Description
This five-day workshop, led by Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin, explores the relationship between landscape and memory, a central theme in Franklin’s recent trilogy of books: Narcissus, Analogies, and Traces.
Following an initial landscape photography workshop held in Oman, this new format comes to Europe for the first time, offering participants the chance to receive Franklin’s personalized guidance in an environment where history, art, and nature are deeply intertwined.
Set in the Val-d’Oise region of northern France, just an hour from Paris, the workshop unfolds in a landscape inseparable from art history, in the same fields where Vincent van Gogh made his final paintings, including Tree Roots. The Val-d’Oise has long been a source of inspiration for artists and writers drawn to its rolling countryside, river valleys, and quiet villages. Our base in a quaint French village provides a setting that feels both intimate and reflective, creating the atmosphere of a retreat — a place to slow down, observe, and reconnect with the act of seeing.
Participants will work in and around this evocative terrain to consider how nature and place can serve as mirrors of emotion, perception, and recollection. Rather than seeking picturesque or decorative imagery, the course invites participants to use the landscape as a medium for self-expression, exploring the tensions between the external world and the inner self. On the first day of the workshop, participants will board Botin, a replica of the first French painting workshop boat created by painter Charles-François Daubigny, for a one-hour cruise. You’ll glide across a mirror-like lake reflecting trees and clouds, drawing inspiration and seeing through the eyes of renowned artists.
Franklin will present and discuss his book Traces, a framework for dialogue about process, intention, and the ways in which photography transforms observation into reflection. Throughout the week, he will also introduce the work of Josef Sudek, Edward Weston, Tina Modotti, and other photographers who have deeply engaged with the landscape as a site of introspection and meaning.
This workshop offers:
- Practical guidance on approaching landscape photography in the field
- Insight into framing and composition to strengthen your personal visual language
- Group review sessions to discuss and refine individual projects
- An editing session focused on sequencing and final image selection
The workshop is open to photographers of all levels, from passionate amateurs to working professionals who want to refine their technical skills and conceptual understanding of landscape photography.
Contact
If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact us : education@magnumphotos.com
You can also book a Magnum Learn Open Session to discuss your aspirations and we’ll help you find the program that suits you best.
