- Canon launches Student Development Programme for 2022
- 1:1 mentoring from renowned photography professionals for 100 selected students
- 30 students shortlisted to attend Canon workshops and the world's leading photojournalism festival Visa pour l'image in Perpignan
- Five winners will take part in the Hamburg Portfolio Review and receive six months of mentoring as well as a bursary and high-quality Canon equipment
- Application deadline 28 March for students from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa¹
Canon launches its prestigious Canon Student Development Programme 2022, in its sixth year, offering aspiring photographers access to training with experts and the opportunity to attend key industry events.
Depending on the students' personal progress in their training, the programme runs over a period of six to twelve months and is designed to nurture the next generation of photojournalists. International experts teach participants everything they need to know to launch their careers.
From 28 March to 29 April, students and interns residing in Europe, the Middle East and Africa can apply for the programme, with a fixed number of places allocated through recommendations from industry professionals. Submissions will be judged by a panel of editors from AFP, Getty Images and Reuters, who will decide on the initial 100-strong shortlist of the region's most promising young storytellers.
Career development through 1:1 mentoring
Each:r of the 100 selected student participants will be paired with a person from among the programme's expert mentors - including Nobel Peace Prize photographer Finbarr O'Reilly, National Geographic Explorer and Agency VII member Anush Babajanyan, award-winning documentary photographer and book author Laura El-Tantawy, and Magnum photographer Jérôme Sessini, whose haunting images regularly appear in the world's most prestigious news publications.
In three virtual sessions in June and July, they will refine the participants' portfolios together. The focus is on exploring different editorial options, consolidating narrative skills and developing their own signature.
Based on these sessions, each:r mentor:in nominates the strongest participants, after which a 30-member group is selected by an independent panel for the following phases of the programme.
Practice-oriented workshops and portfolio reviews
The 30 shortlisted students will attend a prestigious Canon workshop held in the run-up to Visa pour l'image in Perpignan, France - one of the world's leading festivals for photojournalism. The workshop provides a forum for exchanging ideas in a trusting environment, building relationships and nurturing talent. Participants will enjoy a mix of lectures and practical sessions delivered by renowned photographers, including Canon Ambassador Paolo Verzone's masterclass on lighting techniques for portraiture.
Finally, participants will take part in portfolio group sessions led by recognised industry experts such as Benoit Baume (Fisheye), Chiara Bardelli Nonino (Vogue Italia) and Fiona Shields (The Guardian). They will also have the unique opportunity to present their work and give feedback to their colleagues in an exclusive forum.
Hamburg Portfolio Review
In the final phase of the programme, the five finalists will travel to Hamburg to take part in the Hamburg Portfolio Review. During the three-day trip, each of the five winners will participate in four individual portfolio reviews, exhibit their work and attend a series of exclusive media appointments with key industry editors. Over the following six months, they will receive long-term mentorship and a bursary of 2,000. In addition, they will be equipped with high-quality Canon equipment to tackle their next creative chapter.
Since 2017, more than 1,000 students have participated in the programme. Former participants such as Ksenia Kuleshova (2017), now a successful photojournalist, regularly works for publications such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, while Michele Spatari (2018), an award-winning documentary and news photographer for AFP, has captured some of the most significant events in recent history, including the Covid 19 pandemic. Since participating in the programme, both Fotograf:innen are also Canon Ambassadors.
www.canon.de