Microgrant 22: Medellín Foto Camp 2018

Medellín Foto Camp 2018
Location: Barbosa, Antioquia, Colombia
Amount raised: $1,000

Statement
Medellín Foto Camp 2018 was held over a weekend in mid-December in Barbosa, Antioquia at the home of Board Member Gabriel Mario Vélez. Thomas Locke Hobbs and Sebastian Collett joined us as guest artists.

Two former Fototazo microgrant recipients - Natalia Lopera and Juliana Henao - took part in the workshop in a mentorship role. They both helped to plan and also took part in the event. Transitioning former grant recipients into an expanded role as mentors will allow them to further their learning process by passing onwards what they have learned in previous experiences and also enrich the experience for new participants by providing more voices and perspectives during our events. Former grant recipient Andrés Sanchez also helped in the planning of the event, but was unable to attend.

Six new participants attended: Sofía Rojas, Walter Londoño, Mariana Betancur, Camilo Pérez, Lina Piedrahita and Byron Pazmiño. All are current students at La Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín.

The group spent three days and two nights in Barbosa. During the mornings we critiqued the work brought to the workshop by participants and in the afternoons, Thomas and Sebastian taught the group how to work with a 4x5 field camera. This was the first experience for all participants with a larger format camera and also a first experience for the majority in the darkroom.

Thank you to our donors for providing a memorable and enriching weekend for each participant.

Welcome dinner in Barbosa

Natalia sharing her work during critque

Sofía between critiques

Thomas explaining how to load film during the large format camera workshop

Thomas during the large format camera workshop

Sofía, Natalia and Walter relaxing at the end of the day

Sebastian being photographed by Mariana during the second day of the large format camera workshop

Photograph on paper negative made during the workshop

Photograph on paper negative made during the workshop

Medellín Foto Camp 2016

Camilo Echavarría explaining the process of developing his photobook, Illustrated Landscapes

As a follow up to last year's US trip, this year's fototazo workshop initiative was the Medellín Foto Camp 2016. Nine former fototazo microgrant recipients took part including Alejandra Arias, Andrés Sánchez, Aura Lambertinez, Edwin Ochoa Vélez, Eric Robledo, Juliana Henao Alcaraz, Margarita Valdivieso, Mónica Lorenza Taborda and Natalia Lopera. The workshop focused on helping them transform their work into photobooks. 

We began the workshop in May with Mariela Sancari who worked with the students for two days in Medellín to help them produce their initial maquettes.

Margarita making an astute point during a conversation with Mariela Sancari

Andrés, Juliana, Mariela Sancari, Edwin, Margarita and Natalia after putting in a long day

In July, the group continued to develop their book projects with the help of online mentors Juan Orrantia, Jeff Rich, Irina Rozovsky and Alejandro Cartagena. Each participant had the opportunity to speak with two mentors by Skype to get personalized feedback on their early maquette and suggestions on how to develop it.

In August, Camilo Echavarría and Juliana Vélez presented their photobook working process to the participants during a workshop at CreaLab in Medellín. Juliana also gave a presentation about the various forms the photobook takes in the contemporary context. Gabriel Mario Vélez and I gave the participants afternoon critiques on the maquettes to assess their progress and give comments on their work to help them prepare for final reviews. 

Camilo Echavarría presenting Illustrated Landscapes

Workshop participants checking out photobooks Juliana Vélez brought to the workshop

Juliana Vélez presenting at CreaLab

Finally, we ended the summer initiative in late August with a final presentation and critique of the work of all participants at a country house outside of Medellín with special guest critic Juan Orrantia, Gabriel Mario Vélez and myself.

Mónica showing her book during final reviews

Andrés, Mónica, Aura, Aleja, Eric and Juliana taking a break during final reviews

Edwin presenting during final reviews with Juan Orrantia and Gabriel Mario Vélez

Here are links to video flipthroughs of the final projects by workshop participants; more will be added in the coming days:

Andrés Sánchez

Aura Lambertinez

Edwin Ochoa Vélez

Eric Robledo (Issuu presentation)

Mónica Lorenza Taborda

Juliana Henao Alcaraz

Finally, I'd like to thank the donors to Microgrant 19. You made all this possible.

Mónica creating her video photobook presentation

Aura documenting her photobook Diluvio

Microgrant 19: Medellín Foto Camp 2016

© Alejandra Arias

Medellín Foto Camp 2016
Location: Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Request: Financial help for a workshop in Medellín in August, 2016 for 12 former microgrant recipients. The workshop will focus on helping them to create photobooks of their work. They will be working with a range of photographers in person in Medellín and online during the process of creating their projects including Gabriel Mario Vélez, Juan Orrantia, Camilo Echavarría, Jeff Rich, Irina Rozovsky, Alejandro Cartagena, Mariela Sancari and myself.

Grant Status: Amount raised so far: $821.92. 

Donate here.

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Statement
Eleven former fototazo microgrant recipients will be taking part in the Medellín Foto Camp 2016. Those taking part are Alba Bran, Alejandra Arias, Andrés Sánchez, Angélica María Restrepo, Aura Lambertinez, Edwin Ochoa Vélez, Eric Robledo, Juliana Henao Alcaraz, Margarita Valdivieso, Mónica Lorenza Taborda and Natalia Lopera.

The group has a special opportunity this summer to work with a range of photographers to help transform their work into photobooks. They have already spent two days with Mariela Sancari talking about photobooks in May, thanks to Croma Taller Visual of Bogotá, who were kind enough to let us work with her after they paid her way to Colombia for a separate series of workshops.

In July the group will work online with mentors Juan Orrantia, Jeff Rich, Irina Rozovsky and Alejandro Cartagena to develop their projects. In August, they will meet with Camilo Echavarría, Gabriel Mario Vélez and myself at CreaLab in Medellín for a full day, hands on workshop and assessment of their progress. Finally, the process will end in late August with a final presentation and critique of their work at a house outside of Medellín with Juan Orrantia, Gabriel Mario Vélez and myself.

Please consider a donation to help cover basic costs of the workshop including transportation, food and materials.

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Portfolio/Portafolio

© Alba Bran

© Andrés Sánchez

© Aura Lambertinez

© Juliana Henao Alcaraz

© Natalia Lopera

© Margarita Valdivieso

© Angélica María Restrepo

 © Eric Robledo

© Mónica Lorenza Taborda

© Edwin Ochoa Vélez