COURSES & HOLIDAYS
The holidays are friendly, relaxed and casual, and I'll be on hand at all times to guide and offer assistance where necessary. The groups are small, with a maximum of 4 people, thereby ensuring both comfort and personal attention. Whether you are an experienced photographer or a complete beginner, the fact that I only take small groups mean that I can adapt your trip to your particular level.
- First class locations.
- Comfortable, secure travel.
- Expert guidance and tuition on composition, exposure and lens choice.
- Structured learning process.
- State of the art digital workstations - one for each guest.
- Tuition in Photoshop CS3, Lightroom and RAW workflow.
- Comfortable hotel accommodation a stones throw from the beach.
- Time to enjoy the French lifestyle in a realtively 'undiscovered' part of coastal France.
LOGISTICS Although we will be travelling in a large, comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, to ensure that the maximum time is spent on site I endeavour to keep journeys as short as possible with several destinations being only a few minutes drive away and the furthest being under an hour (slightly more if we head up to the mountains). In the event of bad weather, we may have to travel a little further in order to make the most of the day. If we leave the road to go through the forest, we keep to specific tracks that in no way harm the environment or wildlife. There will be a certain amount of walking, both in sand and through the forests, to get us to some of the chosen locations, so an elementary level of fitness is required. Those with reduced mobility are welcomed on the course; however any special individual needs would need to be discussed to ensure that we can meet your requirements.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION Accommodation is in Vieux-Boucau-Les-Bains, a large village with all amenities (banks, cashpoints, restaurants, bars, doctors, chemists etc). Your hotel is spacious, friendly, comfortable, medium size (30 rooms) with good facilities including covered swimming pool next to the beach and close to the lake, and only 600 metres from the village centre. All rooms have en suite facilities, TV, telephone and mini bar.
For more information on your hotel, CLICK HERE
For more information on Vieux-Boucau-Les-Bains, CLICK HERE
Please note than in the advent of a late booking or lack of availability, alternative accommodation of a similar standard may have to be offered. You will of course be notified of this as soon as possible.
WHAT TO EXPECT On a typical photography holiday here you can expect the following (example using a 5 day break):
ARRIVAL DAY - Pick up from the airport. Back to the hotel to settle in, then a briefing by Jonathan to discuss the next five days shooting. Your evening will be yours to wander around the village or along the beach, maybe grabbing a bite at one of the bistros and restaurants around the lake or at the beach overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.
DAY ONE - BEACHES & DUNES. Early start after breakfast, to visit the first of the locations - beaches, sand dunes and small fishing boats on the lake. 2 hours shooting and then back to base camp (Jonathan's office, 500 metres from your hotel) for downloads & editing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS3 (tuition and guidance given). After a break for lunch and a few hours free time, you will be off to another location with Jonathan, this time into the forest. Your evening is your own - perhaps hire a little boat and check out the lake, hire bikes and take to the forest cycle paths, or just kick back with a bottle of local wine and some good food...
DAY THREE - LAKES & FOREST. Morning only. We'll be off on a short drive to shoot nearby lakes (jetties, boats, submerged posts) and forest paths. Back to the office for editing until lunchtime, then the afternoon and evening are your own.
DAY FOUR - PYRENEES ADVENTURE. Early start, off to the beautiful mountains of the Pyrenees. Hills, mountain streams, single trees in sloping fields, waterfalls - a fantastic day out - picnic lunch will be provided. We'll be back late afternoon, and the evening is free for you to relax.
DAY FIVE - RIVERS & STREAMS. A short trip to take in some of the rivers, streams and tree-lined canals, with little fishing boats, fishermen, bridges and cypress, willow and cedar trees. Back to the office for editing and printing your choice for your complimentary A3 print (5 day trip only) and final evaluations.
DEPARTURE DAY - Free time until it's time to head off to the airport or station for your return journey home.
The above schedule is an example, and may vary according to time of year and weather conditions. In the unlikely event of very bad weather, I will make every attempt to adapt the shooting schedule accordingly.
