Have you finished your photographic project? Would you like to transform it into a book format? Are you fascinated by paper, its structure and capabilities? Would you like to discover the secrets of photographic narration? Are you interested in designing? Do you have talent to handwork? If you answered YES! to all of the questions, take part in the first edition of the BUP Photobook Making Lab organised by BLOW UP PRESS!

During 4 very intensive days you will learn how to edit the book, how to arrange your photographs into a fascinating story that no one will ignore, how to strengthen it with design using a proper set of paper(s), and finally - how to build the physical book. Your own book. With your own story in it. Made by you.

After BUP Photobook Making Lab you will know how to present your project in public, defend it against critics and talk about it with other people outside of the photographic world. These 4 days will be filled with open discussions, presentations, work in smaller groups and some… hard handwork activities that will result with the real objects that you can show to others saying: „Look, it is my book”.

Two groups of maximum 10 participants will work on their books. Each participant will create two copies of the book and one of them will be shown at the public event summarising the first edition of the BUP Photobook Making Lab.

BUP Photobook Making Lab will start with a minimum number of participants of 6 people per group.

• Aneta Kowalczyk
  An independent, self-taught photo editor and photo- and art book designer. She is an Art Director of BLOW UP PRESS. The books she has designed have been recognised for their personal touch and layout. They have been shortlisted in or won several international photobook contests, including Prix Bob Calle du livre d’artiste, Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award, Rencontres d’Arles Book Awards, Lucie Photo Book Award and recently the POYi’s Photography Book of the Year. Polish Graphic Design lists her among top 10 book designers in Poland.
  
  
• Grzegorz Kosmala 
  Creator and owner of BLOW UP PRESS publishing house. Since 2012, when the publishing house was established, he focuses on producing thought provoking publications, describing contemporary world and condition of a mankind. Before creating BLOW UP PRESS, he worked in international public relations agencies and supervised one of the Poland’s biggest photojournalism contests BZ WBK Press Foto.
  
  
• Special guest tutor: Tomasz Laczny 
  A visual artist, bookmaker and book designer. His handmade books are known for their often personal topics. Winner of the 2020 BUP Book Award and the 2020 Reminders Photography Stronghold Grant. His first photobook 40/Place which Does Not Exist received an honourable mention at the 2016 Kassel Dummy Award. He has organised workshops about the subject of photobook making internationally. 

ORGANISER

BLOW UP PRESS is a Warsaw based publishing house run by two crazy photo enthusiasts (Aneta Kowalczyk and Grzegorz Kosmala). Established in 2012 as an online publishing house, BLOW UP PRESS switched to paper in 2016. BLOW UP PRESS is not afraid of talking about challenging issues that follow its motto “When the story matters.” Since 2020, it also organises annual book competition BUP Book Award which aim is to transform photography-based project into a book format and promote photobooks as a communication tool for artists. 

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• Send us a message to office@blowuppress.eu with the project you would like to develop during the workshop (30-40 images in law resolution plus its description). Don’t forget to choose the group you would like to join.
• Transfer the fee to the bank account provided in our confirmation mail.
• Be in Vienna on the first day of the workshop of your chosen and confirmed group.