To take part in the workshop, you must complete the registration form at the bottom of this page.
Along with your contact information, you will be asked to submit a portfolio, which will be reviewed in advance as part of the participants selection process.
Within 5 working days of your registration, you will be notified whether you have been accepted into the workshop. If approved, you will receive instructions on how to pay the participation fee.
WHEN?
September 8 2025
10:00 h. – 18:00 h.
WHERE?
Forest Beach Natural Holiday Resort, Primorsko, Bulgaria
PARTICIPANTS
Up to 8 people
(after prior selection)
PRICE
130 EUR
95 EUR
For early registrations before 15.07.2025
SHAPING THE STORY
A Project-Focused Workshop with Carl De Keyzer
In this full-day workshop, world-renowned Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer will dive deep into the process of shaping a compelling visual story. With decades of experience working on long-term, politically and socially charged projects, De Keyzer will share his personal approach to building complex narratives through photography.
The workshop is divided into two parts. In the morning, Carl will present key projects from his career, focusing on the challenges of structuring a visual story with clarity and depth. Through behind-the-scenes insights, he will discuss how to move from a simple idea to a powerful, multi-layered body of work.
In the afternoon, the focus shifts to you. Participants will present their own projects – completed or in progress – for in-depth group critique and personal feedback from Carl. This is a rare opportunity to receive guidance and direction that could help you rethink, refine or even reimagine your photographic narrative.
Whether you’re working on a documentary series, a conceptual body of work, or a long-term personal project, this workshop is designed to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
🕒 Schedule
10:00 – 12:00
Carl De Keyzer: Stories That Matter
Carl will present selected personal projects, focusing on the storytelling process – idea development, research, aesthetic and narrative decisions, and the difficulties in making meaning through photography.
12:00 – 13:45
Lunch break
14:00 – 15:30
Participant Project Reviews – Part I
Each participant presents their project, followed by critique and discussion led by Carl.
15:30 – 15:45
Coffee break
15:45 – 17:15
Participant Project Reviews – Part II
Continuation of project reviews and discussions.
17:15 – 17:45
Final Reflections
Open Q&A with Carl, final thoughts, and advice for moving your project forward.
17:45 – 18:00
Closing and Informal Chat
TERMS OF PARTICIPATION
CARL DE KEYZER
Carl De Keyzer began his career as a freelance photographer in 1982, supporting himself by teaching photography at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium. His interest in the work of other photographers led him to co-found and co-direct the photography gallery XYZ. In 1990, he was nominated to become a member of Magnum Photos, and in 1994 he became a full member.
De Keyzer builds his books and exhibition projects through accumulation, working primarily with medium and large format photography. Notable examples include:
Homo Sovieticus (1989) – on the collapse of the Soviet Union
ZONA (2003) – a visit to 50 labor camps in Siberia
Trinity (2007) – a conceptual book on the trinity of power
DPR Korea (2017)
His landmark project God, Inc. I & II (1992 and 2020) documents religious life on the fringes of American society.
A central theme in his work is the system of power and its visual impact on society. Topics such as colonialism, communism, religion, and others are documented using their own propaganda aesthetics. Often, the visual style or “design” of the given system is adopted to achieve a layered visual effect.
Biographical Information:
Born in Belgium (Kortrijk) on December 27, 1958
Photography teacher at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium (1982–1989)
Co-founder and co-director of XYZ – Photography Gallery (1982–1989)
Freelance photographer since 1982
Lecturer at the Higher Institute for the Arts in Antwerp, Belgium (1995)
Nominated as a member of MAGNUM Photos (1990)
Full member of MAGNUM Photos (1994)
Lecturer at École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France (2002)
Vice President of MAGNUM Photos (2003 and 2004)
Lecturer at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) in Ghent, Belgium (2009–2018)
Member of the Royal Academy of Science and the Arts – Brussels (2012)
