History of Photography Course
Looking to the present, looking to the past: RPS Lecture Series with Colin Pantall
I am running a series of online lectures beginning on September 9th linking the historical, the contemporary and the theoretical in photography.
If you have never studied photography (or if you have and you want to refresh your memory), this series will help develop historical, critical and global ideas about what photography is and what photography can be.
It will be very accessible.
More details and booking here.
Mentoring
I mentor photographers both highly experienced and those who are looking to add a critical element to their practice.
In these mentoring sessions we work together (both in-person and/or online) on how projects can be developed, how theory can tie into practice, how a visual voice can be developed, how text can add to image, how contemporary practice connects to a wider history of photography. If you've never studied photography, I will bring you up to speed on the theory and the practice.
Feel free to contact me with any questions if you are are interested.
Writing for Photographers
Need a text for your project? Do you need some words to get to the heart of your project?
Need a statement that merges theory, practice and what makes your work so unique?
If you do, get in touch. I might be able to help.
Writing and Photography Workshop
My writing and photography workshops will be returning in the near future. Email me at for more details.
Thank you all the participants who came to my writing and photography workshops in 2019 and 2020. We've had photographers, curators, journalists, students, curators, young photographers just starting out and artists come and the range of approaches has been exciting and stimulating.
Some Feedback: 'Really useful and insightful. Looking forward to articulating what my work means to me so that others can relate'. 5/5
'Absolutely delighted with the course, extemely pleased to go home and take it all in for the next few weeks.' 5/5
'It was really enjoyable and something that I wouldn't have got anywhere else.' 5/5
“Once again...welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.” ― Bram Stoker, Dracula
WHAT
Writing and Photography is a one-day introductory workshop on the different ways you can write about photography – both your own photography and other people’s. Using interactive examples, the workshop will examine different forms of writing, the different voices it can be delivered with, finding your interests, how to start writing and escaping the academic voice.
If you have ideas, you can write, if you lack confidence in writing, this workshop will help you gain confidence.
WHO’S IT FOR?
It’s for anybody who is interested in writing about images..
Writing develops ideas, it makes connections, it enriches photography. This workshop is for people who want to expand how they think about and see their own photography. It’s for people who want to write about their own work and find ways to connect their way of seeing with viewers through writing.
It’s for people who want to write about photography, who think there are areas that are neglected or ignored in photography. It’s to give a written voice to those areas.
HOW AND WHY
One of the major blockages for people who want to write about photography is thinking there is one way of writing. There are many ways of writing about images. It does not have to be formal, academic, or an essay.
Using interactive activities with images, texts and key examples, participants will begin to identify ways of writing that match their personal style. They will look at starting points for getting their inspirations and ideas in a variety of written forms. By the end of the workshops, students will have writing ideas and approaches they can apply to their own work in the coming days, weeks and months. I
WHO AM I
I am a writer, photographer and lecturer in photography. I write regularly for publications including the British Journal of Photography, World Press Photo Witness, Magnum Photos, PH Museum of Humanity, Photomonitor, and Source Magazine. I co-edited and wrote Magnum China and have also written and edited texts for photographers including Cat Hyland, Laura El-Tantawy, Vincen Beeckman, and Amak Mahmoodian.
In addition to this, I have a background in teaching writing to learners with language barriers. Building confidence and developing both short-term and long-term strategies and frameworks of writing for participants of all levels is my speciality.
WHEN, WHERE, HOW MUCH
The next live workshop is now likely to be in 2021 given that Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon.
I will keep you posted on this.
Maximum number of participants: 10
BOOK NOW
Cost: £100 - payable via paypal – https://www.paypal.me/colinpantall
Or paypal using email
Questions: Email me with any questions you may have at