Lecturers
Sahra Ribaut
Artist · Photographer
Sahra lives and works in Zurich. Following her training as a photographer at the CEPV in Vevey, she further developed her skills by completing a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at Zurich University of the Arts. This dual training is reflected in her multidisciplinary approach: her work combines photography, illustration, self-published fanzines and ceramics. Since 2023, she has also been working at ars-imago in Zurich, which keeps her closely connected to analogue photography and the local art scene.
Omar Gerhardt
technischer Berater, Kursleiter und Berufsschullehrer
Omar Gerhardt ist technischer Berater, Kursleiter und Berufsschullehrer mit langjähriger Erfahrung in den Bereichen Fotografie und Imaging. Nach seiner Ausbildung im Fotofachhandel absolvierte er die Weiterbildungen zum Berufsschullehrer im Nebenberuf und zum eidg. dipl. Verkaufsleiter. Während seiner gesamten beruflichen Laufbahn war er in Fach-, Beratungs- und Führungsfunktionen tätig und blieb dabei stets den Themen Fotografie, Imaging und Wissensvermittlung verbunden.
Heute gibt er seine Erfahrung als Kursleiter und Berufsschullehrer weiter.
Seine Kurse verbinden technisches Know how mit der Freude am Entdecken.
Im Zentrum stehen die Freude am kreativen Gestalten und die Umsetzung eigener Bildideen mit moderner Technik.
Kilian Bannwart
Photographer
Kilian Bannwart studied at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts from 2012 to 2015. After completing his Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication, specialising in Camera Arts, he worked as an intern at the Fotomuseum Winterthur and at Kellenberger Kaminski Photographie in Uster. He has been working at ars-imago since 2017. Kilian is fascinated by Polaroid, analogue photography and alternative printing techniques, and brings a wealth of experience in commercial photography and digital image editing (Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop).
Samuel Trachsel
analog specialist
Samuel has been working in consulting and sales at ars-imago since 2017. Having studied business administration, he made a career change to analog photography. He has a very broad and in-depth knowledge of various analogue processes and techniques. When he isn’t experimenting in the darkroom, he builds his own cameras and prints on paper up to 30 x 40 cm in size.
Peter Michels
Photographic historian · Author · Lecturer
Peter Michels is one of the most distinguished experts on historical photographic techniques in the German-speaking world. His focus lies on the history of photographic processes and the social history of photography — from the early recording techniques of the 19th century to the medium’s impact on society. As curator, he was in charge of ‘photo’ in Zurich from 2006 to 2014 — with over 25,000 visitors annually, it is Switzerland’s largest photography exhibition. His works are held in the collection of the New York Public Library, among others. As a member of the German Society for Photography, Spectrum – Photography in Switzerland and the European Society for the History of Photography (ESHPh), he teaches photographic processes with practical depth: he has mastered 12 of the 15 photographic recording processes — from the daguerreotype to digital photography — from raw materials to the finished artwork.
Gian Vaitl
Photographer · SVEB Level II Adult Educator
1990-1998
Co-founder of the REGARDS photography agency in Zurich
1990-today Freelance photographer with a studio in Zurich for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), the Swiss Dairy Producers’ Association, all the major publishing houses in Switzerland, and many other clients.
1992-1993 Establishment of and involvement as a photography course instructor at ZEF Reiden, the training centre for photography run by the Swiss Photographic Retailers’ Association
1991-1995 Board member of the Swiss Children’s News Agency (kinag), project manager for a wide range of projects (photography, film, writing), mostly at the Pestalozzi Children’s Village in Trogen, voluntary work
1997-today Lecturer at GAF, Group for Self-Taught Photography, various classes, gafportfolio.ch
2003-today Lecturer in Photography at the MAZ Media Training Centre in Lucerne
2004-today Expert in the final apprenticeship examinations for photography apprentices in Zurich
2002-2009 Organiser of the vfg Young Talent Award and member of the vfg Executive Committee (Association of Photographic Designers), currently involved in various working groups and project work, voluntary work, vfgonline.ch
2007-2010 Establishment and technical support for the Projekt 5.6 photography school in Tirana, Albania, on behalf of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), projekt56.com
2012
Co-chair of the vfg Association of Photographic Designers, as well as involvement in the vfg Young Talent Award
Alessandro Franchini
Vision und Leidenschaft
Gründer, Inhaber und Geschäftsführer der ars-imago GmbH
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