Fieldwork, editing & mentorship

Documentary photography workshops

Small-group photography workshops with Laurin Strele around the world. Develop your documentary photography through field assignments, individual mentoring and daily image reviews. All workshops are taught in English.

MENTORING Enquire about a workshop Workshop updates
Photography workshop led by Laurin Strele
Documentary photography workshop © Ethan Swope

Out in the field.

Swipe or use the arrow keys to browse the photographs. Pause stops automatic playback.

A group of photographers working on a rooftop in the evening light.
Photographers listen to a seated woman during a conversation on a narrow street.
A group poses outdoors beside a wooden fence, with colorful beaded clothing and a child seated in front.
Photographers with cameras talking together in wooden boats on a river.
A man rests at the open rear of a van packed with bags in an open landscape.
Two travellers standing beside a passenger aircraft on an airport apron.
A photographer shows photographs on his camera to an adult and several children.
People sit together and share a conversation outdoors, holding bowls and cups.
A group of five people, including a photographer with a camera, on a street at night.
Photographers beside brick arches and a spiral minaret under a cloudy sky.
A photographer holding a camera poses with a group in blue and orange turbans beside a grey wall.
Photographers in a sunlit plaza in front of a large turquoise monument.
A photographer with a telephoto lens photographs a city from a rooftop.
Children gather around a photographer and look at a camera outside a corrugated metal building.
A photographer lies beside a harbour as a swimmer dives into the water.
Four people, including photographers with cameras, sitting together by wooden boats.
A photographer holding a camera poses with four men in front of a mountain landscape.
A photographer joins two street musicians on a sunlit street.

© Strele, Swope

Upcoming workshops.

2026

India 202621–29 November 2026Last seats available

2027

Iraq 20274–10 January 2027Places available Syria 202715–21 April 2027Places available Mongolia 202710–20 October 2027Places available India 202721–29 November 2027Places available
2026–2027

Field workshops.

International programmes combining guided access, independent fieldwork, editing and direct feedback in a small group. Dates and availability are listed below.

A woman and a monkey in Varanasi, photographed by Laurin Strele

Photograph by Laurin Strele

Unpainted statue of Kali in an Indian workshop

Photograph by Shivam Pandey

A man lying in a boat with birds flying over the water in India

Photograph by Shivam Pandey

India 2026

Last seats available

A photography workshop in Kolkata and Varanasi, India, focused on street life, people and culture. Develop a personal project with Laurin Strele and Shivam Pandey through fieldwork and daily image reviews.

Led by Laurin Strele and Shivam Pandey, Maximum 10 participants

DatesNovember 21 – 29, 2026
LocationKolkata and Varanasi, India
Fee€4,900
Workshop languageEnglish
Reserve a seat Write an inquiry India workshop programme and practical details
Al-Shaheed Monument in Baghdad

Photograph by Laurin Strele

Portrait of a man wearing a keffiyeh in Iraq

Photograph by Laurin Strele

A man beside a bathtub amid damaged buildings in Iraq

Photograph by Laurin Strele

Iraq 2027

Places available

A seven-day documentary photography workshop in Iraq with Laurin Strele and Ethan Swope. The planned route includes Baghdad, Babylon, Najaf, Karbala and Mosul, with guided fieldwork and daily image reviews.

Led by Laurin Strele and Ethan Swope, Maximum 10 participants

DatesJanuary 4–10, 2027
RouteBaghdad, Babylon, Najaf, Karbala, Mosul
Standard fee €4,500
Workshop languageEnglish
Reserve a seat Write an inquiry Iraq workshop programme and practical details

Official travel warnings apply. The route is provisional and subject to an updated security assessment. Read the full safety, entry and insurance information on the programme page before making travel arrangements.

Portrait of a bearded man in Syria

Photograph by Laurin Strele

A woman beneath a row of colourful dresses in Syria

Photograph by Laurin Strele

Men playing cards in Syria

Photograph by Laurin Strele

Syria 2027

Places available

Seven days of documentary photography with Laurin Strele, from Damascus to Aleppo via Saidnaya, Maaloula, Homs and Hama. Fieldwork, individual mentoring and daily image reviews focus on everyday life, cultural heritage and the lasting effects of conflict.

