Image Credits L to R: Bolfo, Echeverria, Liste, Cahana, Bolfo (4)
Report From World Press Photo Masterclass
Once a year, 12 young photographers are chosen to attend the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass, where they are paired with 6 industry professionals for an intense week of critiques, discussions, and portfolio reviews. Our own Antonio Bolfo, Sebastian Liste, Kitra Cahana, and Alinka Echeverria attended this year’s class.
It was a transformative experience, as related by Bolfo:
“The World Press Photo’s Joop Swart Masterclass was, by all accounts, an amazing week. I was not sure what to expect, and was immediately surprised by the high caliber operation that World Press was running. Another thing I noticed right off the bat was the sincerity and humility that all the students had. This fostered an open learning environment that allowed us to be honest with ourselves and with each other. Everyone took away something different from their week in Amsterdam, and for me the week was about re-learning who I was as an artist and photographer. I learned the importance of personalizing my work, of interpreting the people and stories that I try to be a part of. I understand that for me it is not good enough to compose an aesthetically good photo, I need to digest what it is I am seeing and express that which I am feeling. It was an invaluable experience, one that I can honestly say changed the way I see and feel. I am forever in debt to Aidan Sullivan, Alison Morley, and Michele McNally for nominating me and the World Press Photo judges for selecting me for this year’s masterclass.”
Prior to the class each student prepared a photo essay around the topic of Respect. A selection of their images is above (and some images from the class), please see a larger edit from all of the students here.
