BASED ON A TRUE STORY: A Workshop with Gus Powell

DESCRIPTION:

In this workshop Gus Powell will explore the narrative and poetic qualities of photography and the photobook. It will delve into the diverse practices encompassed by the genre of street photography, with a particular emphasis on the physicality, intentionality, poetry, and pleasure of the practice.

The workshop will start with a presentation of Powell’s work: the inspiration and creation of past projects, the books and their maquettes, his work for editorial and commercial clients, and his ongoing practice as a photographer. It will continue in the morning with engaging presentations and discussions, followed by an immersive shooting experiences in the city. Throughout the workshop, participants will explore various themes including the process of making rather than taking photographs, the art of visual communication, and the power of poetic storytelling. The workshop will culminate on the final day with a focus on sequencing, storytelling, and book making. Powell will guide participants from the initial act of making individual striking images, through the development of an authentic visual voice, and take them towards creating a cohesive body of work.

TOPICS COVERED:

• Authorship & storytelling.

• Finding inspiration in unexpected histories and heroes.

• The comedy & tragedy of the human experience.

• “Sketching”

• Making something out of nothing.

• Using language to elevate rather than explain.

• Making rules and embracing chance.

• Getting into trouble. Getting out of trouble and getting on with it.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS WORKSHOP:

AGENDA:

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

This is not a typical Street Photography workshop.  It will be intimate, challenging, and fun in unexpected ways.  You should have a basic understanding of photography as well as your camera. We will have a selection of Leica cameras and lenses for you to borrow during the workshop; however, having or using a Leica camera is not a requirement for this program. You should also have a basic knowledge of image processing and will need imaging software on your laptop or tablet to process images on the final day of the program.

DETAILS & DATES: 

Dates: May 8-10, 2026

Locations:

Leica Store NYC: 406 W 13th St, New York, NY 10014

Phone: (332) 222-1690

Store Hours:

Monday - Saturday, 10am to 6pm

Sunday, 11am to 6pm

Experience Level: Beginner / Intermediate 

Class Size: 10 

Fee: $1,199 

Testimonials from B.O.A.T.S. Graduates

“If someone is stuck in their ideas surrounding sequencing and editing, hell even just feeling narrow minded in their approach to photography in general, I couldn’t recommend it more.” \
– Kyle, Oregon, USA

“Gus is such an inspiring and motivating teacher (and photographer) because he carries so much passion, compassion, joy, talent and intelligence in everything he does. I left the workshop feeling like I not only gained a better sense of my work, but that I had a touching experience with a community of photographers who were all deeply supportive and very kind to each other.  I believe Gus helped facilitate and cultivate that comradery in a meaningful way.”
– Michael, LA, USA

“Gus coaxed people to open up about their thoughts about their work as a whole in the context of their lives.”
– Barbara, Vancouver, Canada

“It’s a very intense and creative workshop: one that forces you to actually create things and challenge yourself. Many interesting topics about the nature of photography and why we create books are discussed and these discussions help us to understand our own work and purpose better. It doesn’t matter if you are in the middle of making a book or simply want to put a series together for the first time- this class will open new paths for you and help you understand your work and express it much more clearly.” – Sonia, New York, USA"I liked a lot about this workshop, but the process of sequencing others' images was most successful in my opinion. It was an interesting challenge and offered thoughtful perspectives on my own images. Most of all, it was exciting to take a measure of creative ownership of a sequence, isolated from ownership of the images themselves. I was struck by how good that felt.”
- Zach, Washington, DC

“The workshop is fun, hands-on, and the perfect vehicle to take your photography to the next level. Both the advice provided at the beginning and the feedback received at the end were spot on.“  
- Sofia, Washington, DC

“A great opportunity to learn about how to take complete authorship of your photographs.”  
- Dan, San Francisco, CA

“An insightful workshop that forces you to ask questions about what you are trying to say through photography. The most helpful part for myself was the hand’s on working experience on the streets. Being able to work alongside Gus while having instant feedback through reviewing the images on the back of the camera allowed me to adjust on the spot and helped to push me into a new direction as we continued photographing.”  
- Charles, New York, NY

“The editing feedback and in-depth critique and discussion of my weekend’s photos was invaluable.”  
- Rob, Denver, CO

“I came away with a very strong sense of what I need to do better, both in technique and in thinking about my work.  For me, that was the most valuable aspect of the whole experience.”  
- Bill, New Haven, CT

“It was the first workshop I have attended and I was a little concerned that it might not be that helpful to me progressing as a photographer. However, my experience was just the opposite. I found the workshop to be very helpful in demonstrating the value of editing and sequencing my work as an essential part of the process of creating more personal and unique images. Rather than repeating the easy, instant gratification photos that are so popular and generate many “Likes” on social media – Gus emphasized moving beyond the easy images to make pictures that are more nuanced, open to interpretation, and vision of the photographer as author.”   
- Tim, Boston, MA

“Gus was able to reach everyone on their individual level of experience and practice. His critiques were sensitive but gave real guidance, and he helped us find strategies to overcome artistic blocks and limitations in a most supportive way.”
– Alexandra, New York, USA