Teaching Workshop: Study the Territory with Photography
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The laboratory intends to provide the basic tools, in principles and photographic technique, which are used to plan the design of a theoretical, historical and finally practical study of a territory understood as a field of investigation. Dealing with the photographic field today has a high degree of complexity and non-negligible cultural implications. In this sense, the laboratory offers itself as a privileged context where it is possible to think about the complexity of the photographic field both as a technical discipline and technology and as an essential cultural element. We will proceed in a historical and thematic sense, we will look at many images and we will share information and experiences in a participatory logic. We will therefore try to take a step furt her towards understanding what studying the territory with photography can mean today.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the laboratory the students will have acquired historical and theoretical knowledge regarding the culture of the project of studying the territory with photography. We will also deepen the technical and technological knowledge of the tools that each student has at their disposal, be they cameras, smartphones, software but also entire technological and cultural systems. Finally we will arrive at designing and, where possible, carrying out a study of the territory also through field experience.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
REGISTRATION METHOD
In order to participate in the course, a presentation form is required (there is no minimum but a maximum of one page) that represents you or generally represents your way of using photography, preferably contextualised within the field of land photography. In complete freedom, you can write a text, present a series of images, a work you have created or a link to your projects or episodes of study and narration of territories with photography that you would like to share and discuss in class with colleagues (links to books, magazines, films, exhibitions, etc.).
THE PROGRAMME
block 1 - in the classroom - 4h - STUDYING
- a (short) history of photography looking at the world: some case studies of studying the territory with photography.
- contemporary photography and the book format as a privileged device: some books to see, touch and discuss together
block 2 - in the classroom - 4h - THE TERRITORY
- collective sharing of students' works, projects, habits of photography usage
- collective sharing on issues related to the territory
- collective sharing of technologies, tools and cultural references that students own, that they intend to use or that they can bring specifically
blocks 3 and 4 (in the classroom) - 6h each - PHOTOGRAPHY
- experience in the territory: a conscious drift
- experience of the territory: a collective review of ideas, projects, drafts or creations
The laboratory intends to provide the basic tools, in principles and photographic technique, which are used to plan the design of a theoretical, historical and finally practical study of a territory understood as a field of investigation. Dealing with the photographic field today has a high degree of complexity and non-negligible cultural implications. In this sense, the laboratory offers itself as a privileged context where it is possible to think about the complexity of the photographic field both as a technical discipline and technology and as an essential cultural element. We will proceed in a historical and thematic sense, we will look at many images and we will share information and experiences in a participatory logic. We will therefore try to take a step further towards understanding what studying the territory with photography can mean today.
At the end of the laboratory the students will have acquired historical and theoretical knowledge regarding the culture of the project of studying the territory with photography. We will also deepen the technical and technological knowledge of the tools that each student has at their disposal, be they cameras, smartphones, software but also entire technological and cultural systems. Finally we will arrive at designing and, where possible, carrying out a study of the territory also through field experience.
In order to participate in the course, a presentation form is required (there is no minimum but a maximum of one page) that represents you or generally represents your way of using photography, preferably contextualised within the field of land photography. In complete freedom, you can write a text, present a series of images, a work you have created or a link to your projects or episodes of study and narration of territories with photography that you would like to share and discuss in class with colleagues (links to books, magazines, films, exhibitions, etc.).
THE PROGRAMME
block 1 - in the classroom - 4h - STUDYING
- a (short) history of photography looking at the world: some case studies of studying the territory with photography.
- contemporary photography and the book format as a privileged device: some books to see, touch and discuss together
block 2 - in the classroom - 4h - THE TERRITORY
- collective sharing of students' works, projects, habits of photography usage
- collective sharing on issues related to the territory
- collective sharing of technologies, tools and cultural references that students own, that they intend to use or that they can bring specifically
blocks 3 and 4 (in the classroom) - 6h each - PHOTOGRAPHY
- experience in the territory: a conscious drift
- experience of the territory: a collective review of ideas, projects, drafts or creations
The laboratory intends to provide the basic tools, in principles and photographic technique, which are used to plan the design of a theoretical, historical and finally practical study of a territory understood as a field of investigation. Dealing with the photographic field today has a high degree of complexity and non-negligible cultural implications. In this sense, the laboratory offers itself as a privileged context where it is possible to think about the complexity of the photographic field both as a technical discipline and technology and as an essential cultural element. We will proceed in a historical and thematic sense, we will look at many images and we will share information and experiences in a participatory logic. We will therefore try to take a step further towards understanding what studying the territory with photography can mean today.
At the end of the laboratory the students will have acquired historical and theoretical knowledge regarding the culture of the project of studying the territory with photography. We will also deepen the technical and technological knowledge of the tools that each student has at their disposal, be they cameras, smartphones, software but also entire technological and cultural systems. Finally we will arrive at designing and, where possible, carrying out a study of the territory also through field experience.
Prerequisites for admission
The Laboratory is open to students of the three-year degree course in Laurea Triennale in Scienze Umane dell'Ambiente, del Territorio e del Paesaggio. Priority will be given to male and female students who have an interest in the use of photography as a tool and as a cultural field. It requires adaptability and willingness to spend time in a group, outdoors and for a relatively long time exploring the city.
Teaching methods
The laboratory includes frontal and participatory classroom lessons as well as field experiences defined during the course. You are also invited to take into account a modest commitment of out-of-hours work time for the development of activities.
Teaching Resources
The program will refer to the materials, books and images born from the experiences of those who have studied the territory with photography in a historical logic, such as those of some protophotographers, of the Grand Tour, of Walker Evans, Paul Strand, of the New Topographics, of Stephen Shore, of Alec Soth, of the noble season of the Italian landscape of the eighties with particular attention to Luigi Ghirri who we will place alongside Mario Giacomelli in contrast and then close with a brief overview of contemporaneity.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Each student will be evaluated based on their ability to process the information received and the dynamics with which they will be able to translate it into a theoretical, technical or practical design action. Willingness to share processes and their collective implementation will be positively evaluated.
Professor(s)