Program Overview Study abroad with Actuality Media and you
will tell stories that matter. Students travel to a developing community in Guatemala where they will produce positive media about a local changmaker while learning about social justice.
Students will hone their photography talents under the guidance of a Production Supervisor from Actuality Media. While capturing the work of local changemakers, students will use a variety of shooting techniques including commercial, journalistic and artistic. The final images will be shared with the subject changemakers to be utilized in promotion of their social justice work.
San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala In the Solola district, this small pueblo sits on the edge of Lake
Atitlan - one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Unlike most villages on the lake, San Juan mostly plays host to short visits from tourists. With a textile cooperative on almost every corner, San Juan is the site of exemplary work by a community set on becoming sustainable, and improving life in their village. Changemakers abound.
Production Schedule December 27, 2015 - January 10, 2016 Students will spend the first night in Antigua before heading up to San Juan la Laguna - with a stop at the Iximche Mayan ruins on the way. In San Juan students will take part in briefings with our Production Supervisor who will also oversee photo exercises and the principal photography with our two selected changemakers. Days will alternate between prep, photography and review - but we will pack the time in between with a New Year’s Eve celebration at the beach, ziplining, a local farm visit, and a sunrise hike/photo shoot. For the most up-to-date schedule check our website.
Training and Gear Hands On, On the Ground Students will be exposed to documentary storytelling with still photography. They will participate in instructional discussions for preparation and review, as well as hands-on workshops. Students will learn to frame their images in a way that elevates their subject beyond what words could say. Student photographers are required to provide their own digital camera, tripod and preferred accessories. A laptop computer and portable hard drive are strongly recommended. (Travel insurance is provided)
Chajil Ch’upup
Assignment - Photography Essay
The fishermen’s cooperative of Chajil Ch’upup (translated
from Tzutujil they are “Guardians of the Tule”) works tirelessly in their efforts to preserve the waters of Lake Atitlan, and thereby their way of life. Actuality Media first worked with the cooperative in 2013 when our crew made a short documentary about their work. The continued efforts of these men deserve recognition and support. By joining them for meetings, shore-cleanup and on the water, you will put together a photographic essay that will spread word about them around the globe.
Chacaya Coffee Cooperative
Assignment - Commercial Photography
The village of San Antonio Chacaya sits across the lake from
San Juan la Laguna. We will be working with a local coffee cooperative that has several female members, which is uncommon in the region. Growing coffee has been a common practice for some time, but processing and selling coffee is a relatively recent development that has become a great way for Guatemalans to earn income and support their family. Our subject cooperative is slowly growing, but is in dire need of good photography. They have some buyers for their coffee, but they are asking for images they can present to customers to show them who raised the coffee, and the hard work that goes into it. That is where you come in.
Excursions
The focus of this photography tour is to help
our selected changemakers, but what would a whirlwind J-term tour be without some fun? We’ll help fuel your passion for photography and travel with exciting excursions: ◊ The Mayan ruins of Iximche ◊ A night at the beach for New Year’s Eve ◊ Pre-dawn hiking for sunrise shots ◊ A half-day visit to an organic farm on the lake, including milking cows! ◊ Ziplining at Panajachel
Program Costs 2015 Study Abroad Outreach Program Fee:
$1650 USD
Program Fee Includes: Pre-departure materials Photography instruction and support Projection and review equipment use Shared lodging in a traveler’s hotel or hostel Two meals each day - breakfast and dinner Ground transportation in country for production Office and meeting facility use Group tourist excursions Production legal documentation Visa documentation - if needed Travel Health Insurance Travel Gear Insurance 24/7 emergency assistance Additional Expenses: Airfare to program location Visa Fees Photography gear and Editing equipment Additional food and drinks Additional time in-country Souvenirs
Frequently Asked Questions Who can apply? Our past participants have included enrolled university students, young professionals, and adults interested in expanding their knowledge about media production. Anyone 18 years or older with an adventurous spirit may apply. I am no longer a student, can I apply? Yes. Anyone over the age of 18 can apply. Is prior photography experience required? Yes. You will need your own camera, tripod and editing equipment and some knowledge of how to use them. Is there a cost to apply? No. There is no cost to apply. When is the application deadline? The final deadline to apply is October 18, 2015. The program may be full before then. How can I apply? Visit actualitymedia.org/apply to begin your application. What are the costs involved? The Social Justice Photography Tour has a program fee of $1650 USD. You will also have to budget for airfare, a visa fee, additional food and drinks, and additional time in-country if you wish to stay longer. Do you offer financial aid? Not for this program. Visit actualitymedia. org/funding for fundraising suggestions.
