9x9

9x9 is an online masterclass with a focus on developing and improving the most important aspects of a photographer’s practice. Every three weeks, a group of 9 participants will meet to:

• learn how to meaningfully talk about photographs
• engage in critiques of each other’s work (two critiques for each participant)
• discuss a number of important photography essays
• learn about how to proceed from single photographs to larger edits (and sequences)

No size fits all: participants will learn how to adapt masterclass lessons for their own specific needs. The class will focus heavily on solving problems that are frequently encountered by photographers at various stages of a project, whether right at the beginning, while building it up, or at the end.

The course will be fully interactive. While there will be some relatively short lecture components, the participants will spend most of their time speaking about photography and learning from each other.

Participants will be expected to work on a project of their choice for the duration of the masterclass in order to be able to incorporate lessons learned into their practice. For the sake of convenience and simplicity, work with digital cameras is encouraged. If a participant wants to work with film, they will have to make sure that the process will not interfere with the course structure.

You don't need to be a university graduate to attend this course, but you should be able to engage with somewhat advanced topics and discussions around creative practice.

Course participants will be selected based on their existing work and on their work goals (as stated in their application). The group will be selected to contain as diverse a set of viewpoints as possible.

To apply (for the 2025/2026 edition): Send a pdf with 10 to 20 representative photographs of your work (ideally all from a single project, assuming you work with projects; this can be work in progress) and a short description of your expectations towards this course's effect on your practice (please keep it succinct: half a page or less). Also send a short video (up to 30 seconds) in which you tell me why you want to participate (a video made with your phone is more than good enough).
Send everything in an email to jmcolberg@gmail.com

Details:
2 week schedule: one introductory session plus 9 meetings
2025/2026 dates: 16 Nov 2025, 23 Nov 2025, 7 Dec 2025, 21 Dec 2025, 4 Jan 2026, 18 Jan 2026, 1 Feb 2026, 15 Feb 2026, 1 Mar 2026, 15 Mar 2026
Meetups: Sundays, 12:00 EST (9:00 LA/SF, 17:00 London, 18:00 Berlin);
Each session will last approximately 3-4 hours (but it could go longer if there is a lot to discuss)
Prerequisite: existing photography practice; self-taught photographers are welcome to join, otherwise a photography BA
Cost: $900 (Paypal preferred)

Questions: please email me at jmcolberg@gmail.com

Testimonials:
Wojtek Kutyla (2024/2025): I learned a lot from Jörg and the other workshop participants. I made great contacts, and we're continuing to support each other which is a huge plus as I was hoping to become a part of a small community. Most of all, 9x9 made me realise that I can trust myself more, and that most rules we set are of our own making. Those were very intriguing and productive Sundays. I'd recommend Jörg's workshops to anyone who's not afraid to approach their own and others work, with an open mind. You will work hard, but you will discover many things about yourself and your creativity that you weren't aware of before.
Leslie Hickey (2024/2025): I signed up for Jörg’s 9x9 course because I had an unresolved project that I had set aside for a few years and I was craving the right structure and support to start working on it again. This project was emotionally heavy, and I was looking for both accountability and new perspectives on my images. In the course, our far-flung cohort of nine was made up of some of the most thoughtful and conscientious image makers I have met. Jörg was instrumental in fostering an atmosphere of respect that allowed us to be vulnerable while sharing our work. By looking carefully at my colleague’s work, and other photobooks and related texts, my understanding of my own project and work as a photographer deepened and expanded. Some meetings were difficult, as Jörg challenged our perspectives and assumptions. If the conversation began to venture beyond the images we were looking at, Jörg would pose a question: can that be seen in the photograph? The act of reading each photograph carefully and describing it out loud, in language, was fundamental to the course. In 9x9, I learned to read a photobook, much like I learned to read an essay decades ago. Carefully reading photobooks alone was worth it, but I also left the course with renewed focus and a cohort of colleagues that I can rely on for critique and help in the future.
Mikołaj Rogowski (2024/2025): I really enjoyed my 9x9 experience, especially the lively group of participants from around the world. Their fresh takes and collaborative spirit made this seminar special. I believe that having my work challenged and participation in feedback sharing helped me see my photography from a different angle and grow as an artist.