Photobook Making: 01

Photobook Workshop at Charcoal HQ with Jesse Lenz

  • Located in the heart of Amish County, Wooster is a beautiful and unpretentious agricultural community. Located approximately 50 miles from Cleveland and 95 miles from Columbus, it is easy to get to while being remote enough to escape to. Wooster has a historic downtown full of great restaurants and shops, and easy access to outdoor recreation opportunities: Ohio State’s Secrest Arboretum, the mountain biking trails at Vulture’s Knob, and the 1,000-acre Mohican State Park. This ididlic midwestern city is known for its simplicity, beauty, and charm.

  • Schedule: Meets in-person at Charcoal HQ in Wooster Ohio on Wednesday October 18, Thursday October 19 & Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21, 2023 from 9am to 5pm (subject to change).

  • Early Bird $1250
    Previous Participant: $1150 USD

    REGISTRATION DEPOSITS

    Applicants selected to register must confirm their participation by sending either a 50% deposit, or a full Regular or Past Attendee tuition payment.

    If choosing to send a registration deposit, the remaining tuition balance will then come due in full no later than 30 days before the event.

    PAYMENT PLANS

    If interested in a payment plan, requests must be made no later than 90 days before the event to info@charcoalworkshops.com.

As a curator, book maker, and publisher, Jesse Lenz has first hand experience in every aspect of a successful photobook. Jesse will work with participants to understand the broader context of their work by finding threads that weave content, images, and motifs into compelling narratives. Over the course of the workshop Jesse will work with attendees to define the missing pieces of a project and help build a map to them as the book moves towards completion. The result of this guided practice is the creation of a central batch of images. These images then become a kind of tuning fork to measure subsequent work.

These three workshops not only focus on developing work, but also demystifying the business of the industry, facilitating the creation of a professional network of industry contacts, understanding the requirements of the market and identifying realistic routes into photographic employment.

During this workshop you will have access to Jesse’s private research library, darkroom, and Charcoal facilities. There will be one pre-meeting call for each individual to discuss their aims before the week begins. Attendees will see in real time as Jesse and an upcoming Charcoal Press artist work through this stage for an upcoming book. Each participant's work will be the focus of an in-depth, two-hour critique session. Then a follow-up 3 months later to see how progress is unfolding. Participants will leave this workshop with a clear understanding of what their work could be, and what it will take to get there. This process results in an increased understanding of their work and will prepare them for the next step: 02 - Sequencing and Design.

Participants will leave these workshops with a body of work ready to present to publishers or self-publish with the insight and connections needed to execute both. These three workshops aim to not only lay out the steps to making a book, but to developing taste, intuition, context and intrigue.

Overview

Limited to 8 participants.

This three part workshop is designed to guide photographers through every step of making a photobook. It is open to photographers at all levels who are serious about bookmaking. Attendees can attend all three workshops in sequence or the specific workshop directly related to where they currently find themselves.

01 - Narrative & Vision
02 - Sequencing & Design
03 - Publishing, Production & Marketing

ABOUT JESSE LENZ

Jesse Lenz (1988, Montana) is a self-taught photographer and multidisciplinary artist. Jesse has released two monographs The Locusts (Charcoal Press, 2020) and The Seraphim (Charcoal Press, 2023). He is the founder and director of Charcoal Book Club, Charcoal Press, Charcoal Editions, Charcoal Workshops and the Chico Review. From 2011-2018 he also co-founded and published The Collective Quarterly and The Coyote Journal. He lives on a farm in rural Ohio.

Details

  • Flights, local transportation, accommodations and meals are not included in the registration fees. A detailed information packet will be sent to confirmed participants to help coordinate their stay in Wooster, Ohio inclusive of accommodations options (single or shared), local transportation directions, a list of restaurants and other amenities available, and general tips.

  • Meets in-person at Charcoal HQ in Wooster Ohio on Wednesday October 18, Thursday October 19 & Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21, 2023 from 9am to 5pm (subject to change).

  • Applications to register are free (no fee to apply). Enrollment is limited to 8 participants. Photographers from all educational backgrounds and at all career stages are welcome to apply. A portfolio of 10-20 images focused on past and/or ongoing projects must be submitted as a prerequisite for consideration (please include images from no more than 2 different series/projects).

  • DEPOSIT & PAYMENT

    Selected applicants invited to register are required to confirm their participation by sending either a 50% USD tuition deposit, or a full Early-bird/Regular tuition payment.

    If choosing to send a registration deposit, the remaining tuition balance no later than 60 days before the start of the event.

  • EARLY BIRD: $1250 USD

    [Deadline: Sunday Aug 6, 2023]

    PAST ATTENDEE: $1150 USD

    [Deadline: Sunday Sept 10, 2023]

    REGULAR: $1350 USD

    [Deadline: from Aug 6th and until filled.]

    Please note: Applications are reviewed on a weekly basis, with regular email communication from reception to final decision. The entire review and acceptance process usually takes 8-12 days from the day your application is received. Applying early is recommended for greater chances of selection.

  • All deposits, tuition payments and fees are non-refundable.

    In the event the program was not meeting minimum enrollment, or needed to be canceled for any reason, paid tuition will be credited to a future workshop of the participants choice. Charcoal cannot be held responsible for any traveling expense refunds if the program gets canceled.

    See our full Policy Here

  • For any questions or inquiries, please contact us at info@charcoalworkshops.com

Application Form