This year Yuri Arcurs Photography is putting together an elite international academy program in the hope of producing the most competent and gifted photography class of 2015. This private funded program runs for three years, during which participants will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience travel to exotic locations, a first-class photography education from some of the industry’s leading experts, and working experience through interactions with real projects, clients and top models.
We are looking to recruit 10 – 15 candidates, who will have to prove they are motivated, ambitious and bright. You will be given the opportunity to prove you have what it takes at our two-week long photography boot camp in January 2012. Very little photography knowledge is needed, we will equip you with what you need to know.
During the 3 year education you will have exams in the following subjects:
• The technical skills required to use all Nikon, Canon and Hasselblad cameras.
• Video recording and editing with SLR camera’s, RED epic and others.
• Basic and advanced photoshopping.
• Advanced RAW processing.
• Advanced digital image theory.
• Shoot planning and execution planning.
• Creative research, Image Critique.
• Branding, Client managing, Invoicing, Legal aspects.
How to qualify:
In order to qualify for the program, you must pass a 2 week boot camp in Cape Town, South Africa. The boot camp offers all it’s participants an opportunity to receive first-class photography training, even those who do not get accepted into the program.
To be considered for the photography boot camp you must:
• Manage your own accommodations and travel into Cape Town for the boot camp duration.
• Bring your own digital SLR camera that can produce at least 16 mega pixel images.
• Bring at least one 50mm or 85mm lens that can shoot no less than 2.0 in aperture.
• Bring at least 16 Gb of memory for your camera (CF preferred).
• Be able to stay 2 weeks in Cape Town for training and assignments from January 3rd 2012.
• Be able to dedicate 3 years of your life for this education starting from January 23rd 2012 and have no problem spending up to half of the year in all parts of the world with the primary base in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Have no criminal record or any other criteria that would not allow you to travel to Europe or other places.
• Agree to potentially being part of a TV production about the boot camp for reality TV.
How to apply:
Contact us no later than DECEMBER 1st on jobs@arcurs.com and make sure to mark the mail “Photography student” and include ALL of the following to be considered for the education:
• Motivation letter – tell us why you are interested in this education.
• Your CV.
• Any reference letter from previous employers.
• Something about yourself.
• A photograph of yourself.
• A statement showing a clean criminal record.
The final class candidates will be announced on JANUARY 17th 2012. The best candidates will be offered a job at Yuri Arcurs Photography after graduation.
Wow, what an amazing opportunity.
Do I understand correctly that the people that get accepted get this three year program ‘for free’?
Wish I could join this.
This would be a great adventure for sure.
Nice idea. But, erm, what’s with the 16mp requirement?
That’s a crock if you’re on the Nikon platform.
The D3s – widely considered to be one of the best performing digital cameras money can buy and used by many of the world’s top pros does not qualify for this.
Having more mega-pixels does not make you more serious about your craft. Thought we’d all worked that out by now.
why the 16MP? maybe because it means a extra size at IS and FT and for sure a lot more 🙂
They are offering 15 lucky people a fascinating education and you guys are complaining that 16MP is too much??? You can get an 18 MP camera for 500 Dollars…photography is NOT about the camera…that is just a tool, like your pen.
Good luck to the successful applicants.
Actually, it is the organizers who are worried about the megapixels. So, i think you may have given them a smack in the face with your comment. Good for you 🙂
Offered a job after graduation? After graduation of the boot camp or after graduation of the three years? Is the “job” paid?
Is there a specific place we have to stay while we’re in Cape Town?
I’d be totally cool with traveling for half the year, but how would the six months be divided? Would it allow for us to have a part-time job for the time we’re not traveling?
How intense would the filming be for the reality TV show? 24/7 or just a few hours a day?
How many people do you expect to sign up for the boot camp? !0 or 100? Is there a cap on how many you will let into the boot camp?
Is there a tentative list of the other photographer teachers who might participate?
I think this sounds pretty darn cool, but I wish there was more information.
Sounds like a great opportunity. The only thing I am missing is the f 2.0 but that can be fixed with a samyang.