Led by Laurin Strele, Maximum 10 participants

Dates15–21 April 2027
RouteDamascus, Saidnaya, Maaloula, Homs, Hama, Aleppo
Standard fee €5,000
Workshop languageEnglish
Reserve a seat Write an inquiry Syria workshop programme and practical details

Official travel warnings apply. The route is provisional and subject to an updated security assessment. Read the full safety, entry and insurance information on the programme page before making travel arrangements.

Places available

Mongolia 2027

10–20 October 2027

Altai · Northern taiga · Ulaanbaatar

Photograph the Altai, the northern taiga and Ulaanbaatar. The same route as 2026, with daily image reviews.

€6,000 per person

Reserve a seat Explore the programme

Places available

India 2027

21–29 November 2027

Kolkata · Varanasi

Nine days in Kolkata and Varanasi: photograph, review your images and develop your own story.

€4,900 per person

Reserve a seat Explore the programme

Maximum 10 participants each. €1,000 deposit; the balance is due later by bank transfer.

Reviews & mentoring

Your photographs. A clearer direction.

Work with me on your portfolio, your edit, or a documentary project. Three ways to get personal feedback and move the work forward, wherever you are.

Explore reviews & mentoring

60 minutes · Online

Portfolio Review

€190

A focused conversation about your photographs: what works, how the images fit together, and where to go next.

Book Portfolio Review

90 minutes · Written follow-up

Deep Review

€320

More time to shape a coherent edit, with a written selection, sequence, and short action plan afterwards.

Book Deep Review

3 months · Six 90-minute calls

Documentary Project Mentoring

€1,450

Sustained support for your documentary project, from developing its direction to the final image selection and preparing a pitch.

Discuss Project Mentoring
Talks and masterclasses

Talks on documentary photography.

Alongside field workshops, Laurin presents artist talks, lectures and portfolio sessions on documentary practice, sharing his experience of access, ethics, editing and visual responsibility.

Laurin Strele presenting conflict photography during a public talk at Leica
Public talkLeica
Laurin Strele giving a documentary photography talk about Mongolia
Workshop talkMongolia and visual storytelling
Past photography workshop led by Laurin Strele
Past workshops

Previous photography workshops.

Previous workshops and mentorships have taken place in Mongolia, Iraq, Syria, India, Bangladesh, China, Cuba and Japan, with a focus on cultural context, visual ethics and documentary storytelling.

  • Mongolia: October 10 – 20, 2026 Read the field note
  • Japan: Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, April 2026
  • Iraq, Syria, India, Bangladesh
  • China, Cuba, international mentorships
Collaborative documentary photography

Founded by Laurin Strele, Ethan Swope and Roberto Flores, Eyewitness Collective brings together documentary photography, workshops, exhibitions, podcasts, scholarships and collaborative projects.

Portrait of photographer Laurin Strele of Eyewitness Collective.
Laurin Strele
Portrait of photographer Ethan Swope of Eyewitness Collective.
Ethan Swope
Portrait of photographer Roberto Flores of Eyewitness Collective.
Roberto Flores
About Eyewitness Collective Follow the collective

Testimonials

Lynne - USA

Transformational Experience

"Not only did my photography skills improve significantly in just a few days, but I also fell in love with Iraq and its people. Laurin is an excellent teacher—patient, encouraging, and always pushing you to see differently. The Iraq workshop was a launching point for me into new creative directions, and I left feeling deeply inspired. This experience was 5,000% worth it, and I’m already planning to join another workshop in the future."

Robert - Switzerland

A Learning Environment That Feels Natural

"I had no idea what to expect, but this workshop far exceeded my expectations. I loved the small group size, which gave me the freedom to ask questions and truly absorb everything. The schedule was flexible yet structured, allowing us to take our time at locations without feeling rushed. Laurin created an environment where learning felt natural, and every moment was an opportunity to grow as a photographer."

Injee - USA

More Than Just Photography, a Personal Journey

"I feel very fortunate to have joined Laurin and Ethan’s workshop. I met great, like-minded photographers from all over the world, got to practice my image-making in a very concentrated manner, and most importantly, fell in love with Iraq. Because of my experience, I will be going back to dedicate more time to its lands and its people"

Claudia - Italy

A Photographer Who Cares About His Students

"What stood out the most was Laurin’s dedication to his students. He didn’t just wait for us to come to him with questions—he actively guided us, gave personal feedback, and created an atmosphere where we felt supported in our creative process. His workshops are a perfect mix of learning, adventure, and connection. I can't wait to join him on another one!"