This course has been held
We are looking for young talents for a free-of-charge, workshop and photo book production on Russian-Nordic relations. If you have the right talent and curiosity – we will support you with logistics and mentoring by award winning trainers, Russian photographer, Jana Romanova, and Danish DMJX-teacher, Mads Greve. Application open January 2019.
‘Next to You’ aims to build relations between Russia and the Nordic countries. We are neighbors, but how well do we know each other?
With ‘Next to You’ we invite the neighbor to look at us from their perspective. They might see something we did not see ourselves.
The selected photojournalists from Northwest Russia will work in Reykjavik;Iceland, while participants from the Nordic countries will work in Kaliningrad producing individual photo essays.
If selected, you will be invited for workshops in Kaliningrad and Reykjavik where Russian Photographer Jana Romanova and Mads Greve, ass. professor at the Danish School of Media and Journalism, will help you become a stronger visual storyteller using your distinct photographic voice.
Using the group’s unique knowledge and network in our different cultures we will support each other in producing photo essays from our different countries.
The Master Class is free of charge and expenses will be covered. The final work will be published as a photo book under the theme ‘Next to You’.
Program – Next to you
Workshop:
Kaliningrad, April 1.-5. 2019 for the Russian participants and April 3.-5. 2019 for the Nordic participants.
We will kick-start the Masterclass in Kaliningrad, Russia. Over the course of several days, we will analyze picture stories, conceptual documentary photography, different journalistic approaches and look into how various photographic languages can be used as a tool to convey your personal vision. In group-sessions we will develop story ideas so everyone feels inspired.
Field work:
After the start up workshop it’s time to start working on your story. The Nordic participants will work in Kaliningrad directly after the first workshop. The Russian participants will work in the Reykjavik region in Iceland prior to the workshop in Reykjavik in May 2019. The Masterclass will include a budget that covers at least one week of field work for each participant.
Jana Romanova and Mads Greve will be available for coaching and support between the workshops.
Workshop:
Reykjavik, 6. – 8. May 2019: All participants meet again, this time in Reykjavik, Iceland, where we engage each other in our different stories, and learn about the importance and different methods in editing a large body of work. You are the author of your work, but together we might be able to make your voice clearer.
How to apply
Participants must be photojournalists or documentary photographers from North West Russia or from one of the Nordic countries – Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Aaland. Up to 12 participants will be selected.
Participants must be under the age of 40.
Students, as well as participants in the 2014 NJC Masterclass “Next Door” and 2016/2017 NJC Masterclass “Next To Me” cannot participate. Participants must speak English at a good level.
Participants must be able to work independently in a foreign country and to plan the practical aspects of their field work.
Participants are required to participate in the two workshops and to invest time to produce their photo stories. Participants must be prepared to spend the time needed for visa application for the exchange visit (it is vital to be in good time with visa). Other inquiries related to the Masterclass must be expected, and will need to be answered to professionally and within deadlines.
The Masterclass is free of charge for the participants. Travel expenses, accommodation and meals will be covered during the workshops. Each participant will be given a budget to cover at least one week of field work.
You need to submit:
- Your CV
- A short description of your photographic interests and motivation (maximum ½ page).
- 20 selected photographs – stories or singles is your choice – which shows your voice, talent and interests. Must be jpg and approximately 5 Mb each.
The application will be sent via WeTransfer to mg@dmjx.dk AND jarofoto@gmail.com between January 21 and January 28, 12.00 AM (CET).
About
Jana Romanova
I challenge classical documentary and journalism boundaries in photography to find a way to viewer’s empathy and interest. Educated both as a journalist and contemporary artist, in my work I use methods of participatory art and performance to tell about existing social issues through photographs.

Jana Romanova, Russian.Published four photography books: The Book of a Saviour (2011), Shvilishvili (2012), The Alphabet of Shared Words (2014), Waiting (2015)
My long-term projects were published in Der Spiegel, Russian Reporter, National Geographic, PDN, British Journal of Photography, Independent, Internazionale, Geo, Eikon, OjodePez, and many other magazines.
They were also shown at various international exhibitions and festivals such as Copenhagen Photo Festival (Denmark), Format (Derby, UK), DongGang Photography Festival (South Korea), Chobi Mela (Dakha, Bangladesh), Encontros da Imagem (Braga, Portugal), the Backlight Festival (Tampere, Finland), Encuentros Abietros Festival (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Moscow Photobiennale 2016 (Russia), Riga Photography Biennale (Latvia), The Month of Photography in Minsk (Belarus) and many others. In 2016 I took part in Joop Swart Masterclass by World Press Photo.
In the last several years I published four photography books:
The Book of a Saviour (2011)
Shvilishvili (2012)
The Alphabet of Shared Words (2014)
Waiting (2015)
I enjoy sharing knowledge a lot and therefore has been teaching workshops and long-term educational programs in photography in various places in Russia during the last seven years.
Mads Greve
Teaching master classes and workshops with participants from different countries and cultures is always interesting. It is exciting to see the different approaches to stories and to photojournalism and it is fun and interesting to guide and tutor participants to telling the story in the strongest possible way.

Mads Greve, associated Professor at Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX). Published two photographic books: Man kan ikke engang græde (Ajour 2008), Blind Date (Ajour/Postcart 2012)
As an associate Professor at the Danish School of Media and Journalism I’m privileged to work with students from all over the world.
In addition to teaching I work with personal projects and have published two photographic books:
Man kan ikke engang græde (Ajour 2008)
Blind Date (Ajour/Postcart 2012)
and exhibited at Copenhagen Photo Festival and Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival.
Photo above:
Svetlana Bulatova, participant Next to Me 2017/18
The photobook from 2017/18:
Pictures that Open Doors – Photo Master Class in Russia, Next to Me
Picture of the Year, Norway – Represented in the Photobook “Next to Me”