Workshop with Rineke Dijkstra

Workshop with Rineke Dijkstra

What is good portrait? What technique do you choose? What kind of light do you use? Daylight or flash? What location or backdrop do you choose for? How do you choose your subject? How do you approach someone you don’t know?

In this workshop, the students have explored what makes a good portrait and which tools you can use to create one.

Workshop (2026) with Rineke Dijkstra

Assistants
Inès Riber
Students
Ava Barbieri, Célia Bigler, Cecília Bueno, Fiona Caballero, Justine Diep, Inès Hayoz, Carla Katsuva-Sivahera, Chloé Loichot, Pierre Mahé, Magali Monin, Nora Neves, Noé Pizzera, Théo Previdoli, Antoine Soulié, Céleste Tabourdeau, Elisa Vareilhes, Tristan Wadsworth
1st year program
2nd semester
Know-how
Imagemaking, Documentary, Portrait
Backstage/ECAL
Backstage/ECAL
Backstage/ECAL

1/3

Backstage/ECAL
Backstage/ECAL
Backstage/ECAL

1/3

Projects related to Documentary

Applied Photography – 2026

BA PHOTOGRAPHY

Applied Photography – 2026

with Calypso Mahieu

Le temps des Fleurs This course, which is both practical and technical, requires students to develop a true photographer’s eye. Its goal is to introduce students to, or help them refine their skills in various photographic genres, such as still life, portraiture, and architecture, as well as documentary and staged photography. These disciplines demand particular attention and great precision in the selection of models, locations, and objects. Mastery of composition, framing, and the management of light, whether natural or artificial, is essential for a successful shot. Throughout the course, students are guided to refine their observational skills and their ability to create images that are both precise and expressive.        

ANALOG MEDIUM FORMAT WORKSHOP

BA PHOTOGRAPHY

ANALOG MEDIUM FORMAT WORKSHOP

with Anoush Abrar

DRIVE For this week’s theme, “Drive,” first-year photography students were asked to create a portrait shot on medium-format film. Inspired by the sensation of a first driving experience, travel, empowerment, or discovery, the week aimed to explore the relationship between one or more people and a vehicle.

ECAL x Polaroid Foundation

BA PHOTOGRAPHY

ECAL x Polaroid Foundation

with Douglas Mandry

This workshop brought together ECAL graduate artist Douglas Mandry, the Polaroid Foundation, and around thirty Bachelor Photography students. They had the exceptional opportunity to work with a camera that produces Polaroid films in a 40 × 60 cm format and weighs nearly 200 kg. This experience was made possible thanks to its operators, John Reuter and Harriet Browse, who introduced the students to the use of this unique device and the Polaroid Foundation team. Douglas Mandry provided the project’s artistic direction and supported the students in their experiments carried out directly with and on the films. The final result was presented as a collective exhibition on ECAL’s premises, revealing a particularly rich diversity of approaches and visions.

Analog Medium format workshop – 2026

BA PHOTOGRAPHY

Analog Medium format workshop – 2026

with Anoush Abrar

Deconstructed Portrait The goal of this workshop, led by photographer Anoush Abrar, is to explore the meaning of the contemporary portrait.  Working with the concept of the “deconstructed portrait,” the students created an image in pairs.  The Digital Medium Format workshop week serves as an introduction to both photography equipment and specialized software.  

Last Minute Risk

BA PHOTOGRAPHY

Last Minute Risk

with Natacha Lesueur

“What is clearly conceived can be clearly expressed, and the words to say it come easily.” Nicholas Boileau, *L’art poétique*. As students embark on their final year of study at ECAL, with their interests and methods taking shape, this final project offers an opportunity to challenge their own rules, established practices and influences, to refuse to settle for the status quo and to take risks.

Related courses