Online Tuition - Working with Projects
Working with Projects: A Masterclass in Visual Narrative
The Narrative Lens: A Private Mentorship - From Disjointed Frames to Published Projects
Led by Karl Holtby | Visiting Professor, Musashino Art University (Tokyo)
"Photography is an act of respect. It is the art of tuning into the landscape until the 'visual overwhelm' fades and a deeper story begins to emerge."
Most workshops teach you where to stand. This mentorship teaches you how to see.
Drawing on the academic framework I delivered at Musashino Art University and the methodologies behind my major features in Black + White Photography magazine, we explore the five pillars of a cohesive project:
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Wander: Abandoning preconceived ideas to invite true vision.
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Patience: Allowing the narrative to reveal itself in its own time.
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Minimise: Silencing digital distractions to connect with the 'Spirit of Place'.
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Curiosity: Seeking the neglected and the overlooked over the obvious.
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Trust: Listening to the intuitive gut feeling that leads to authentic work.
A History of Publication - Every major project I have embarked upon - Where Ravens Soar, Beyond the Cairn, Chi-suji, and my latest work on Unst - has been featured as a major narrative in the UK’s most prestigious monochrome publication Black + White Photography magazine. I don’t just help you take better photos; I help you build a body of work ready for exhibition, publication, or a legacy monograph.
I am offering a 6 month private mentorship based on the curriculum delivered at Musashino Art University, Tokyo.
This is a rigorous 1-2-1journey designed to help you tune into the landscape, identify recurring motifs, and curate a gallery-ready body of work.
Stage 1: The Narrative Seed – Moving from documentation to emotional resonance. The Art of Tuning In. Most photography projects fail not through a lack of skill, but through a lack of intent. In this opening session, we move beyond the "search for the shot" and begin the process of tuning into the landscape. Drawing on the methodologies I developed during my tenure at Musashino Art University, we will examine your current archive and your intuitive attractions. We aren't looking for "good photos" - we are looking for recurring motifs: the subtle shapes, textures, or atmospheric moods that you find yourself drawn to time and again. In this session, we will cover: The Transition from Sight to Vision: Moving away from literal documentation toward emotional resonance. Identifying the "Spark": Isolating the specific theme or narrative thread that will anchor your project. The Philosophy of the Slow Narrative: How to allow a project to reveal itself through patient exploration rather than forced "hunting." Establishing the Framework: Defining the boundaries of your series - the "rules" that will give your work its cohesive strength.The Outcome: You will leave this session not with a to-do list, but with a clarified vision and a defined "Narrative Seed" that we will nurture over the coming months.
Stage 2: The Visual Language – Defining your tonal palette and rhythmic patterns. Pattern, Motif, and the Visual Language. Before we can build a story, we must understand your vocabulary. In this session, we analyze your field studies to identify the recurring visual "rhythms" that define your style. The Deep Dive: Moving beyond the subject matter to identify the underlying geometry, tonal range, and atmosphere. Defining the Palette: Establishing a consistent aesthetic - whether it’s the high-contrast drama of monochrome or the muted, painterly tones of a misty moorland. The Artist’s Voice: Identifying why you are drawn to these specific motifs and how to amplify that connection in your next shoot.
Stage 3: The Narrative Arc – Building the sequence and the "connective tissue." A project is not a collection of greatest hits; it is a conversation between images. This session is where we begin to thread your photographs together. The Anchor Image: Identifying the shots that ground the project. The Connective Tissue: Developing the subtle, supporting images that provide context, mood, and pace. Flow and Tension: Learning how to lead a viewer’s eye through a series so that the transition from one image to the next feels inevitable and earned.
Stage 4: Critical Refinement – Identifying the 'Missing Link' in your story. As the project takes shape, we often find gaps in the story. This session acts as a critical review of the work-in-progress. Critical Analysis: A rigorous look at what is working and - more importantly - what needs to be removed to preserve the project’s integrity. Identifying Gaps: Determining what is missing. Is it a specific light? A certain texture? A change in scale? The Final Shoot: Designing a targeted brief for your final field sessions to capture the specific elements needed to complete the narrative.
Stage 5: Curation & The Final Edit – The art of distillation and the Artist Statement. In the Japanese tradition of Ma, what we leave out is as important as what we include. This is the distillation phase. The Power of Selection: Reducing your body of work down to its most potent, essential form. Sequencing for Impact: Finalising the order of the images to ensure the emotional journey has resonance. Contextual Writing: Crafting an artist statement that provides a bridge between your internal world and the viewer’s understanding.
Stage 6: The Legacy – Transitioning from screen to archival print. A project truly lives when it occupies physical space. In this final session, we discuss the transition to professional output. Materiality: Choosing the right archival papers to complement your project’s mood and texture. The Final Portfolio: Advice on presenting your work to galleries, publishers, or for high-end limited edition sets. The Path Forward: Planning your next exhibition or publication, ensuring this project acts as a springboard for your ongoing career.