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TEACHING/LECTURES

"Everybody" is now a photographer. Or..?

royal_wedding

 

Photography can, as I see it, at best be a wonderful tool of communication as well as introspection. The photographic image has the rare and beautiful potential of touching the hearts of many.

Maybe we seek to express our inner images or to describe society and our time; people, events, objects, or to tell stories. In any case, to communicate with clarity and impact we need to sharpen the tools.

Single shots only viewed on the smartphone or iPad made out of context and intention tend to be short lived. Out of sight, out of mind. Our amazing technical development bring us cameras that do "almost" all the work. How is it then that many of the pictures we get flooded with look pretty much alike?

There is an obvious technical side to the craft of photography. To understand how to take command of the gear. Without this understanding the automatic functions of the cameras will rule and the pictures will lack any personal touch.

When it comes to using and understanding photographic light the technical aspects are then linked with the ability to see, analyze and make use of the natural, ambient or added light. With that comes the ability to observe, how to focus your attention and to be present in the here and now.

Especially when photographing people, self awareness, social and psychological skills as well as empathic sensitivity is essential. How do I approach another person with the aim of making a portrait?

We also need to understand the media in a wider sense. -Why am I making this picture, for whom, what is the communicative context, who is (possibly) paying or gaining from my pictures, how and whom do I affect with my work?

In order to better and better understand our own pictures and the photographic potential I see it as essential to develop a verbal language with which we can talk about the images; comment, criticize (in constructive ways) and encourage the work of others. For this process to happen, my experience is that it takes time, continuity and a "safe space". This space is besides the physical room a quality that is developed together by all who participate in the process. It is about sharing and showing ourselves. It is about a curiosity to see and to learn.

And this is exciting!

 

I offer courses to students of all levels with the following content:

  • Camera use, analoge and digital
  • Studio lighting:  “3D reality into 2D pictures”
  • The Art of photographing Artworks
  • Photographing objects made of specific materials e.g. glassworks, textile, ceramics, metal etc.
  • Architectural photography
  • Portrait photography; emotional expression and body language
  • Light and shadow in the photographic image
  • Perception and photographic lighting: Looking, seeing and using
  • Visual communication
  • Taking pictures – making pictures
  • Personal development – photographic skills
  • Coaching towards a visual language
  • Concentration – as mental attitude and visual practice
  • Stillness and speed
  • Personal, philosophical and spiritual aspects of photography
  • Photography as a tool for a better world

 

Lectures/Presentations:

  • All of the above
  • GLOBAL PHOTO PROJECT; travels and experiences in remote countries. How to use photography as art and as a tool for a better world.

 

Some lectures:

Bergagalleriet. Människans ansikte / GLOBAL PHOTO PROJECT-Bishkek. Why all these faces?

CFF, Stockholm. Light, darkness and inspiration.

Södertörns Högskola, Stockolm. Keynote speaker on International Conference on Empathy. GLOBAL PHOTO PROJECT.

The Ciodese of Linköping, the Cathedral of Linköping. “Visiting Hours, GLOBAL PHOTO PROJECT”. On photography, impermanence, human identity and values.

Belysningsföreningen, Stockholm. “Photography, light, time, movement and what we are doing on this planet”

Fagerhult, Rööhska, Gothemburg. “On light and photography”

 

Student voices:

Berghs Photography

Ljusmagikern. Engagemang väcker engagemang!!

Personligen har jag uppskattat reflekterandet och analysen kring fotograferandet.

Personlig. Vågar blomma ut under lektionstid.

Mycket engagerad. Ljusets mästare är ingen överdriven epitet.

Kursen har varit en vacker påminnelse om varför vi fotograferar, vad fotograferandet i grunden består utav, magi.

..Ivars brinnande engagemang, genomtänkta och välplanerade undervisning samt konstruktiva återkoppling gjorde att delkursen var den överlägset bästa (varje moment fyllde en funktion och varje minut av lektionstid utnyttjades maximalt).

Vet inte om du följde TV-serien Klass 9A för några år sedan. Efter att den sänts myntades begreppet superpedagoger. Du tillhör denna kategori av lärare..

 

Det röda krysset
Hej, det här är en av dina gamla fotoelever från Upplands Väsby/Grimstaskolan i slutet av 80-talet. Du lärde mig mycket redan då, men en riktig vändpunkt var när jag några år senare tror jag besökte dig och visade några bilder.

Du betraktade dem och frågade mig vad jag tyckte var en bra bild. "En som fångar uppmärksamhet" svarade jag. Varpå du vände på en av bilderna som låg i rad på bordet, tog fram en röd spritpenna och ritade ett kryss på bildens baksida. "Vilken av de här bilderna väcker mest uppmärksamhet?" frågade du.

Nå, ville bara säga att mina kontakter med dig inspirerar mig väldigt mycket än idag…

Henrik

 

Kursledare Ivar var helt makalös!! Mycket pedagogisk, tålmodig och en helt förtjusande person.

Gun-Marie

 

..du verkligen fick mig att se på ett  nytt sätt under alla ljussättningsexempel.

Maria KHVC Stockholm

 

 

 

 

 




 

 


Copyright © 2015 Ivar Sviestins, photographer. All rights reserved.