However 2 weeks on our money in Cape Town… From my country to there only the ticket is 1500 euro + accommodation there, food and what not. And for me to sum up 3-4000 euro is like working 24/7 for 2 years. This is like a school for those with an elite financial status… Why not do it somewhere where it is more accessible to people…And indeed, what about those 15.. still paying for everything? You are great Yuri, but sounds like a really tough financial effort.
In case we’re one of the lucky candidates that are selected after boot camp, do we have to pay for all the travel expenses that we make during the 3 years of education?
Travel expenses will be paid fully, All three years. The idea is that the candidates we choose will be able to pay for the education through relatively fast work with real clients and on real shoots. I my eyes the best practice is in doing.
If you finalize with a good exam you will be offered a job. 🙂
1. You can stay anywhere in Cape Town. You must just be able to show up at our headquarters every day for classes.
2. At least half a year. And those six months you might be three in Denmark, two in Australia, 1 in Japan. Etc. But you will be all over the place.
3. Pretty intense if we get the contracts. This is not settled.
4. We expect about 500 applications and will select 100. Out of those we expect 10-20 to pass for the class. This is elite. Only the best of the best, but don’t let this stop you. The adventure of the bootcamp will be a thing of itself.
5. Yes. But we have to keep that secret. Our education is aimed a real life. Surviving as a photographer in today’s world.
Yes. The education is free (with a very low pay on top). That’s why we only select the best.
Q. It’s a 3 years course with no dates defined? Being one semester of classes per year all in random events?
A. This is full time. About 4 weeks of vacation each year. Classes and exams are not ordered in semesters. Some take four weeks, some take a year..some require you to be in another country and do a project.
What is the age limit to this? I assume you want young people for a reality show? Thanks! Sounds a great opportunity!
If you let me slide with the 16mp limitation, I am confident that I can more than keep up w/ the others.
Let me come to the boot camp with my Olympus E-PL2 and I’ll be ready to drop everything!
We are dropping the MegaPixel requirement down to 10mp from 16m, but it must be a digital SLR
Hi Yuri. I’ve been following this on the Facebook comments, but there’s some good questions here too.
I have some to add.
1: Where in Cape Town are you guys based? Public transport is limited, and where we get accommodation will affect getting to your offices on time each day.
2: When will applicants expect to know if they are selected? Ticket prices can be high from Europe, especially close to the time of flying. If the closing date for applications is Dec1st and the course starts Jan 3rd, there isn’t much time to book flights.
3: The criminal record statement. Is this just a letter saying “Hey, I’m a nice guy” or is it something more official, such as the CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks used by schools in the UK?
PS: Thanks for dropping the MP limit to include more photographers without the extra 4 or 6 megapixels on quite decent cameras.
This is absolutely perfect for me or I might be perfect for the boost of this project.Thank you Yuri for organizing it. I hope to see you in January.
It looks like a miracle for me!
I have been searching for months where to find the proper education in EU, but it seems like nothing really good is avalible for an able ready and willing guy without huge sum of money in the pocket.
I’ll definetly do my best to get into your Academy! Thank’s for the opportunity!
Hank
What is the age requirement on this? Couldnt find it in the text. Thanks.
I am so excited, my head is going to explode…
Isn’t asking questions here considered an attempt at contacting Yuri directly? :))
It’s really great opportunity, but i can’t afford the trip, unfortunately.
If the deadline for sending the application is December, the 1st, when the selected profiles for the January bootcamp will be announced? I mean, we have to book airplane tickets all the way to Cape Town and it would be more cost-effective to do this at least 2 months before the expected date of flight…
It would be great to gether a group of students and rent an apartment in Capetown together. As my research has shown it is not really cheap place to rent a room for a single person.
Well, if somebody’s excited just as me – drop me a line, we’ll build an international team!
“1: Where in Cape Town are you guys based?”
In City Bowl – Roeland Street.
“2: When will applicants expect to know if they are selected?”
They will know if they are selected for the boot camp by mid-December. I know it’s a short notice, but everybody should get the chance to apply. 🙂
“3: The criminal record statement. Is this just a letter saying “Hey, I’m a nice guy” or is it something more official, such as the CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checks used by schools in the UK?”
