Street Photography Workshops

 
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Street Photography Workshops with Fujifilm X-Photographer Maciej Dakowicz in 2023


True adventures and real learning experiences in small groups. Exciting locations in Asia, Europe and North Africa – countries such as India, Pakistan, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Philippines and cities including Manila, Lahore, Almaty, Tunis, Kolkata, Varanasi and Istanbul.

 

INTRODUCTION

A photography workshop with Maciej Dakowicz is an an experience you will never forget. It will change your photography so much, so you will refer to it as “before” and “after” the workshop. You will notice it in your portfolio. This happened to most of the participants – simply browse through their Instagram feeds to notice how they changed. Many participants said that a workshop with Maciej was the best workshop they have ever attended. Many returned.
 
Maciej has been teaching workshops since 2010 and has got a vast experience in photography education and mentoring. His workshops are well structured and organised. A small number of participants makes the experience very different to other workshops, which are mostly overcrowded and offer little in the way of personal feedback or tuition from the tutor. With Maciej it is a 24-hour-a-day photography adventure for a week or two with a like minded group of enthusiasts. Maciej not only reviews participant photos, but stays at the same hotel and shoots with the group. He is always around. When out shooting he observes the way each participant works with the camera, approaches subjects and gives personal advice on improving their photographic art and skills. His daily photo reviews are deep and detailed. The aim of the workshop is not only to bring home some great pictures, but through Maciej’s tuition to improve photographic craft (composition, light, social skills), get better at editing photos, find your own personal style and even learn how to use social media (facebook, Instagram) properly. Apart from various aspects of travel and street photography participants also learn how to travel independently, so that after the workshop they should be confident enough to undertake any independent photographic trip. Participants return from the workshop confident, inspired and motivated to keep developing as photographers. Most of Maciej’s students progressed immensely during his workshops and took their photography to a completely different level.
 
Well before the workshop Maciej introduces all participants to each other on WhatsApp and together all details of the workshop are discussed and planned, so everyone goes well prepared. A very small size of group means a high level of participant interaction with Maciej – before and during the workshop. Participants get to know each other well, exchange experiences and knowledge, share good times and perhaps even form lasting connections.
Not only photography entusiasts join Maciej’s workshops. Often experienced professional commercial and wedding photographers sign up too – just to take a break from their busy routine and be away for a week or two taking photos in a good company! Many return. Regularly. They join another workshop and then… another.
After the workshop Maciej stays in touch with most of the participants and continues supporting them. He can be always found running his lively workshop community group on facebook – the workshops is just the beginning of a new adventure.

Maciej’s students appear regularly among winners and finalists of most of the photography contests. Many exhibited their photos internationally and have had their works featured in zines and books, some even published their own monographs.

W skrócie po polsku: warsztaty fotografii ulicznej z Maciejem Dakowiczem. W grupach rozmawiamy po angielsku (chyba, że jest cała polska grupa), ale z Maciejem na osobności zawsze można po polsku pogadać.

 
– See photos taken by Maciej’s workshop participants on Instagram: /tags/maciejdakowiczworkshop/.
– Follow Maciej’s workshops on Instagram – see selected participants’ works and behind the scenes photos: www.instagram.com/maciejdakowiczworkshops/.
 
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workshop description
workshop conditions/requirements
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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

  1. NORTH MACEDONIA
    1 – 9 July 2023 (9 days)
    A street photography workshop in North Macedonia.
    5 participants. 1500 EUR per person.
    FULLY BOOKED – email for the waiting list.
    A street photography adventure in North Macedonia. Three cities – Skopje, Bitola and Ohrid. The group meets in Skopje on Friday, the 30th of June. The workshop finishes in Skopje too, in the evening of Sunday the 9th of July.

  2. KAZAKHSTAN
    10 – 23 September 2023 (14 days)
    A street photography adventure in Kazakhstan.
    5 participants. 2500 EUR per person.
    1 spot available – email for details.
    The workshop starts and ends in Almaty. The exact itinerary will be planned together with the group.
    Workshop page: /street-photography-workshop-in-kazakhstan-in-september-2023/
  3. PAKISTAN
    8 – 14 October 2023 (7 days)
    A street photography workshop in Lahore.
    5 participants. 1500 EUR per person.
    1 spot available – email for details.
    We went to Lahore in November 2022 and the group loved it there. It is simply a paradise for street photographers. So let’s go to Lahore again!

  4. PAKISTAN
    16 – 22 October 2023 (7 days)
    A street photography workshop in Lahore.
    5 participants. 1500 EUR per person.
    1 spot available – email for details.

