Course Syllabus
Ways of Seeing: Storytelling Through Photography |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2026 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Communications, Photography, Visual Arts, Art History |
| Prerequisite(s) |
None |
| Faculty Members: |
Sofia Runarsdotter (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) |
| Time & Place: |
Fridays 10:05 – 13:00, D409 |
This syllabus is subject to change
Course Description
Studying abroad can be one of the most transformative moments in your life—a time when you not only discover a new culture but also uncover new parts of yourself. In this course, we’ll use photography as both a creative practice and a tool for personal discovery. Instead of simply collecting snapshots or tourist mementos, you’ll push beyond the familiar and make images that reflect your unique perspective in Stockholm, while still connecting back to your broader life experience.
This class will challenge you to step outside your comfort zone—whether that means photographing in unconventional ways, exploring new neighborhoods, meeting people, or venturing into unfamiliar creative spaces. We’ll visit analogue photography studios, underground and subcultural art venues, and even have intimate studio visits with world-renowned photographers. These experiences will give you rare, behind-the-scenes access to working artists and their processes.
Our approach blends hands-on studio critique with an exploration of photography’s history and theory. As a photographer and artist with two decades of experience, I’ll be generous in sharing not just my tips and techniques, but also the behind-the-scenes realities of my work—what it’s like preparing exhibitions, collaborating with major clients, and navigating the inevitable doubts and mistakes along the way. You’ll gain an honest, inside look at the creative process while also exploring the work of influential photographers across art, fashion, journalism, and commercial fields—rich sources of inspiration for your own practice.
While your artistic journey will be largely self-directed, you’ll take part in regular critiques/feedback to sharpen your ability to articulate ideas, analyze photographs, and give constructive feedback. You’ll learn to use photography’s essential tools—camera, time, and light—with intentionality, crafting images that are not only visually compelling but also conceptually rich.
By the end of the course, you won’t just have stronger technical skills and a portfolio of distinctive images—you’ll have a deeper understanding of yourself as an artist, student, human and the key to making photographs that truly matter.
Learning Objectives
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- You will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural impact of the medium of photography in a photographic context, and you will be able to locate your own work in relation to that tradition.
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- You will get a deeper understanding how to manipulate a camera with agility and create the pictures you want to make, in terms of technique, form and content.
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- You will engage in the language of photographic critique – both of your own work and that of your fellows – and be able to thoughtfully describe the meaning of a photograph.
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- You will generate a personal artist statement that is at once concise and legible.
You will develop a new sensitivity to looking at the world through the lens of a camera.
Faculty
Sofia Runarsdotter is a photographer and an artist. She has a 18 year long practice of working as a documentary photographer and videographer in Sweden and overseas with clients such as New York Times, Dagens Nyheter, Publishing Houses and as a videophotgrapher at the documentaries section for Public TV.
Her artistic practice within exhibitions extends to photography, video and text in bodily installations. She is pushing the linear conventional reading and the experiences of photography, She holds a master in Fine Art from Konstfack and has studied at the Royal Institute of Art and Photo Journalism at Nordens Fotoskola. 2023, she was awarded with Vera and Gösta Agnekil scholarship during a royal ceremoni at Konstakademien. Also, she was one of the nominated finalists of the international photo award: 2024 Women Photographers Grant for PH Museum.
Her works are represented and a part of Tore A Jonassons collection, connected to Riksidrottsmuseet and Konsthall 16. She is also the image editor of the northern and minority language literature magazine Provins with the main task to curate The artist of the issue (numret konstnär).
Readings
Petter Karlsson et al, Nordic Life
https://digital-photography-school.com
Approach to Teaching
Throughout the course, you’ll take on a series of assignments focused on photographing people and the diverse surroundings of Stockholm. In class, you’ll present your work for feedback and critique, while also learning how to thoughtfully critique your classmates’ images. Giving and receiving critique isn’t just about improving a single photo—it’s about putting your thoughts and feelings into words, discovering how others see your work, and gaining deeper insight into your own photographic voice.
Each semester, you’ll also research and deliver a 20-minute presentation on an assigned photographer, expanding your knowledge of the field and sharpening your ability to analyze imagery.
Our field studies will take us to museums, intimate art hubs, and alternative creative spaces, where we’ll explore photography, painting, and other art forms that heighten our awareness of the world around us. We’ll also have rare studio visits with acclaimed photographers, offering an inside look at their creative process.
For much of the semester, you’ll develop a personal project—your own photographic exploration—that will culminate in a small exhibition at DIS.
Expectations of the Students
Students are expected to bring their own camera, preferably a DSLR, that is capable of shooting in a fully manual mode. It is recommended to bring a digital camera other than a phone. Do your best. Technique is good to know but it is not the most important thing in this course. Your work will be valued from your ambition, how hard you have tried and how well you follow instructions. It is also of importance that you are interested in your classmates work, give them feedback and that you participate in the discussions in class.
Evaluation
Presentation - Your photographer presentations in front of the class.
Midterm - How you have started your long project, How you work with the guest teacher assignment
Assignments - How you work with the differents assingments that will vary from longer and shorter deadlines, creative to technical. With group assignment and assignment you work individually with.
Final portfolio- Your work with the final project
Artist statement- How you work together with other form of art.
Attendance at all class sessions is mandatory. Two unexcused absences will warrant a reduced letter grade. Three unexcused absences will result in failure.
In order to be eligible for a passing grade in the class, all work must be submitted.
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Assignments |
30% |
|
Midterm |
5% |
|
Artist statement |
20% |
|
Presentations |
10% |
|
Attendance |
15% |
|
Final portfolio |
20% |
Disability and resource statement
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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