JP has spent the last 5 years photographing the same group of Mexica, or Aztec, dancers. In that time, he learned how connected the Mexica are to their mythology. To stories passed down across generations. That’s when he decided that, as these stories were so vital to Mexica culture, they needed to play a bigger role in his portraits.
This is a talk is about what happened next. About how a desire to tell stories visually, ended up changing his entire creative process, and the way people react to his photos. Using examples from his cultural photography work in Mexico, JP Stones explores different ways to improve that emotional connection. Including how myths and character archetypes can be harnessed for better storytelling.
Working with narratives won’t just change the way people engage with your photos, it will fundamentally change the way you create them. Because that narrative can also be used to guide decisions on posing, composition, lighting, and colour. Focusing your creative decisions and ensuring you create cohesive work.
JP has presented for professional organizations and camera clubs across the US, Mexico, and the UK. His work has been featured on the cover of multiple publications, including Good Light Magazine. He’s been teaching his Cultural Workshops for close to 10 years.
During the talk JP will discuss the following topics:
How much of a story can one photo really tell?
How being more intentional can changed your approach to photography.
How photography can be about making an emotional connection as well as creating beautiful work.
How thinking in stories can help guide your entire creative decision-making process.
About JP Stones
I started these cultural photography workshops because I was frustrated at not being able to create the travel photos I wanted to. Candid photos are fine, but I wanted my portraits to show the personality and history of people – to show the real Mexico.
A great portrait is a blend of many factors: the model, the environment, the lighting, and the composition. But most of the time, travellers can’t control any of these factors. I wanted to change that by bringing tourists and local communities together, in a harmonious way. Because the more we learn about different cultures, the more we respect those cultures.
About the models
The strong ties I’ve established with local communities will let you experience Mexico’s fascinating cultural heritage first hand. I’m fortunate to be able to work with several indigenous groups within Mexico. These include the Wixaritari (also known as the Huichol) and the Nahuatl speaking Mexicaneros. The word ‘Mexico’ actually comes from Nahuatl – the language of the Aztecs.
I also work with Charro (Mexican Cowboy) communities in Jalisco and Nayarit.
All the models I work with regularly are paid a generous percentage of the workshop fee. They are also paid a percentage of every print (they feature in) that I sell..
PLEASE NOTE GUEST TICKETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS PRESENTATION AS WE SHALL BE JOINED BY OUR FRIENDS FROM SHEFFIELD PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY>
About NDPS Special Presentations
Every month at Norwich and District Photographic Society there is the opportunity to hear inspirational photographic talks by photographers who are recognised to be at the top of their game and renowned specialists in their field of photography. The quality and range of subjects included in these Special Presentations are we believe unequalled both here in Norfolk and much further afield. Further, arguably alone they more than justify the cost of becoming a member of the Society.
The annual programme for the 2021-2022 Season that begins in September and runs through to the end of June 2023 is well advanced and has been designed to offer a broad range of excellent speakers who will cover, as in past seasons, a far reaching range of photographic genre.
Members of the Society are normally able to attend Special Presentations free of charge. However, NON-MEMBERS wanting to attend a Special Presentation can usually purchase a guest ticket prior to the event. Guest tickets (subject to availability) must be purchased in advance and are only available from our ticketing partner Eventbrite.co.uk.
Please note the ticket office for each individual presentation is not open until approximately ONE month prior to the date of the presentation when all arrangements for the evening have been agreed and confirmed between the presenter and the Society.
ABOUT ONLINE PRESENTATIONS
During the coronavirus pandemic the Society put together a revised programme of Special Presentations that were presented online. These online events proved to be very successful, with good attendance and we thank all our speakers and members who have adapted to this medium. Post-covid we envisage that we shall continue to make full use of the available technologies to deliver our Special Presentations. In the past year online presenttions has widened our reach and we have hosted speakers from the furthest points in the UK, throughout Europe and much wider afield from Australia and the United States.
We don’t intend to allow geography to be a reason for not heaing from the very best photographers worldwide in future seasons. Equally, we shall evolve to ensure this is achieved in the most effective way for our members