  5. INDIA
    6 – 19 November 2023 (14 days)
    A street photography adventure in India.
    5 participants. 2500 EUR per person.
    FULLY BOOKED – email for the waiting list.
    Street photography adventure in India during Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. Off the beaten track, away from tourists and other photographers. The itinerary: Delhi – Lucknow – Ayodhya – Prayagraj (Allahabad) – Chitrakoot – Delhi.
  6. INDIA
    24 November 2023 – 3 December 2023 (10 days)
    Street photography workshop in Varanasi and Kolkata during Dev Deepwali festival.
    5 participants. 1900 EUR per person.
    Festival information: Dev Deepawali.
    1 SPOT AVAILABLE – email for details.

  7. SOMEWHERE
    From December 2023 (7 or 14 days)
    Street photography workshops in Asia, Eastern Europe or North Africa.
    5 participants. 7 days – 1500 EUR per person, 14 days – 2600 EUR per person – email for details and availability.
    Street photography workshops somewhere warm. In January 2024 we will go back to the Philippines and later there might be a 2-week-long adventure in Bangladesh too.
    The plan is to run at least one workshop every month. Email Maciej to be added to the workshop planning groups.

WAITING LIST

Maciej’s workshops are very popular and usually all spots are reserved months ahead, mostly by the participants of his previous workshops. In case of a fully booked workshop please email maciekda@gmail.com to show your interest in joining – sometimes there are cancellations and spots become available for people from the waiting list.


 

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

  • Maciej’s workshop is a mixture of daily photo shootings, photo critiques and theoretical presentations. There are no fixed hours. Basically it is a 24-hour-a-day experience.

  • The participants take pictures every day, working in pairs, small groups or on their own. In general there are no larger group shoots, so there are never too many people trying to take the same shot. Maciej shoots with different people each day, so there are ample opportunities to observe the way he works and approaches subjects, and to learn his tricks and techniques. Every evening everyone gets together to discuss and edit their photos. Maciej reviews participants’ photos every day.

  • At the end of the workshop Maciej selects best photos of each participant. Advice and encouragement are given towards working on personal projects.

  • During the workshop Maciej presents a series of slideshows discussing street photography and practical aspects of it. The presentations give an opportunity for the group to learn what makes a good photograph, what can spoil it, discuss different types of street photography, ways of working, the light and composition techniques. Maciej is a very experienced and respected street photographer and happily shares his theoretical and practical knowledge.

  • The main theme of the workshop is street photography, mixed with documentary and travel. Serious photography. Taking pictures of smiling children and old bearded men is allowed, but for personal use – Maciej is not reviewing such photos during the workshop.

  • Well before the workshop Maciej discusses all practical issues with the participants – the photo and computer equipment, air tickets, visas, accommodation and other travel arrangements. This is done is a secret private group formed on Facebook for each workshop, so the participants have a chance to get to know each other and discuss with Maciej all workshop matters. Everyone comes to the workshop well prepared.

  • Maciej discusses hotel options with the group while planning the workshop and then all participants are required to make their own reservations. Ideally the whole workshop group stays at the same hotel – this makes the workshop much easier to manage and turns it into a better experience. Maciej favors affordable budget or mid-range options – those requiring more comforts can make their own arrangements, but their hotel must be within a 5 minute walk from Maciej’s.

  • Each workshops starts in the morning of the first day and ends in the evening of the last day. The participants are encouraged to arrive at least a day before the workshop.

  • Ideally the workshop particpiants (apart from being proficient with their photo equipment and editing software) should understand concepts of street photography. No long focal length lenses/zooms are allowed, only wide angle prime lenses (unless there is a clearly specified reason for using them) – 35mm ord 28mm prime lenses are best suited. The focus of the workshop is to produce a strong body of work, not to solve technical issues with cameras or Lightroom.

  • In cases of the workshops planned months ahead a portfolio review decides about the participation – please send a link to your photos when enquiring about a workshop.

  • Each workshop requires at least 4 participants to be conducted. Those signing up are requested to wait with finalising their travel arrangements until the workshop is confirmed.

Benefits


 

Conditions


Requirements – What you will need

  • A digital CAMERA. If you choose to shoot with a film camera you will not be able to receive critiques of your workshop photos. A 35mm fixed focal LENS (or its crop sensor equivalent) is highly advised, because using such a lens teaches more about composition and forces you to get close to people, unlike the zoom lens. Bringing a zoom is allowed, but not necessary. If you do so you will need to use the wide end of it shooting street photos, otherwise you will constantly hear Maciej’s voice telling you to get closer to people. You also need to bring enough memory cards and batteries to be able to shoot all day. On a good, exciting day you may easily take 1000 photos – be aware of that. Two chargers and five batteries are recommended for mirrorless cameras (Fuji, Ricoh, Olympus) and other cameras with high power consumption.

