Description
A 7-Day Workshop in Visual Storytelling and Writing
Overview
From Image to Meaning is a seven-day intensive workshop for photographers, filmmakers, writers, and journalists who want to sharpen their storytelling practice at the intersection of image and text. Inspired by the hands-on ethos of Reporter Akademie, the program combines field reporting, creative authorship, and rigorous editing to help participants develop a clear narrative voice and a finished short project.
Led by Gabriel Proedl (writer & journalist) and Ilir Tsouko (documentary photographer & filmmaker), the workshop bridges visual journalism and narrative writing, from observation to structure, from raw material to meaning. Over one week in Tirana, participants will research, produce, edit, and present a short story combining photography, video (optional), and text. Selected projects (2–3) will be prepared for pitching to editors in Europe and the United States.
Two-Phase Structure
The workshop is built around a simple principle: a story is not found – it is constructed.
Phase 1 — Framing & Voice (Days 1–2)
Observation, access, ethics, point-of-view, and the first field exercises to define a story direction.
Phase 2 — Fieldwork to Final Form (Days 3–7)
Daily reporting and editing, narrative assembly, and a public presentation at Vila 31 x Art Explora, Tirana.
Philosophy and Method
Participants work through a process that prioritizes:
- Learning by doing: trusting instinct, testing ideas in the field, and working with real situations in Tirana and its surroundings.
- Mentored authorship: close feedback to refine voice, intention, ethics, and form.
- Story as structure: how sequencing, rhythm, and point-of-view create meaning across image and text.
- Ethics and empathy: approaching people and sensitive topics with responsibility, clarity, and respect.
- Editing as thinking: selecting, reducing, and shaping material into a coherent narrative.
The goal is not only stronger aesthetics — but stronger why: why this story matters, and why it must be told this way.
Workshop Structure (7 Days)
Day 1 — Framing the Story
Welcome, introductions, lecture: From Observation to Meaning — Seeing as a Storyteller, story scouting and research strategies.
Day 2 — Voice, Point-of-View, and Approach
Lecture: The Language of Images & the Rhythm of Words, short field exercise, individual mentoring, screening & reading session.
Days 3–5 — Fieldwork + Daily Editing
Daily reporting assignments, on-site mentoring, editing sessions (selection, sequencing, structure, text), and group reviews.
Day 6 — Final Edit and Public Presentation at Vila 31 x Art Explora
Intensive edit, final mentoring, preparing the presentation format (exhibition / reading / screening). Public group exhibition and presentation at Vila 31 x Art Explora, Tirana, open talk: Storytelling as Dialogue, feedback and next steps.
Day 7 — Time to say Good Bye!
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
- Complete a short project combining photography/video + text
- Understand how form and content shape meaning together
- Use editing, sequencing, and writing as narrative tools
- Gain insight into ethical and practical challenges of contemporary documentary work
- Present work publicly and receive professional feedback
- Prepare selected projects (2–3) for editorial pitching
Tutors
Ilir Tsouko — Documentary photographer and filmmaker working across Southeast Europe on migration, identity, and memory. Published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, ZEIT Magazin, ARTE, and others. His film Albgreko premiered at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (2025).
Gabriel Proedl — Writer and journalist based in Vienna, contributing to DIE ZEIT, ZEIT Magazin, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, and others. His work focuses on human-centered narratives at the intersection of literature, reportage, and cultural commentary.
How to apply for our 3 full grants:
Send your application to Jana Perusich (management@hermes-baby.de) including:
- A short motivation letter (max. 300 words)
- Portfolio or writing sample (15–30 images or 2–3 pages of text or 1 film)
- Short bio (120 words) and an idea for a story you want to do during the workshop in Tirana
Deadline: 20th of April 2026, 23:59
Booking & Payment
Your spot is confirmed once the participation fee is paid. Participants will then receive logistical information and the detailed program.
Optional: Follow-up Mentoring
For participants who want to continue after Tirana, an optional follow-up mentoring format can be offered to support editing, pitching, and longer-term development of the project and overall practice.
Cancellation
The workshop may be cancelled if the minimum number of participants is not reached. In case of cancellation by the organizers, the full fee is refunded.
