•        Genuine interest in photography, urban studies, architecture, geography or social sciences.

•        Access to a digital camera (compact, DSLR or mirrorless) capable of manual mode.

•        No prior formal training in photography is required — the course starts from basic technical notions.

•        Willingness to work outdoors, walk extensively around Lisbon, and work collaboratively in groups.

•        Working knowledge of English, as the course is taught in English.

•        Introduce photography as an instrument of observation, analysis and communication about the city and the territory.

•        Critically explore the relationships between built space, social practices, urban landscape and territorial transformation.

•        Promote contact between students from different disciplinary areas and geographical contexts, encouraging cross-readings about Lisbon.

•        Develop basic composition, editing and photographic narrative skills applied to fieldwork.

•        Stimulate an ethical reflection on the visual representation of places, communities and urban phenomena, fostering visual literacy.

•        Produce a collective reading of the city, materialized in final presentations, a digital booklet and a virtual exhibition.

•        By the end of the course, students should be able to: use photography as an instrument of critical observation of the city and the territory; relate image, built space, social practices and urban changes; develop a small visual investigation from fieldwork; build a coherent photographic sequence accompanied by short framing text; critically discuss images of themselves and other colleagues; and reflect on ethical issues related to the representation of people, places and urban inequalities.

•        Day 1 — Learning to observe: Introduction of the course and organization of the week, historically framing the relationship between photography, architecture and territory, launching the theme of the week and starting the first urban observation exercise, based on the concept of infraordinary; LAB 01 "The first look / Lisbon in 12 images, on the infra-ordinary" The exercise has its theoretical framework on the concept of Infra-Ordinary by Georges Perec. Deliverables: 12 images + 1 title each.

•        Day 2 — Techniques, composition and spatial reading: Introduce basic technical and compositional notions, deepening photography as a construction of spatial reading. The photographic project; TALK 01 Conversation with a guest (photographer); LAB 02 "Compositional practices" in groups, working at territorial, architectural and social/everyday scales. Deliverables: sequence of 9 photographs + provisional title of the set + reflective text (max. 200 words).

•        Day 3 — Photography as investigation: paths, evidence and narratives: Move from freer observation to more focused visual inquiry, preparing the final work and starting to outline a narrative; TALK 02 Conversation with a guest; LAB 03 "walking as method" — From the previous exercises and the theoretical sessions and conversations, the students, in small groups, carry out an urban journey guided by a pre-defined research question. Deliverables: 10 selected images, route map, field notes, research question and framing text (250–400 words).

•        Day 4 — Final project (editing, sequencing, narrative construction): presentation and discussion of LAB 03; TALK 03 Conversation with a guest; groups develop the final photo essay, with a pitch and work on the digital booklet and virtual exhibition. Deliverables: booklet and exhibition drafts, complete photo-shoot draft (title, research question, 250–400 word text, 8–12 final photographs, map, methodological note, author bios/credits).

•        Day 5 — Presentation, discussion and publication: final group presentations (10–12 min each, with reflective discussion); final review of materials; virtual exhibition and closing. Deliverables: final presentation, complete photo essay, digital booklet, virtual exhibition.

•        Participation in sessions and discussions — 20%

•        Practical exercises (LABs) — 20%

•        Fieldwork and methodological development — 25%

•        Final photo shoot — 25%

•        Final presentation and contribution to booklet/exhibition — 10%

•        Qualitative criteria also considered: critical observation skills; clarity of the question or intent; articulation between image, space and society; narrative coherence of the photographic series; quality of written reflection; participation in collective work; ethical awareness in the production of images.

Saturday 14/11/2026:

14:00 - 15:00 Welcome Session 

15:00 - 16:00 Campus Tour 

16:00 - 18:30 Lisbon Tour 

20:00 - 23:00 Welcoming Dinner 

23:00 - 01:00 Disco Party (in association with AEIST)

Sunday 15/11/2026

11:00 - 18:00 - Sintra Tour

Tuesday 17/11/2026

17:00 - 18:30 Savoring the World

18:30 - 19:30 Rooftop

*this programme may be subject to last minute changes