ONLINE MASTERCLASS WITH MARK POWER
“ASSEMBLING THE JIGSAW PUZZLE: BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM PROJECT” MARCH 26 – MAY 7, 2021

This masterclass is aimed at those who already have a project in progress (even if you’re only at the very beginning) and are wanting advice on expanding the work and ultimately putting it out into the world. It’s important that participants are able to continue to make new work throughout the course, and therefore it needs to be a project you’re making locally, especially during these times when travel is difficult.

It’s been a long-held belief of mine that amassing pictures is the easiest part of the photographic process, and that editing, sequencing, and really understanding what you’re trying to say are all more difficult. Participants will begin by speaking to the rest of the group about their own practice and, more specifically, one on-going project. It’s these individual ideas that the workshop will focus on. We’ll also be constantly looking at photobooks from my own hoard of almost 4,000 titles (I’m afraid I’ve been an obsessional photobook collector for more years than I care to remember!). I’ll select books that I think are of particular relevance to each student.

In addition I’ll be presenting four lectures – one kicking off every other session – in which I’ll talk in detail about a number of long-term projects I’ve made myself over the years. I’ll cover the development of ideas, the logistics in making the pictures (including the problems), editing and sequencing, and finally book publishing and/or exhibiting the finished work. 

I’ll be drawing on my experience of 25 years teaching photography at the University of Brighton (I left four years ago, but I feel re-energised as a result) to run a course in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. It would be my hope and intention that all participants would have moved their individual projects forward to a healthier place by the end of the workshop.

– Mark Power