YEAR-LONG PHOTOBOOK COURSE 2024/2025 

Overview

 

The Nearest Truth Year-Long Photobook Program emphasizes the photobook as a medium. We aim to recognize and promote the photobook as an essential form of expression in the 21st Century. We recognize that it has its own codes of production, its own intentions and interpretations, and its own methodologies to its pedagogical approach that separates it from the general discipline of photography. We aim to encourage the production of more photobooks while also trying to expand its history.

 

The medium of the photobook is expansive, and though some university programs are beginning to consider the medium as a serious form of investigation, the general terrain suggests that alternative models may be explored outside of the institution. Our course defers to the photobook as a medium and not a subordinate form of practice. 

 

We employ the most relevant and contemporary thinkers and makers in our course. From publishers to writers and practitioners, our annual program offers a comprehensive view of the medium with a focus on producing a book. Our extensive list of instructors suggests an unparalleled discourse from a plethora of voices that aim to mine the medium with participants to engage and enlarge the discussion surrounding the photobook.

 

With the dramatic rise of the photobook both as a self-publishing venture and with its more commercially oriented and established publishing firms, the medium of the photobook has seen an unprecedented rise to the forefront of photographic thinking and discussion. It has been established as more than a fad, with more and more artists using the medium as a term of expression independent of the art market. Showing few signs of slowing down, the photobook medium offers artists an independent way to express their concerns in the 21st Century. Wide-ranging and malleable, the medium is just beginning its trajectory into the annals of serious scholarship and understanding. Our program offers the tools for artists to get more involved with the medium, from the novice to the artist who has already published.

 

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The Program

 

During our course, we will offer participants three different tiers of participation. The first tier is the most ambitious and offers physical workshop meetings with top-placed professionals and publishers, combined with private mentorships and a Zoom course. The second mentorship tier allows individuals to meet with multiple mentors throughout the year with access to the Zoom course. Our third tier, the Zoom tier, gives participants access to over many monthly live and recorded Zoom sessions with contemporary thinkers involved in the medium. It allows participants to engage with questions and have a dialog with the instructors presenting. They are recorded for the convenience of playback should you not be able to attend the live Zoom date. 

 

The year-long program is essential. We believe in working with people and getting to know them and their work through our mentorships and physical workshops to help each best accomplish their photobook goals. Books should not be rushed.

 

Our course is designed to give participants the knowledge necessary for publishing their work, emphasizing the practical information involved, from conceptual layout to sequencing to production and promotion. We will also highlight a realistic look at the lay of the publishing land and, when possible, give participants insight into self-publishing as a means of expression and practical outcome. We do not emphasize that participants finish the course with a book dummy or publishing deal; instead, we highlight the tools for making decisions related to production practices. You will learn a lot here and it won’t always be sugar-coated. 

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Confirmed Instructors for 2024-2024 (STC)

 

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Below is a list of confirmed instructors for the 2023-2024 Year. This list includes instructors involved in Zoom, Mentorship, and Physical Workshop modules. Though we have confirmed these instructors' participation, it is essential to remember that things may change, and some instructors may have a change of plans. In this case, we will add new instructors when possible if there should be any changes.

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Clint Woodside, Jason Eskenazi, J Carrier, Stefanie Moshammer, Thomas Albdorf, Danny Franzreb Rachel and Greg Barker, Ionnis Markakis, Jason Lee, Stinus Duch, Thomas Boivin, Cornelia Pierce Sebastian Bruno, Keith Cullen, Jose Bertolo, Yana Wernicke, Tom Wood, Gregoir Pujade-Lauraine Thyago Nogueira, Zachary Ritter, David Campany, Milo Montelli, Ronny Rønning, Jeffrey Ladd Kourtney Roy, Zachary Ritter, Trine Søndergaard,, Yelena Yemchuk, Jesse Jackson,  Pieter Hugo , Federico Clavarino, Chiara Bardelli Nonino, Brad Feuerhelm, and more…

 

 

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Physical Workshop Tier Brief

25-29th September 2024 Neu Ulm

January 2025 Istanbul

June 2025 Athens TBC

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The Nearest Truth physical module of the workshop will take place in three different locations throughout the year. We will begin the inaugural Zoom sessions in June, with mentorships following in July. The first workshop will take place in Neu Ulm, Germany. This workshop will be joined by Pieter Hugo, Federico Clavarino, Chiara Bardelli Nonino, and Brad Feuerhelm and will be an intensive 5-days of editing and sequencing work. It is compulsory and its great as you get to meet everyone. 

 

The second workshop will be held in Istanbul at Mas Matbaa print house with owner Ufuk Shasin and Nicolas Polli of Ciao Press. Nicolas and Ufuk will guide us through the printing process. It is not compulsory, but it will give those who attend direct access to seeing their work printed. It will highlight pre-press concerns and give participants a chance to understand the printing process, a crucial step in realizing one's book. This workshop event will take place in January. There will be the possibility of adding individual books and printing plates to the experience at an additional price.

 

The final workshop will entail pitching your projects to five different publishers and will include an exhibition of your photobook. The location will be Athens at the end of June 2025. The publishers will be chosen at the end of 2024.  It is a compulsory component of the workshop. 

