support in project development will each be workshopped. Participants will focus on sharpening their awareness of street styles as a meaningful language as expressed through the signals of fashion and dress codes.

GOAL: A final exhibition of the participants’ work created during the two week duration of the program will be held at SomoS exhibition space, and an accompanying catalog will be printed to document this 2016 Summer course.

APPLY: Rolling Applications Accepted. Early Deadline: May 15th, 2016. Final Deadline June 15th, 2016.

Visit our website for the application form and to learn more about the masterclass.