Dublin, look at yourself! Walking, photographing & zine-making workshop with Bernadette Keating

Jul 1, 2023

Walking, photographing & zine-making workshop with Bernadette Keating

This four Saturday workshop takes a playful approach to walking and photographing Dublin, and translating those experiences into a sequenced set of black and white images. We will explore how photography, and the photobook, can be used to convey our perception of place, and everyday life. We are keeping the course size down to 6 students so this should be a great learning experience.

4 Consecutive Saturdays, October 14th, 21st, 28th & November 4th 2023
Maximum 6 students.

“This was an exceptional workshop largely to do with Bernadette Keating. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, organised and delivered the content very well. Outside of the contact hours, she gave excellent feedback on our work, provided reading material and facilitated good learning from each other in the group. I was inspired by her! Thank you for providing it.” — John B

The diverse area between Dublin’s main street and redeveloped docklands, along both sides of the river Liffey, will be our focus for the duration of the workshop. On a slow meandering walk we will pay attention to the sounds, smells, textures, movements, layers, modifications, and messy details of these streets. Over the course of the workshop we will each spend time revisiting a chosen location, and constructing our own unique interpretation of these experiences.

Participants will be encouraged to experiment with the way in which they approach photography, in both the image making process, and expanded forms of production such as image pairing and sequencing. Creative exercises will cover themes such as framing, scale, shape, form, camera exposure, light and shadow. Bernadette will also assign mid-week tasks and provide feedback on the work you submit. These exercises are not about perfecting technical skills, but about developing an intuitive process to image making. With the emphasis on content and working processes we will work in black and white throughout.

The final workshop will conclude with a presentation, and discussion of each participant’s work: a series of 8-16 black and white images in a A4/A5 zine format.

Week 1 - A Walk

In order to make a visual and material exploration of Dublin’s built environment we will first start by walking. We will walk from the museum, at a slow pace, to the docklands, exploring side streets, and the ever-evolving and multifaceted areas of this part of the city. This will take approx. four hours so comfortable walking shoes are advised. We can of course factor in a coffee/tea break to make it more comfortable. To fully immerse ourselves in the experience we won’t take photographs during the walk, so there is no need to bring your camera. We all see and experience space differently. When we return to the museum we will each create a mind-map of our experiences, and discuss our varied impressions. This walk will form the starting point for selecting, revisiting and photographing a location in Week 2 and Week 3.

Week 2 - The Photobook

In the morning we will meet at the museum before heading into the city centre to take photos for approx. two hours. The photography tasks will be informed by the outcome of our walk on Week 1. When we return we will share some images from the morning and discuss our experiences. In the afternoon session I will present some of my work. I will also introduce three very different contemporary photography books by artists who incorporate walking as a critical part of their practice. This is an opportunity to learn about: representations of the city in art history, different approaches to photographing urban space, camera and lens choice, image editing, and how to present a sequenced set of images in a book format. You are encouraged in the following week to make another visit to a location which you would like to explore more in-depth with your camera. Set tasks in each workshop will push you to be more experimental in your approach and in the subject matter that you photograph.

Week 3 - Image making

In the morning session we will print a selection of black and white images for each participant so that we can start discussing the images created so far. Informed by the feedback from this session we will return to the city centre / docklands and photograph for approx. two hours. In the afternoon session we will print a new selection of black and white images from the morning and begin the process of looking for interesting image combinations and repetition. This is a fun exercise where we stop thinking of the image as representational and embrace its un-reality. We can see how the edges of the image function, and what happens when two images or two shapes meet. There will also be time for individual feedback, and group exchanges are always encouraged.

Week 4 - Constructing a zine

We will use A4 paper to create one of two very different zine formats. At the start of the morning session I will present my work in both zine formats to show how differently the images can be treated, and how the narrative can be influenced by the different layouts and sequencing. You will print a final selection of images, created both in the earlier workshops and independently, and further experiment with image combinations and sequences to create a narrative context for your work. Perhaps these combinations function to create a projected future, a counterfactual present, or it’s imagining the city as it is but focusing on one specific thing. In a low-tech exercise of cutting and pasting, and combining images, we will experiment with mock-ups, and how they function narratively. We will each construct a zine from a final selection of 8-16 black and white images. Please note that it is also possible to work collaboratively (in pairs) should you wish to do so.

*Students will receive 2 printed copies of their zine, and a digital pdf file which can be printed in both A4 and A3 formats.

 

What will I learn?

  • Dublins architectural, social, and political histories
  • Camera lenses, perspective and camera position
  • Digital file naming conventions and data management
  • Image composition, framing and editing
  • Concepts and techniques of image sequencing
  • Contemporary approaches to photographing the city in book and zine form
  • Develop your photographic literacy, visual awareness, and creative skills
  • Expand your network of fellow photographers
  • Receive personalised feedback from Bernadette on your images, and final work

What we provide?
All printing and zine making materials will be provided on site.
*Although we will take a low-tech approach to zine making, each zine (and final image sequence) will be converted into a digital pdf file (by Bernadette – using Adobe Indesign).
Each participant will receive printed 2 copies of their zine and a Digital pdf file.

Who is the workshop aimed at?
The workshop is aimed at photographers interested in the built environment, who are new to the book genre, and looking to learn about the conceptual thinking and artistic skills that go into the making of a book/zine.

After you sign up you will receive full workshop details via email.
Please email info@photomuseumireland.ie if you have any questions or phone 01 6714654 between 12 – 2pm Monday to Friday.

Course Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

*Concession: Museum Members, Student/Unwaged/OAP. Please email info@photomuseumireland.ie before booking to redeem discount code at checkout.

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