Learn to capture more than just a subject. In this workshop you will master the art of telling gripping stories through a series of images. We will delve into narrative structure, mood and visual coherence. You will learn to research and manage your project to its goal. This is your chance to give your images depth and voice - an indispensable skill for any photographer. There will be an online review of the project after 14 days. We will provide a good atmosphere, some drinks and snacks.
Sign up at info@thehamsterjournal.com
PROGRAM
Welcome and Introduction: The workshop opens with a simple question: Bring one photo you are proud of. What does it tell us? Who is the narrator? We will begin a conversation about the intention behind the image in a relaxed environment—no "exam jitters" here. This is followed by a brief presentation on what distinguishes a snapshot from a visual narrative. The focus will be on the three pillars: subject, mood, and context. A picture tells a story when all three are present and in dialogue with one another.
Part 1 · Learning to See
The first part is about sharpening your gaze. We will look at images and observe each one in silence. This is followed by three collective questions: What do you see? What do you feel? What do you not know? The third question is the most important, as it points to what the image hides—and that is where the story lives.
We conclude with a short partner exercise: We will look at powerful images where one element has been removed or hidden. What does the story lose? This exercise provides a very tangible sense of the role each element plays, as the loss becomes visible to the overall narrative.
Part 2 · From Intention to Image
The second part begins with a presentation on "intention as an anchor." Great narratives don’t start with a motif, but with a feeling or a question that won't let go. We introduce the concept of "the one sentence": what do you want your image to leave the viewer with? Every participant will write one sentence—not a description of the subject, but a description of the experience they wish to create.
Practical exercise: All participants photograph the same subject three times with three different intentions. The subject can be a person, an object, or a corner of the room. The intentions are: loneliness, belonging, and time (or transience). (35 minutes).
The exercise concludes with each participant showing one image without revealing the intention. The other participants will then try to guess it.
Part 3 · The Series as a Narrative Form
The third part shifts the focus from the single image to the series. We introduce three ways to build a series: sequence (a timeline or movement), contrast (two opposing images that define each other), and echo (repetition of motif or form with variation).
Practical exercise: All participants create five images connected by a theme of their choice. Afterwards, they will curate their own work—which three of the five make the strongest series, and in what order? The curation process is the exercise itself, not just the photography.
Conclusion: We wrap up online, as usual, to look at each other's projects.
THJ Members: 50dkk
Not THJ Member: 180dkk
Upgrade your workshop ticket to a full membership for just an additional 20 DKK. Valid for the remainder of 2026