‘SEE New Perspectives. Masterclass for professional photographers from Southeastern Europe’ was an initiative of World Press Photo and the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
About ‘SEE New Perspectives’
The Masterclass ‘SEE New Perspectives’ was aimed at 15 young professional photographers from nine countries in Southeastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.
The images of the Balkans in the 1990s have largely shaped the perception of the region across the world, as well as within the region. The Masterclass aimed to challenge existing perceptions and to encourage photographers to explore new perspectives of the region.
The Masterclass aimed to propel the participants in their professional development and strengthen their skills in storytelling.
The Masterclass ‘SEE New Perspectives’ was divided into three different phases.
1. Masterclass
The selected photographers were invited to participate in a Masterclass in Berlin, Germany, from 1-8 September 2010. During this Masterclass, the participants were tutored by three prominent international photographers, photo editors and curators. The Masterclass included lectures on the theory of photojournalism, practical exercises, individual reviews, training in online utilities and interactive presentations by the tutors. During the Masterclass, the participants elaborated and discussed their proposal for the assignment, which they completed between mid-September and the end of November 2010.
2. Assignment
After the Masterclass, the participants were asked to produce a photo story on a certain topic. They produced this story outside of their home country, but within the region of Southeastern Europe. In order to complete the assignment, the participants received a grant.
During the production of the photo story, participants were coached online by the tutors of the Masterclass through an online tutoring system. The tutors looked at the progress made, made suggestions for the next steps and advised the participants on the final edit.
3. Final seminar
The results of the assignment were presented to and discussed with the other participants and tutors in a final three-day seminar at the beginning of December 2010 in Berlin, Germany.
Coinciding with the final seminar in Berlin, ten photo editors from Southeastern European media were invited to a five-day workshop on visual literacy in Berlin, Germany.
About World Press Photo Foundation
World Press Photo is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the organization was founded in 1955. The Amsterdam office acts as the hub for a network of professional contacts worldwide – it is this network that makes organizing the contest, exhibitions and other activities on such a large scale possible.
First and foremost, World Press Photo is known for organizing the world’s largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest. Prize-winning photographs are assembled into a traveling exhibition that is visited by over two million people in some 45 countries worldwide. A yearbook presenting all prize-winning entries is published annually in six languages.
World Press Photo is also deeply concerned with stimulating developments in photojournalism and encouraging a transfer of knowledge by organizing the annual Joop Swart Masterclass as well as seminars, workshops and other educational projects all over the world. All these activities are in line with the organization’s mission statement to promote the highest standards in photojournalism worldwide and to foster international understanding through this medium.
The organization is financed through broad-scale support from its main institutional sponsors, and project sponsorship and subsidies for individual activities.
World Press Photo receives support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and is sponsored worldwide by Canon and TNT.
For more information about World Press Photo and its educational programs, please see: www.worldpressphoto.org
About the Robert Bosch Stiftung
The Robert Bosch Stiftung is one of the major German foundations associated with a private company. It holds 92 percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH.
Established in 1964, it represents the philanthropic endeavors of Robert Bosch (1861-1942), focusing on the fields of science, health, international relations, education, society, and culture.
In Stuttgart, the foundation maintains the Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus (Robert Bosch Hospital), the Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, and the Institute for the History of Medicine.
Between 1964 and 2008, the foundation made available approximately 900 million euros for projects. In 2008, approximately 60 million euros were spent on project funding.
The Robert Bosch Stiftung has been active in the Balkans since the early 1990s. The foundation initiated the International Commission on the Balkans in 2003 in cooperation with the King Baudouin Foundation, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Based on the findings of the Commission and as a direct follow-up to its main recommendations, the focus area “Southeastern Europe” was established in 2005. Moreover, the European Fund for the Balkans was established in partnership with European foundations to undertake and support initiatives aimed at bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union. Furthermore, the Robert Bosch Stiftung’s activities in the region focus on journalists and also provide support for initiatives that enhance mutual understanding and reconciliation. Selected existing programs in other program areas have also been extended to include Southeastern Europe.
For more information about the Robert Bosch Stiftung, please see: www.bosch-stiftung.de