What does the program fee include? Students receive instruction and support in social-justice centered photography, shared housing, two meals each day, ground transportation for production and on arrival/departure days, use of photography review equipment, multiple tourist excursions, legal documents, visa documents as needed, and access to emergency assistance.
What are the photography assignments about? Each photographer will explore the work of a local changemaker and use still images to tell their stories. Assignments include work to create photo-essays that can be used to promote the work of a local fishermen’s cooperative and work to create commercially-usable photographs a coffee cooperative can use to market itself.
Do we need to bring equipment? Yes. You will need to supply your own camera gear, as well as editing equipment. A sleeping bag is also recommended for a possible overnight stay in San Antonio Chacaya.
How do we learn from the assignments? Each assignment will require multiple days of photography. There will be lessons beforehand, review and discussion after each session, and a return trip for taking even better photographs.
What kind of equipment do we use? You will be most comfortable taking photographs with your own camera, so we’re happy to support you in that. There will be a digital projector and laptop on hand for photo reviewing, and use in lessons. Can I bring my own equipment? Yes. In fact, you will need to bring your own camera, memory cards, lenses, tripod, bag and other gear. What all that should be is a conversation we should have soon. Should I bring my laptop? If your laptop is what you edit photographs with, then yes. If you edit with, say, a tablet - make sure you have the ability to export photos so we can put them on a computer, to project for review.
How will the fishermen use the photographs? Distributing the photo-essays will be up to you. We can recommend competitions to submit to, and Actuality Media will post the essays as well. How will the coffee farmers use the photographs? The coffee cooperative will supply some of your photos to the organizations that purchase coffee from them. Do I keep the photographs? You will retain the rights to all your photographs. Part of the participant agreement will include giving the cooperatives permission to use a select number of photos.
Frequently Asked Questions Can I see photos taken in the past? This is our first photography program. We had some photography students ask about photography and this tour was born. Click here for BTS shots from documentary film programs, or go here for student photos from Malaysia (look for #studentphotographer to see the right pictures). Can I suggest a Changemaker? Yes. Please email us about changemakers you would recommend so we can research them for an upcoming program. What is the production schedule? Crews will be busy every day in-country. Not every day will involve work on the primary assignments, but there will be excursions for fun, experience and photography opportunities. There will be down time every day, but there will be no days off. Will I have any time off? No. Your time in-country is too short, and we have too many awesome things to do. What is the housing like? Students will stay in a secure traveler’s hotel or hostel, in multi bunkbed, mixed gender dorm rooms. Bathrooms and showers are usually communal. What is the food like? The two meals provided willl be typical local style food that varies each day. Most locations can accomodate vegetarians, although the fare may be less varied.
Do I need to speak the language? No. Your Production Supervisor will help with the logistics of getting around as well as collecting information from subjects. How will the photographs be distributed? Potential outlets will be reviewed incountry for photography exhibitions and photo-essays. Actuality Media will post some photos to online outlets, and the subjects will be sharing some of the photos as well. Can I show my photographs at my school? Yes, of course. Students are encouraged to arrange any kind of showing of their photographs they like, at school or in other venues. The more attention to our subjects you can attract with your photographs, the better. Who owns the rights to the photos? You own the rights to your photos, though part of your partipant agreement will include permission for the subjects to use a select number of photos for their own promotion and marketing purposes. Actuality Media to distribute some as well. Is it safe to travel to ...? Each program location is chosen after a careful security review. Every location is clear of any travel restrictions and is deemed safe for tourists by the governments of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Austraila.
Do I need gear insurance? Each student is enrolled in a comprehensive personal gear insurance plan for the duration of the program as part of their program fee. Do I need travel medical insurance? Each student is enrolled in a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan for the duration of the program as part of their program fee. What vaccinations do I need to get? Talk to your doctor or local travel clinic about what they recommend for the location you are traveling to. What happens if I get sick or hurt? The Production Supervisor on location will make sure that you seek medical attention from a trusted hospital or doctor if needed. In the unlikely case of an extreme emergency you will be flown home for medical attention.Travel insurance included in the program fee will reimburse all medical costs. Should I travel after the program? Yes. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the plane ticket and plan travel in the region either before or after the program. Can I earn University credit? We are happy to work with students individually to arrange for you to earn academic credit from your own school, based on your completion of a program.
WE ARE A BAND OF STORYTELLERS
ARMED WITH CAMERAS
OUT TO REVEAL THE GOOD IN OUR WORLD