 

Physical Workshop participants will be privy to mentorship and zoom tiers, including access to the Zoom library from 2023-2024. Participants will receive a 1.5-hour monthly session with Brad Feuerhelm and Federico Clavarino. The two instructors will alternate each month of mentoring. 

 

 

* Please be advised that costs are actual and do not include flights, food, or accommodation. Participants are expected to find their own accommodations and book their flights accordingly.

 

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Mentorships Tier

 

Mentorship Tier participants will receive one 1.5-hour mentoring session each month to aid in the development of their projects. These mentorships will be split between Brad Feuerhelm from Nearest Truth and noted artist and photobook-maker Federico Clavarino. We will be your constant observers and general bouncing board for ideas. This tier is for those who want a monthly engagement to help push their work along without the associated expenses of the Physical Workshop module. It means regular check-in and absences are permitted only once. After that, it will not be possible to rearrange the monthly meeting. It is a serious tier of involvement, and we expect participants to make their sessions. Mentorship Tier participants will also enjoy access to the Zoom meetings and our 2022-2024 Zoom Library.

 

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Zoom Tier

 

The Zoom tier of participation is for those wishing to be engaged throughout the year with monthly Zoom lectures. We have incredible thinkers and writers on the medium participating. The meetings are recorded and can be watched later. Still, we suggest attending the live Zoom meetings as the instructors take questions, and what better way to learn your way through making books than having access to probe the minds of some of the finest contemporary photobook makers? As mentioned above, our instructors have confirmed their participation this year, but meetings are subject to change.

 

 

Come and join Nearest Truth for our third year. We believe in the medium of the photobook and provide the most robust annual program to date.

 

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Full Physical Workshop Tier

 

3750 Euros + VAT

Limited to 26 seats

Three Physical Workshops + Mentoring + Zoom Meetings + Zoom Library

(early bird needs to be paid by April 1st 2024)

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* Please be advised that costs are actual and do not include flights, food, or accommodation. Participants are expected to find their own accommodations and book their flights accordingly.

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Mentorship Tier

 

2750 Euros + VAT

Limited to 10 seats

Monthly 1.5 Hour Mentorships + Zoom Meetings + Zoom Library

 

* Please be advised that costs are actual and do not include flights, food, or accommodation. Participants are expected to find their own accommodations and book their flights accordingly.

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Zoom Tier

 

800 Euros + VAT

Unlimited Seats

Monthly Zoom Meetings over the Year

 

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Payment Plans

 

We understand that the economics of the course is not suitable for everyone. 

With an ambitious program comes ambitious expenditure, which results in a higher price of admission. We are open to payment plans for people based on a shifting rule of economics to ensure that once accepted for the course and once committed to remission of payment, the participants are responsible for honoring their investment in themselves and us. 

 

We ask that all payment terms be fulfilled as per the contract, and to help this, we will offer individual payment plans. This fee will be slightly higher to ensure our position against possible payment negligence. 

 

We also cannot issue, under any circumstances, refunds for individuals who cannot attend after signing their contract and after payments have begun. If we can sell your seat, we will refund you, but it is not our job to do so. In short, if you invest in this program, you have to be prepared financially, as we will not be able to refund you due to the high cost of running the course. 

 

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Payment Plan Specifics (Limited Availability)

 

Please remember that there is an increase in the overall fee structure for payment plans to ensure Nearest Truth against payment default. Once committed to the program, there cannot be an allowance for refunds.

 

Physical Workshop Tier

(Seats are Guaranteed only after First Payment and are first come, first serve)

 

2000 Euros +VAT due by April 1

1,300 Euros + VAT by August 1

1000 Euros + VAT November 1

 

Mentorship Tier (5 Seats)

 

1500 Euros  +   VAT due by April 1

1,250 Euros +   VAT due by August 1

500    Euros +   VAT due by November 1

 

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Scholarships

 

We will be selectively giving out full and partial scholarships for our Zoom Tier only. A handful of full scholarships will be given out at universities, and the second handful of half-price scholarships will also be given out. We will make further announcements about the half-price scholarships in the new year.

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Diversity of Instructors

 

We have made significant attempts to diversify our program and balance gender. When assessing our instructors and our remit, it is essential to understand that the final program has changed before you have seen it. This includes everything from people coming to the program late to including many potential instructors who have declined our invitation. We recognize the imbalances in photography and photobook publishing and hope our course encourages the expansion of diverse voices much needed in publishing today. We also acknowledge that our program could be more perfectly balanced and accept responsibility as much as possible or is justified.

 

Email nearesttruthworkshops@gmail.com if you are interested. We will begin taking applications in February. If you are convinced of your interest beforehand, please feel free to let us know. We ask for a paragraph about the work you intend to develop and ideally some supporting images or a website link to the work.

 

*All parts of this program have been deeply considered and are actual as per the commitment to the instructors and the Nearest Truth Team. In the event that any unforeseen circumstances occur, Nearest Truth will do its best to replace or refit parts of the course where necessary. Delays and re-bookings may occur for unforeseen circumstances such as public health, war, and other global events that may deter the program, mainly its Physical Workshop Tier. All schedules and instructors are subject to change.  Please keep in mind that we will not issue refunds in the event of these circumstances but will re-book when the next convenient moment happens.