MEANINGFUL PHOTOGRAPHY & MEANINGFUL LIFE
At Essential Seeing we teach people how to see, photograph in a more meaningful way, and use photography as a creative tool for personal expression.
We specialize in the organization of Creative Photo Retreats in some of the most inspiring and magnetic places in the world. Our Photo-Retreats reinvent the photographic workshop and tour and give purpose to your photography. They propose you a very different and rewarding approach: to slow down and create personal work in an inspiring and authentic location for a whole week, covering all the steps of the photographic process, from the original message to the final print. Our Photo-Retreats have been designed as holistic creative experiences that will combine moments of total immersion in the field with work in the studio and with round table creative discussions among the group members.
We are also the founders and creators of the MasterCOURSE “Photography with Intent,” a unique, comprehensive, and structured mentoring program for the expressive photographer, and the MasterPROJECT, a one-to-one mentorship program that helps photographers put together a full photographic project, from A to Z.
Essential Seeing (Switzerland) was created by the artist photographer Rafael Rojas (Master Hasselblad 2014, MA Photography) and his partner, Anca Minican, who wears many creative hats… Architect, designer, bookbinder and Chef!
“Let us first say what photography is not. It is not just a pretty picture, not an exercise in contortionist techniques and sheer print quality. It is or should be a significant document, a penetrating statement, which can be described in a very simple term - selectivity.”
CONNECT WITH YOUR SUBJECT & EXPRESS YOURSELF
Our intention is to help people re-engage with photography as a way of exploring their inner creativity, connecting with the subject and being able to create meaningful photographs that show others how they see, feel, and understand the world.
We do not approach photography as a trophy-hunting activity, where aspirations are limited to sticking to well-proven templates and formulas in search of photographs that cater more to feeding egos than to any real need for self-expression and introspection. This approach eliminates from the equation the most addictive, liberating, and enlightening aspects of creative photography when approached in a certain way: finding yourself and your place in the world and creating work that is meaningful to you and others.
Through "Essential Seeing" we will try to help you see the world with fresh eyes and encapsulate your essence and the essence of the subject in your photographs, guided by intention. We will focus more on the why, rather than merely the how of photography.
SLOW DOWN
“Feelings and emotions, experiences and memories, are not measured in quantity, but in quality. Slowing down allows you to connect more with a place. When you slow down, your inner landscape tends to blend with the outer one. And then, magic happens.”
WHO IS BEHIND ESSENTIAL SEEING?
RAFAEL ROJAS
Rafael Rojas (Master Hasselblad 2014, MA Photography) is a Swiss-Spanish fine art photographer, author, and lecturer whose work frequently focuses on concepts like time, decay and renewal, the raw, latent energy found in the landscape, and the ephemeral qualities of existence. He strives to encapsulate concept, emotion, and spirituality in his work. His personal work can be seen on www.rafaelrojas.com.
Rafael has been involved in teaching since he was in his teens, well before he picked up a camera for the first time, first helping out young students, then teaching undergrads, and later as a university lecturer. Nowadays, as a full-time artist, photographer, lecturer, author, and creativity mentor, he deeply enjoys helping other photographers grow as artists, encouraging them to slow down and look at the world with different eyes.
He is the founder of the MasterCOURSE "Photography with Intent," a unique, comprehensive, and structured mentoring program devoted to the entire photographic process from message to print, and the unique MasterPROJECT, a one-to-one mentorship program that helps photographers create a full photographic project, from A to Z.
Rafael is also co-owner and co-director of “Platinum Press Editions” an independent fine art photography publishing company devoted to the creation of photography books of the highest quality.
Rafael speaks English, French, Spanish, Romanian, and Italian.
ANCA MINICAN
Anca Minican, the partner of Rafael Rojas, provides a very special touch to all our photographic workshops and trips. Trained as an architect, designer, bookbinder, and chef, she is a true lover of nature and the wilderness and always accompanies Rafael on his photographic expeditions all over the planet.
Her broad experience in the corporate world, her professionalism, and her methodical and serious approach make her a valuable asset to the organization, specializing in on-site logistics and providing support to customers during our Creative Retreats. She also plays a key role in team building and knows how to create an amicable environment with a personal touch, as all our clients can testify.
As a trained bookbinder and Chef, she plays a central role in all our Creative Photo Retreats, preparing exquisite menus for the group and helping our participants create wonderful Artist Books to take home.
Anca is co-owner and co-founder of “Platinum Press Editions,” an exclusive editorial house specializing in the creation of unique fine art photography books of the highest quality. She is also part of the management staff of the MasterCOURSE “Photography with Intent” and the MasterPROJECT program.
She speaks English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Romanian.
