REGISTRATIONS OPEN: NOV. 21 EARLY BIRD DEADLINE
CHRIS MAGGIO: “PERSONAL LANDMARKS: FINDING NARRATIVE ARCS WITHIN THE CLICHES OF EVERYDAY LIFE”, APRIL 3-5, 2026, TOKYO, JAPAN
Our goal in this class will be to strengthen our ability to form new, exciting narratives from common objects, well-tread public locations and everyday rituals- mainly in the outdoor, pedestrian world. We’ll discuss finding inspiration in unconventional sources of vernacular imagery and unintentional forms of documentary expression.
There will be a focus on editing photographic works-in-progress to create strong narrative arcs that can utilize both spontaneous, documentary photography and composed images. We’ll discuss the power of photography’s limits, its ability to provide clues for our audience without concrete answers, and the ways in which we can both utilize and abandon cinematic editing techniques as a way to shape our bodies of work.
We’ll discuss being omnivorous in our practice: developing a space for ourselves to “doodle” photographically while also bringing into focus the technical side of our approach. A class exercise, where we’ll journey out into Tokyo to make a small body of work, will take place during the workshop to help finesse these skills.
Students should come to this class with a documentary-leaning, photographic series in progress. All approaches are welcome, however this is a body of work that, whether still in production or complete, is currently in the process of being sequenced. We will engage in both a class critique and one-on-one sessions to strengthen this body of work.
Ideal students for this class are ones that enjoy searching for poetry and metaphor in everyday, pedestrian life. A fondness for photo walks in both familiar and foreign settings is a plus. An emphasis on using humor to convey a variety of thematic ideas is encouraged.
As part of your application, please submit 3-5 images that you plan on bringing to the workshop as part of the critique.
Top banner © Chris Maggio. From the series Scenes From the Last Day on Planet Earth.
Bottom banner © Chris Maggio, Exploring the layered tourist landscape surrounding Niagara Falls for The Baffler’s ‘Aging & Generations’ Issue.
© Chris Maggio. From the series Scenes from the Last Day on Planet Earth.
© Chris Maggio. From the series Scenes from the Last Day on Planet Earth.
© Chris Maggio. From the series On the Other Side of Liberty.
© Chris Maggio. From the series Tales from the Parking Lot & Other Stories
© Chris Maggio, Exploring the layered tourist landscape surrounding Niagara Falls for The Baffler’s ‘Aging & Generations’ Issue.
ABOUT CHRIS MAGGIO:
Chris Maggio is a New York City based photographer making documentary-based work concerned with new, shifting definitions of Americana and daily pedestrian life. His work often borrows heavily from narrative filmmaking tropes, and is inspired by photography’s ambiguous relationship to truth.
His humorous and timely approach has led to commissions from The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, Nike, Adidas, Apple, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, and numerous other editorial and commercial clients. He was a cinematographer and camera operator on all three seasons of HBO’s groundbreaking documentary series How To With John Wilson.
Chris has also exhibited internationally with The Photographer’s Gallery in London, C/O Berlin, and FOAM Amsterdam. His work has been profiled in Zeit, The New Yorker, and It’s Nice That.
https://www.chrismaggio.biz/
@chrismaggio
WORKSHOP WITH
CHRIS MAGGIO
TOKYO, JAPAN
04.03 – 05, 2026
REGISTRATION FEES & DEADLINES:
TUITION/REGISTRATION FEE:
Early-bird: $1350 USD
Deadline: Friday, November 21, 2025
Past attendee: $1250 USD
Deadline: Friday, November 21, 2025
Regular: $1550 USD
Deadline: after November 21, and until filled.
Registration deposits ($650 USD) to secure your participation are currently available (balance due Jan. 9, 2026).
Flexible monthly payment plans are also available at no additional cost to all accepted applicants. Requests must be made no later than November 21, 2025. Please note all plan payments remain non-refundable.
Please also note: Applications are reviewed on a first-come first-served weekly basis, with regular email communication from reception to final decision. The entire review and acceptance process usually takes a week from the day your application is received. Applying early is therefore recommended.
TRAVEL & STAY
Flights, local transportation, meals and accommodations are not included in any registration fees. However a detailed workshop information packet will be sent to all confirmed participants to help coordinate their stay in Tokyo. It will list a number of recommended accommodation options, as well as local transportation directions, and more important logistical tips.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications to register are free (no fee to apply). Enrolment is limited to 10 participants. Photographers from all education backgrounds and at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply (film and digital both OK). Submitting a portfolio of 15-20 images focused on past and/or ongoing work is required in order to receive full consideration.
REGISTRATION DEPOSITS & PAYMENT PLANS
Selected applicants invited to register are required to confirm their participation by sending a $650 USD registration deposit, or a full regular/early-bird/past attendee registration payment.
If sending a registration deposit, the remaining tuition balance for accepted applicants will come due in full by Friday January 9, 2026.
Flexible monthly payment plans are also available to accepted applicants on request at no additional cost. If interested please inquire before November 21, 2025, with FotoFilmic Co-Director Bastien Desfriches Doria at bastien@fotofilmic.com. Please also note that payment plan payments are non-refundable.
CANCELLATIONS/WITHDRAWALS
The deadline to withdraw your participation and request a refund is Friday, December 12, 2025. Please note that a $250 USD cancelation fee remains applicable. Cancelation and refund requests received after Friday, December 12, 2025 will not be accepted.
In the event the program is not meeting minimum enrolment or needs to be canceled for any other reason, paid tuition will be refunded in full without any cancelation fee. Please also note that FotoFilmic cannot be held responsible for any unrefunded traveling expenses if the workshop is not running: purchasing travel insurance is therefore highly recommended.
QUESTIONS/CONTACT
For any questions or inquiries, please contact FotoFilmic Co-Director Bastien Desfriches Doria directly at bastien@fotofilmic.com