Workshop: „A Personal Distance”, documentary photography (in English)
with David Montelone, photographer
Saturday, October 2, 1.30 p.m. – 16.30 p.m.
Venue: Stapferhaus
Price: CHF 120.–
Since ideas and concepts are crucial to the development of the documentary project, how is it possible to identify themes, motifs, and issues that address and question the societies we live in on both local and global levels? As choosing a personal approach seems a crucial factor in nowadays’ practice of documentary photography, how do we define a personal approach and from where this may come from? Monteleone will present a selection of his work as an opportunity to reflect on the sources of inspiration and narrative methodologies that have shaped his career. At the same time, the lecture will be the occasion to briefly retrace the evolution of documentary photography from its most traditional form of reportage to more contemporary languages that today find space also beyond the editorial market.
Last but not least, the lecture takes inspiration from probably the most famous and stereotypical quote in photographic literature: “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” Playing with the meaning of this assumption between distance and “good photography,” the workshop will also respectfully try to reframe an approach to photojournalism and documentary photography that is perhaps legendary but somehow outdated.
Davide Monteleone,
photographer
Davide Monteleone (1974) is a photographer, researcher, and National Geographic Fellow whose work spans image-making, visual journalism, writing, and other disciplines. Reoccurring themes include geopolitics, geography, identity, data, and technology.
A regular contributor to magazines such as Time, National Geographic, and The New Yorker, Davide Monteleone’s work has been presented in the form of exhibitions and installations in galleries and museums, including at the Saatchi Gallery in London the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo the MEP in Paris, Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome and other venues.
A selection of Monteleone’s accolades includes The National Geographic Fellowship (2019), the Asia Society Fellowship (2016), the Carmignac Photojournalism Award (2013), the EPEA Award (2012), the European Publisher Award (2011), and several World Press Photo.
Holding a Master Research in Art and Politics from the Goldsmiths University in London, Monteleone is interested in the theoretical role and the use of technical images in society.
