Introductory Courses & Workshops

Introductory courses and workshops summer semester 2026

Course dates listed on the german version of this page are all in german language. If you are interested in a specific course in english language please send us an email from your university email address, stating the desired course, your degree programme and the project or specialist course you have taken, to fotowerkstatt[at]gestaltung.uni-weimar.de. We will collect requests and get back to you to find suitable dates.

Requests are only possible by email after the project and subject modules have been assigned no earlier than 12 October 2026. (Requests received before then will not be considered.)

If you are interested and register, you need to take part in all modules of an introductory course. It is not possible to »jump« between course modules or to join later or leave earlier.

All courses include a safety briefing for working in the photo workshop. For this, as well as for the course content itself, there is a Moodle course with a corresponding test. Successful completion of the associated Moodle courses is mandatory for independent work in the respective area of the photo workshop and must be completed again in each new semester.

Starting with camera technique, we will explore the fundamental desgign possibilities of photography — first in theory and then in practice — using digital SLR cameras. The second day is primarily devoted to the extensive technical equipment in the studio and learning how to use it safely. We will then set up an initial standard setup and practise working at the photography table. On the third day we will already be working largely independently in the studio, creating portraits with different lighting setups. Finally, we will take a look at post-production and the digital workflow of the photography workshop. Successful completion of all four modules of this introductory course is a prerequisite for independent work in our photography studios.

Duration: 14 hours (split over 4 days)
Material costs: 2€
3–6 participants

Prerequisites: An interest in lighting and image composition, and the creative and technical fundamentals of photography. Working with studio equipment requires patience and manual dexterity.

In the first part of the introduction, we will focus on analogue cameras used in the photography workshop: how to load film, camera functions and creative options of the camera. This will be followed by a short excursion, during which participants will expose black-and-white film and then develop it in the laboratory. In the second part, we will focus on digital processing, scanning and post-production of the image data.

Duration: 8 hours (split over 2 days)
Material costs 7€
2-4 participants

Prerequisites: Basically, working with analogue techniques requires manual skills and an interest in technical processes. We sometimes work in complete darkness. A high level of concentration is required when handling chemicals.

Part 1 of the introduction starts in the black-and-white lab. How does the enlarger work, what chemicals need to be provided, what needs to be taken into account? After these preparations, we first create a photogram and a contact print of the black-and-white film. In the second part, we enlarge one of the black-and-white negatives, control contrast and brightness, and take care of margin design. 

Duration: 8 hours (split over 2 days)
Material costs: 9€
2–6 Participants

Basically, working with analogue techniques requires manual skills and an interest in technical processes. We sometimes work under a dim red light. A high level of concentration is required when handling chemicals.
 

In the photo workshop we want to capture everyday objects without special value or meaning, reducing the items to their form and surface. No light and shadows, no color – just the object in front of a white background. For our shots we utilize analogue black and white photography, reducing the normally complex technique to the required bare minimum. 

We develop the resulting images ourselves in the black and white lab and copy them onto paper utilizing the 200 years old cyanotype technique.

Our output will be a small series of prints, presenting seemingly insignificant items, reduced to their essentials, thus giving them a different kind of attention and maybe even beauty.

Manipulation of the source code of digital image files. How are image files structured, and what happens when errors occur in different file types? We’ll be using various tools to corrupt files and explore the resulting visual distortions and artefacts. You can use the computers in our computer lab or bring your own devices.

Duration: 2 hours
Material costs: keine
2–8 participants

Workshop 25.11.2026 10–12 h

Possible topics: Advanced basics, workspace, layers, tools, adjustment layers, layer masks, smart objects, digital workflow and problem solving.

Format: Problem-oriented with own files and/or topic-oriented with existing materials in small groups of up to 3 people.

Frequency: Upon request in small groups

09–10 h Basics for beginners
10–12 h Working in Photoshop

Registration by email at least 2 days in advance. You can work on one of our workstations (Windows PC) or your own device (Adobe CC required).