In June 2012 I will give once more a Masterclass in the romantic village of Le Gorvello in Brittany, France. It is a special Masterclass because I am not the Master: the participants are the Masters. This concept is based on the wisdom that one can find what one needs to know inside oneself. Things that are learned through  imposing, as so called Masters do, makes one the trained monkey in the circus. But things inside oneself that are discovered and developed, are major steps in becoming a more complete human being and therefore a photographer with important things to communicate, also of value for others.

The Masterclass that starts on June 18, 2012 is already booked half full. One of the preparations for the participants of the Masterclass is to work in the coming months on an interesting portfolio. That can be shown and discussed with the other participants and can serve as a starting point for the week of intensive photographing in June in Le Gorvello.

There are now already participants who ask my advice what to chose as a subject for their portfolio. Like the participant who came up with two possible ideas: "Journey of Red Shoes" and "Feeling like Red Shoes". Great ideas: it makes you wonder what kind of pictures will be in a portfolio having the title “Journey of Red Shoes” or "Feeling like Red Shoes". And this is very important: to raise curiosity even before a spectator has seen one image! However, the photographer must be smart in choosing a title that will guide into making interesting pictures.

For example, “Journey of Red Shoes” implies that not only has there to be red shoes somehow in the image, but also that they must be related to making a journey. The same for "Feeling like Red Shoes": the shoes have to be in the image and something with emotion as well. That makes it more complicated and forces to think before to make pictures and that is not always so good. The danger is that what we will see in the images is artificial, rational, scientific almost. As it comes from the mind. It will be hard to make pictures with such a theme from the intuition, the spontaneity or even the feelings.

The solution is always the same: simplify. For magic to happen things must be simple. The suggestion to this photographer has been to drop the “journey” and the “feeling like” in the titles. To have as a starting point only “Red Shoes”. This opens many more possibilities: maybe the Red Shoes make a journey. Maybe they make us feel like them. Maybe the Red Shoes metaphorically show anger, beauty, sexuality, humor. By making the title as simple as possible, the playing field becomes immensely more bigger.

Can’t wait to see the “Red Shoes” portfolio!

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"What The World Has Never Seen" is currently in production with Michel and his team travelling around the world. To keep up with the latest from Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski and the project "What The World Has Never Seen", please visit his blog at:

http://whattheworldhasneverseen.wordpress.com/

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