  • A LAPTOP with Lightroom Classic for working on your photos and having them reviewed daily buy Maciej. You need to have enough free space on the laptop’s hard drive for all photos taken during the workshop or preferably use an external hard drive for storage/backup.

  • A SMARTPHONE with Google Maps and WhatsApp apps installed. In most countries local SIM cards can be easily purchased. Make sure your phone is unlocked and can be used with other SIM cards.

  • A WhatsApp account to discuss all workshop arrangements in a closed group with Maciej and other workshop participants.

  • A travel insurance covering health related expenses. All required vaccinations. All participants must be in good health and ready to walk 6-10 hours a day.

Liability

COSTS, PAYMENTS and CANCELLATIONS


 

Would you like to join a workshop?

Just drop Maciej an email at maciekda@gmail.com and he will get back to you. Easy!


Maciej also teaches 2-3 days long street photography workshops for corporate clients and institutions. The aim of such workshops apart from learning the principles of street photography is to boost creativity, build confidence and improve social skills.


 

 

PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS

  • “I made more progress with Maciej in one week than I did on my own and with other courses over the past 20 years.” – Alex Marquez

  • “Maciej is a master photographer and he is also a brilliant teacher. His workshop is like a boot camp and is a highly productive and creative environment. Hours of walking, taking photos, reviewing and critiquing our images and of course socialising, joking, eating and drinking beer.” – Simon Green

  • ” It was a great week, exhausting (yes), but ever so rewarding.” – Rose Vandepitte

  • “Doing the workshop was a very good investment to improve my photography, I just wish I had a time machine so I could redo the whole experience all over again!” – James Gifford-Mead

  • “Maciej is a tough teacher: he immediately spots each and every deficiency in the pictures and clearly lets you know. (…) It was exhausting but a great experience!” – Philippe Lanchès

  • “His critique is spot on and he focused on plenty of details most of us participants have not even realized before. (…) He judges each student individually and adjusts his remarks according to their own skill.” – Torsten Hendricks

  • “I am delighted to have conquered my fear of approaching and photographing people in their environment!” – Christine Vetter-Taylor

  • “Watching him work scenes and communicate with the locals was invaluable, and can’t be learnt by opening a book, no matter how insightful.” – Boris Hamilton

  • “He showed me how to enter a place and tell the right thing to people so that I can take pictures without feeling like an intruder.” – Alexandru Ilea

  • “It was such an intensive week. It was like a full time job. (…) Definitely one of the best times I have ever had.” – Marcin Sikorski

  • “As a result, I actually got a very diverse set of photos throughout the 10 days – largely due to getting involved in situations I would previously not even think of.” – David Gaberle

  • “Each day we reviewed our work to see what our best shots were and where we could improve on and this helped me approach a scene differently than I would have, learning from past experiences.” – Michael Foo

  • “While I had positive expectations for the workshop, what I didn’t know at this stage was that I was going to have one of the best experiences of my life.” – Chris Meirick

  • “Be prepared for long days, sore feet, tough critiques and a fast track to improving your photography.” – Mark Carey
Read more: Testimonials from the participants of the previous workshops.
 

Maciej’s students have been among winners and finalists of many photography contests, including 2014 Fotoura’s International Street Photography Awards, StreetFoto San Francisco 2017 International Street Photography Awards, The Miami Street Photography Festival 2017, The London Street Photography Festival 2017, The Brussels Street Photography Festival and others. Many with photos taken during their workshops. Photos of Maciej’s past students regularly appear in the pool of Hardcore Street Photography (HCSP) group on flickr, the best street photography group on the Internet. This says quite much about the quality of work produced during and after Maciej’s workshops.


 

Stay Updated

Email Maciej at maciekda@gmail.com
 
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PAST WORKSHOPS

 

ABOUT Maciej Dakowicz

Maciej is an experienced Polish photographer and educator currently based in Poland. He holds a PhD in computer science, but abandoned science to focus on photography. He is a member the international street photography collective UP Photographers (formely known as In-Public) and an official Fujifilm X-Photographer. His interests are in documentary, travel and street photography.
Maciej’s photos have been widely published, exhibited and shown at photo festivals. He is a recipient of numerous awards and has judged several photography competitions. His photos have been featured in major street photography books including “Street Photography Now”, “The World Atlas of Street Photography”, “100 Great Street Photographs”, “Street Photography: A History in 100 Iconic Photographs” and “Bystander: A History of Street Photography”. Maciej’s first monograph Cardiff After Dark was published in October 2012. Currently he is mainly occupied with teaching his popular streeet photography workshops in Asia and Eastern Europe.
 

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Click to read about: WORKSHOPSUPCOMING WORKSHOPSPAST WORKSHOPSPARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS

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