Background checks will be done on everyone who is chosen after the end of the boot camp. We prefer letters of affidavit from police stations, but will accept a letter stating the applicants name, ID number and saying I declare I have no criminal record – we know that it takes a while sometimes to get these letters.
“4: What is the age requirement on this?”
There is no age requirement, but you must be old enough to travel the world and not get in any kinds of legal trouble because of it.
Cape diem
I understand that Yuri must be very busy to answer all of the questions, but I would really like to talk to somebody of the staff members about the details.
Could you give us e-maill adress of the person who we could bug with all of our questions about the boot camp? Thanks!
Hope I won’t get disqualified for this question (:
I work for Yuri in Cape Town. You can email me any questions at arcurs.productions@gmail.com
Hi Yuri, thanks for offering such a great opportunity. I have one more question to add: If accepted into the program after boot camp, aproximately how much total time per year will I spent away from my home country? I understadn that there will be about 6 months of travelling to various places around the world every year. But how much additional time will be spent in Capetown? How often will I be able to return home during the 3 years? Probably there are other people besides me with family ties who would like to know about this…
@Hank & Patrick: You can direct all your more specific questions to arcurs.productions@gmail.com as Jessica mentions. Or simply to jobs@arcurs.com as specified in the flyer. 🙂
Hi guys – as a Cape Town pro photographer, all I’ll be saying is – Welcome!!! I’m not interested in going on the course, but you’re welcome to give me a buzz when you’re here just for a drink (I’m referring to the students, and Yuri, if you’re thirsty, you’re welcome too!)
Enjoy our beautiful city, it is a shooter’s paradise.
This is totally unbelievable and a great opportunity, will definately hope to see you guys in jan
that is great opportunity, i can quit my job and pursue my photography dream…. i wish i can join you…
Hello Yuri.
boot camp for reality TV!
How reality the above get?
Does the boot camp have limited entries?
Thank you
Gunther
The prospect of this incredible opportunity, has made going to work everyday so much harder to do… Got to pass the time somehow. Perseverance is key!
Hey! I think this is an exellant chance for me to proof to Yuri that I have what it takes to become one of the worlds top photographers & work for his company at the same time!!!!! I am defenately take the rare chance of a lifetime!!!! I’m from South Africa & I would love your comment on my facebook profile that hosts a lot of my photos!!!!
Look forward to the reality TV show if it comes off.
We have had a lot of requests to let people know early if they have made it to the bootcamp. We understand that you want to book flights etc but applications only close 1 December and we need time to go through everyone’s application. We therefor cannot let you know before mid December whether you have been accepted or not
Yuri, I think the course is awesome! I really want to apply. I really hope to get in and if I do get in, I hope that there won’t be too many expenses as I am going through a bit of a financial rough patch. The 16mp camera, is that really a neccesary requirement because I have a 12.2mp Canon 450D, would you rather prefer a 16mp. I saw on another website (http://www.filmcontact.com/film-jobs/south-africa/photography-course-offered) it said 10megapixel camera not 16. So just wondering.
Dear Ettione
The camera requirements have been reduced to 10mp 🙂
Regards
Jessica
I’m selling my studio today to afford the trip! Wish me luck, guys!
Wow this is the most amazing opportunity! I cant believe it! This is something I have hoped for, for so long and staying in Cape town makes it ideal!
Thank you for this once in a life time opportunity Yuri! I plan to use this to show the amount of passion I have for photography!
I have sent an email to Jessica hope to get a reply!
Looking for courses on improving my photography skills, I got across this site and since then I’m planning my trip. That’s just incredible 🙂
And I have a question about lenses.
It says “Bring at least one 50mm or 85mm lens that can shoot no less than 2.0 in aperture.”
So what if I have 50 mm f1.8 or 1.4? It confused me a little…
Hope this course will be a real success!
Mustafa, I understand at wider than 2.0 so 1.8 or 1.4 are even better. I am thinking that opportunity also, but I am the old fellow, soon 50. Yes, I know, Yuri said “no age limit at all”.. but come on, almost 50 🙂
Thnx Jarba,
Anyway 50 is a good age to start something new. Who knows, maybe this is what you need! 😉
At what stage do you need to submit photos from your portfolio? I see you want the following submitted in the post above, but no sample images required??