Spring Photographic Workshop in Andalucia.

In 2009 Semana Santa (Holy Week) falls in April. This legendary event is a unique highlight for photographers offering unlimited opportunities to capture the essence of this amazing festival. Also, southern Spain lush and green at this time of the year and the quality of light in springtime is unbeatable.

This five day course will offer both camera enthusiasts and professionals an escorted photo workshop in Andalucía, staying in comfortable hotels and travelling in an All Terrain Vehicles (ATV).

Day One Wednesday, March 31

Arrive in Estepona with time to meet and greet with a general introduction to travel photography presented by Michelle Chaplow. Then it’s time to dive into the local scene to capture  unforgettable images of Spanish fishing ports, quaint village scenes, unique travel photography angles, and an evening sunset across the Straits of Gibraltar to Africa.

We will stay overnight in Estepona, Málaga.

Day Two Thursday, April 1

Travel from Michelle's photographic studio in Estepona overland to the emblematic, charming city of Ronda, stopping at quaint, picturesque, white villages and capturing beautiful rural, spring Andalucian landscapes along the way. We will travel off the beaten track visiting Andalucian white villages, traversing what is considered to be one of the most beautiful roads in Europe.

This day is known as Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) and is the most important in the Semana Santa calendar the processions are truly spectacular with an ambience that will transport you to centuries past as you are immersed in the aromas of incense and orange blossoms and entranced by night time candlelit processions. At midnight two of the most important processions meet in the central square in front of the Ronda Parador Hotel, where we will enjoy the privilege of experiencing what appears to be a live movie set.

We will stay overnight in Ronda, Málaga.

Day Three Friday, April 2

Leisurely breakfast to enjoy the surroundings on this Viernes Santo (Good Friday) which is a national holiday. We will then meet at 12 noon for the day time Semana Santa processions. Here we apply daylight techniques. Gone are the sombre robes. Here you will be able to capture the deep purple and red robes while the whole town joins in the procession. We will also visit the Ronda Bull Ring, which is the oldest in Spain and offers deep reds and ochre within the symmetry of the plaza. This will be followed by one to one photography critiques with Michelle Chaplow.

We will stay overnight in Ronda, Málaga.

Day Four Saturday, April 3

There will be free time from 9 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. This is an ideal time to practice your photography skills. You may also wish to see sights such as the cathedral, the winding cobbled streets and witness this monumental town from all angles. Cross the old and new bridges and you will enjoy the sweeping views of the Tajo. There are also trails up and down the cliffs to explore and further your photo collection thanks to new views and angles as you head out into the beautiful countryside.

We will leave Ronda and head to the countryside to visit natural parks and tour more quaint white villages with an opportunity to document the charm of life in a southern Spanish village. This will include the picture postcard towns of Gaucín and Algatocin

We will stay overnight in Estepona, Málaga.

Day Five Sunday, April 4

Michelle Chaplow will provide a critique of each student's images on a one to one basis.

Two alternatives depending on the group choice

Enjoy a unique opportunity to photograph a Spanish female flamenco model in a state-of-the-art studio location, and spend the day practicing with an evening round up and summary.

Or a day out in the field covering landscape and reportage photography

Either way …
This last night will include a celebratory dinner of local Spanish cuisine and carefully selected Spanish wines.

Return home with your own gorgeous photography of some of the most enchanting features of sun-filled southern Spain and a wide variety of new and improved travel photography skills to continue to build upon.