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:: 32-WEEK PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM
The 32-week Professional Photography Program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in photography.
The first part comprises the core courses, which cover all aspects of professional photography: photojournalism, studio photography, fashion photography, computer imaging, visual identity, as well as the history of photography. Top-level professionals hold the courses and monitor the students’ individual acquisition of skills. Outside of class, students independently organize their shooting sessions and post-production, with the continual guidance of their supervisors.
© Diego Ravier
During the second part, the students improve their practical skills and broaden their range of knowledge. Depending on their career choice, they specialize either in studio photography or in photojournalism, and select two or three complementary options. Courses in Computer Imaging (for the studio specialization) and Image Management and Publication (for the Photojournalism specialization) remain compulsory for all.
The last week of the second part is dedicated to the set-up of the students’ end-of-the-year exhibition on the school premises, an important event visited by established photographers, photo agencies, iconographers and the press. The students also have the possibility to exhibit their work on the web.
:: Courses:
Please note that it is not possible to choose individual courses "à la carte", as the curriculum is designed as a coherent whole.
-> Computer Imaging I and II
-> Commercial Studio I
-> Photojournalism and Documentary I
-> Visual Identity I and II
-> Image Management and Publication I and II
-> Printing Techniques I and II
-> History of Photography/Museum and Gallery Visits I and II
-> Essentials of Photography
-> Commercial Studio II/Style and Composition
-> Photojournalism II: The Photo Essay
-> Photojournalism II: Lights and Tools
-> Essentials of Video for Photographers
-> Meeting with Paolo Roversi: Fashion Photography
-> Meeting with Peter Lindbergh: Fashion Photography
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-> Computer Imaging I
- 3 hours per week
This course helps participants to understand the main parameters and formats of digital images. Introduction to Photoshop, design of layouts. Digital image management and retouching techniques with Lightroom.
->Computer Imaging II
- 3 hours per week
Advanced level of Photoshop: acquisition of digital imaging techniques on professional level, in-depth retouching of images, design of photomontages. This course is mainly designed for students in the studio specialization
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© Meggan Gould
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-> Commercial Studio I
- 3 hours per week
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The first part is dedicated to the acquisition of the techniques essential to studio shooting, as well as to the treatment of digital images.
Students are initiated to the Stop-System, different types of lighting, the general principles of balanced light sources, as well as different types of cameras, from 35mm to the large format.
An introduction to the “Style and Composition” class (held in the second part) will initiate the students to the notions of style and composition in professional photography.
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© Natalia KhengJu
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-> Photojournalism and Documentary I
- 3 hours per week
The course is designed to give an overview of photojournalism, focusing on three main areas - place, event and theme.
"Chinese new year" © Mark Wiedorn |
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Assignments include the coverage of events in Paris and a long-term documentary project on a Parisian neighborhood. Spéos has access to the Reuters photo-base for consultation of news, sports, and feature photos.
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-> Visual Identity I and II
- 3 hours per week
© Pierre Phérivong - Sara Davis |
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This course aims at encouraging students to develop their own ideas and concepts and turn them into “photographic realities”. It provides them with the critical tools to discuss and analyze their own photos as well as those of their fellow students, so as to give constructive criticism using the basic rules of composition and their own sense of aesthetics.
At the end of the second part, students are able to understand how an image is constructed, how to present it in a more efficient way, how to develop a certain photographic coherence and their own “visual signature”.
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-> Image Management and Publication I
- 3 hours per week
This course helps photographers to manage their image stock: how to caption a picture, to assign the right key-words, to fill in the IPTC fields… All of these are essential for any photographer to locate their pictures and to have them published.
-> Image Management and Publication II
- 3 hours per week
Adding value to your photo stock with a good knowledge of captioning and keyword management. Resources for photographers. Knowledge of the photo market.
Web strategy: create a website using a CMS, SEO, blogging, social media for photographers.
-> Printing Techniques I and II
- 1,5 hours per week: 1st semester
- 3 hours per week: 2nd semester
© Iris Hrasovec |
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The course covers printing techniques with the programs Photoshop and Lightroom on Fuji Frontier or Durst Lambda printers as well as large-format ink-jet printers. Color management principles will be studied within the graphic chain of a typical digital lab (screen, printer, viewing booth). Students will gain the necessary knowledge to obtain high quality prints, true to their digital shots, whether by themselves or through a professional lab.
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-> History of Photography / Museum and Gallery Visits I and II
- 3 hours per week
© Pierre-Yves Mahe |
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Combining lectures with visits to museums and galleries, this course aims at giving an overview of the history of photography and the constantly evolving photographic processes, from their origins in France to the present day.
Emphasis is placed on the analysis of real prints rather than reproductions, taking advantage of the rich photographic resources available in the museums and galleries of Paris. Whenever possible, meetings with photographers will be organized.
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Visits include museums as La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Le Centre National de la Photographie, Le Musée Carnavalet, Le Musée d'Orsay and others. Gallery visits focus on current temporary exhibitions in Paris, including photographic events such as the "Mois de la Photo" in fall.
-> Essentials of Photography
- 1,5 hours per week
This course deals with certain purely practical aspects of the photographic technique. The work carried out by the students during the week will be analysed.
Various lecturers also come to share their experience with the students and talk about the practical aspects of their life as photographers.
-> Commercial Studio II/Style and Composition
- 6 hours per week
© Sophie Mei Dalby & Tom Bolwell |
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The weekly sessions become simulations of professional studio shootings in the form of 6-hour workdays.
Different topics with specific technical constraints will be dealt with, so as to perfect the knowledge acquired in the first part and to adopt a work methodology covering the different market sectors.
Emphasis is put on the notion of teamwork, in close collaboration with the “Style and Composition” course, which provides the students with the topics and a network of young designers, and thus opens up the studio activities to the outside world. |
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-> Photojournalism II: The Photo Essay
- 3 hours per week
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This advanced course in photojournalism is designed for students who have the maturity and skills to work on long-term thematic projects, meeting with the instructor for weekly critiques.
Assignments include event photojournalism in Paris during spring, short photo essays and a long-term project.
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© Michael Sawyer
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-> Photojournalism II: Lights and Tools
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P r o g r a m s