AIRPORT PICK-UP/ DROP OFF
Airport pick ups and drop offs from Biarritz airport or nearby stations are included in the price of the course provided you arrive and depart on the scheduled arrival and departure days, and before 7pm. If you decide to arrive early or prolong your stay I will make every effort to try and adapt my schedule, but this is not always possible so this may mean you finding your own way. You will be aware of this well in advance of your travel days and I will of course help to organise transport if you so wish.
BLACK & WHITE WORKSHOPS *BY POPULAR DEMAND*
A 3 day workshop concentrating on black and white landscape and detail photography. We cover composition, 'thinking in black and white', texture, exposure, editing in Photoshop CS3 and printing. These workshops start in February 2008 and I'm running one every 2 months or so.
VENICE WORKSHOP - 21st-23rd October 2008
Following the success of the March Venice trip, and by very popular demand, I've arranged another opportunity to photograph the iconic and beauthiful city of Venice in the north of Italy. We arrive in Venice on Monday 20th October, staying in the historic 700 year old Hotel Cavaletto right on St Mark's Square, overlooking the Baceo Orseolo where the gondolas are moored overnight. Then from Tuesday to Thursday we photograph this fascinating and breathtaking city, starting early to avoid the crowds and get the best of the light, returning to the hotel to eat a hearty breakfast whilst watching the gondoliers prepare their famous vessels for the day. We then set out on a discovery of the real Venice, down the side streets and canals, where a photo opportunity is waiting at every turn. We eat lunch together, perhaps in a sun filled square accompanied by the sound of accordions, then take some free time to wander around the markets, museums and galleries. We then meet later in the afternoon and shoot together some of the famous landmarks - the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge, or the home of Casanova. We will also visit some of the other islands - Burano with its breathtaking beauty and multi-coloured fishermen's houses, the Lido with its long sand beach and lovely old hotels.
A trip of a lifetime that you will never forget. Contact me to check on availability.
6 PEOPLE MAXIMUM - 2 PLACES LEFT
PRICE 1399 Euros including hotel, breakfast and all guidance & tuition.
2199 Euros for a couple sharing a room with both parties participating in the workshop.
For extra nights, non-participating partners etc please contact me.
Flights, other meals and boat fares are not included.
NEW PYRENEES/CATHAR/CARCASSONNE WORKSHOP November 9th-12th.
An exciting new 4 day/5 night photo workshop/tour along the Pyrenees mountains from Biarritz to Carcassonne. Starting from Biarritz (arriving Saturday 8th and spending the first night there)we'll be leaving early on sunday 9th and taking in the beautiful and rugged Basque Country - from there we will visit the largest waterfall in Europe, mountain top lakes, the breathtaking panorama of the mountains themselves, the incredible Cathar fortress at Monsegur (believed to be the hiding place of the Holy Grail), the stunning medieval walled city of Carcassonne and many many more memorable locations. We will be staying at a different location every night - all are comfortable hotels with en suite facilities - the last night being Carcassonne then leaving the morning of thursday 13th to get back to Biarritz for flights/trains home. Taking in some of the landscape mentioned in the best selling 'Holy Grail' books Labyrinth and the Da Vinci Code, this photography tour will be a classic. For more information please email me.
PRICE 1299 EUROS including hotel,breakfast and all guidance, tuition & transport except flights.
2 PLACES LEFT
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS I run occasional workshops for small groups in other destinations, including Venice, Iceland, Morocco, China and Ireland. For more details please email us.
GIFT VOUCHERS
Perhaps you'd like to offer a holiday, even a part of a holiday to a friend or loved one for a birthday, anniversary or Christmas present. Simply decide on the amount you wish to pay towards the holiday, contact us to arrange payment by credit card or cheque, and we'll send you a nicely designed Gift Card with envelope for you to present - the date of the holiday can be decided afterwards. Alternatively if it's a last minute gift then we can send you the artwork for the card by email, for you to print yourself.