About the Course
What the curriculum will cover:
Frame & Focus: Advanced Photography Course.
Event
Tasweer x The VII Foundation x QPS: Frame & Focus: Advanced Photography Course.
This 12-week intensive Vocational Program covers various photography genres and techniques, combining hands-on workshops, theoretical lectures, practical assignments, and a focus on writing for visual storytelling. The program culminates in a final project and public exhibition.
Image taken at The VII Foundation Headquarters 2024
(c) Regina Turbina
Participants will engage in both online sessions and in-person workshops, culminating in a final project that requires them to produce a cohesive body of work accompanied by an essay.
Modules:
Photography Basics
Practice and technique development in:
- Outdoor Photography
- Portrait Photography
- Documentary Photography
- Object photography
Final project: create a body of work with an essay.
Course Fee: 2000 USD
Registration form here: Link
Entities & Course Background
Tasweer x VII Foundation x QPS
Tasweer is Qatar’s Leading photo festival; Tasweer aims to build and enhance the community of Photographers in Qatar and the WANA region. Tasweer has a festival year and an off year, during the festival year, Tasweer aims to showcase works of photographers from around the world and present Tasweer's Project and Single Image Award winners in different locations around Qatar. During the Off year, the festival aims to really focus on the community providing programs, workshops, masterclasses and courses that help push photographers to the next level.
The VII Foundation is dedicated to transforming visual journalism by empowering emerging voices and creating impactful stories that advocate for change. In a time when beliefs and actions often diverge from reality, the need for transformative visual journalism has never been more urgent. For more information on the VII Foundation, please visit theviifoundation.org.
QPS is Qatar’s upcoming vocational school for the creative industry, while still under development, QPS is working with Tasweer to enhance the delivery of the course and the partnership with VII foundation.
Coming together, Tasweer x The VII Foundation x QPS have create this advanced three-month Course designed for aspiring photographers, combining both online and in-person learning.
Program Schedule
16 February 2025 - 22 May 2025
16-20 February 2025: 1st week, in-person seminars (including Saturday)
23-27 February 2025: 2nd week, online seminars.
2-6 March 2025: 3rd week, online seminars.
9-13 March 2025: 4th week, online seminars.
16-20 March 2025: 5th week, online seminars
23 March - 3 April 2025: (Last week of Ramadan and Eid Holidays)
No seminars - student work independently on their projects.
6-10 April 2025: 6th week, online seminars.
13-17 April 2025: 7th week, online seminars.
20-24 April 2025: 8th week, online seminars.
27 April - 1 May 2025: 9th week online seminars.
4-8 May 2025: 10th week, online seminars.
11-15 May 2025: 11th week, online seminars.
18-22 May 2025: Final week, in-person seminars (including Saturday).
Core Course Team
M'hammed Kilito (VII Contributing Photographer) is a documentary photographer based in Casablanca, Morocco. His work explores the deep connections individuals and communities form with their environments — whether through residence, memories, or transit. With a focus on cultural identity, labor sociology, and the effects of climate change, Kilito provides profound insights into these vital themes.
Among his many accolades, Kilito was awarded the Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Project Award in 2023 in Doha, Qatar — a notable recognition of his impactful contribution to the region's visual storytelling. He is also a National Geographic Explorer, a Magnum Foundation grantee, and a World Press Photo winner. His
achievements include the Louis Roederer Prize for Sustainability and the Contemporary African Photography Prize. His work has been exhibited globally and featured in prominent publications. He is also the co-founder of KOZ, a collective of Moroccan visual artists dedicated to long-term storytelling.
As the course leader for this program, Kilito guides students through both the technical and practical aspects of photography—from advanced camera techniques to post-production processes. He conducts one-on-one reviews, co-teaches workshops with guest lecturers, and leads the development of students' final projects, providing consistent support and personalized feedback throughout.
Rola Khayyat is a Lebanese interdisciplinary artist, educator, and curator, currently an assistant professor of painting and printmaking at VCUarts Qatar. She holds an MFA in photography from Columbia University, a bachelor's degree in history from the American University of Beirut, and a certificate in intensive drawing and painting from the Florence Academy of Art. Her curatorial work has been featured in exhibitions around the world, including “BEYroute” for the 3rd Thessaloniki Biennale, “Lattice Work” at the Black and White Gallery, and “Light in Wartime” at Apexart.
At VCUarts Qatar, Khayyat has been working on a project centered on the themes of home and belonging in post-conflict landscapes. This exploration looks at how art can foster dialogue and redefine belonging in places shaped by turmoil, revealing both the everyday and the extraordinary aspects of life in such environments. From 2022 to 2023, she was a curator in residence at Fire Station, where she led interactive sessions, curated exhibitions, and connected with the local art scene in Qatar.
As a core member of our teaching team, Khayyat brings her academic experience, expertise as an educator, and deep understanding of cultural narratives to the classroom. Permanently based in Qatar, she will ensure a continuous physical presence during this pilot project, helping to navigate the local landscape and its unique dynamics. Her lectures and workshops focus on the evolution of photographic styles and their cultural significance, giving students a well-rounded perspective on visual storytelling.
Ziyah Gafic (VII Contributing Photographer) was born in Sarajevo and grew up during the siege of the city. After briefly becoming a refugee in Italy, he returned home through a tunnel under Sarajevo airport to reunite with his father, a fighter in the city’s resistance. His project, “Quest for Identity,” catalogs objects found in mass graves, documenting crimes and offering validation for the lives lost during the Bosnian war.
Ziyah is an award-winning photojournalist, author, TED speaker, and contributor to National Geographic. His photography focuses on societies trapped in cycles of violence and Muslim communities worldwide. His recent project on the Dome of the Rock, one of Jerusalem’s most significant and contested religious sites, was featured as a National Geographic cover story, capturing the site's historical, cultural, and political importance. This work was also part of the Monumental exhibition, alongside Tomas van Houtryve's images of Notre Dame, exploring themes of faith, identity, and power politics.
As the Director of VII Photo and VII Academy Sarajevo, Gafic oversees projects for the VII Foundation, including major exhibitions and educational initiatives. As Program Director, he will play a pivotal role in managing a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum in visual storytelling, offering emerging photographers both practical skills and a deeper understanding of the impact of photojournalism.
Program in-person locations:
Please kindly note: Some locations may be liable to change.
Liwan Design Studios & Labs: QPS’ computer lab
Fire Station: Education Studio/Annex Space and Studio 101
Course Terms and Conditions
Before applying for the Photography Course, we kindly ask you to carefully review the course's terms and conditions:
Download Course Overview (Only available in English)
To help you prepare for your journey with us, we’ve made the full course overview/ vocational program syllabus available for download.
In Partnership With:
QPS - Qatar Museums
