France
Due to the Covid situation this workshop is suspendedFrance Photo Tour Itinerary- Price £1695.00
Due to the Covid situation this workshop is suspended
This 8-day / 7-night Photographic Tour of the Mediterranean / Les Corbières region of France will take us to several enchanting destinations.
- The Canal du Midi and historic medieval village of Minerve
- The ancient walled fortress city of Carcassonne and an annual photography festival in Perpignan
- Market day in Roman town of Narbonne and sleepy coastal village Gruissan
- Salt lagoons and fishing villages of Bages and Peyriac-de-Mer
Your Photographer Wilf James
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Dates
- To be announced
Price: £1695.00
Deposit: £500.0
Who is this for?
The Trip will be of interest to both those new to Photography as well as the more experienced, either using DSLR or Film cameras. The emphasis though will be how to get the most creativity out of your camera, a rolling work-shop if you will, and not simply visiting photogenic locations. We keep the groups’ small, maximum of eight individuals.
Welcome To WPA’s Mediterranean / Les Corbières Photo Workshop
Your stay: Le Château Canet
The Château is situated among sun-filled vineyards close to Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. A traditional 19th century wine estate, Château Canet is today recognised as one of the leading domaines of the Minervois region in the heart of the Languedoc Roussillon. The 45 hectares of vineyards are complimented with 3 hectares of olive groves and over 65 hectares of farmland and pine forests. The setting is truly enchanting with all the buildings nestled in the heart of the estate. There are uninterrupted views over the vineyards and olive groves to the distant Alaric mountains. It is a perfect place to unwind and soak in the beauty of the South of France and a perfect base for our WPA France Photo Workshop Tour.
In this region of contrasts and sublime beauty, from noble medieval stone villages occupying bends of glistening rivers, to the windswept garrigue, acres of sandy beaches and soaring eagles against deep blue skies, a unique photo adventure awaits at every turn.
Besides its robust foods and red wines for which it is world renowned, this region, rich with the odours of summer flowers and singing of cigales, will seduce you, and have you returning again and again.
We will photograph in some of the most beautiful locations in Southern France. The value of our workshops remains on learning photography in settings where you have the opportunity to make extraordinary images as well as enjoy yourself.
Our Adventure Workshops are based on the viewpoint that participants learn more by doing than simply by being instructed, and with that in mind, the two will be skillfully combined.
Groups are small, between 4 and 8 persons, so attention is personal and detailed. Also, because groups are small, all instruction is tailored to the level of the individual student. The keyword here is “adventure” which means we are out there taking photographs, and at the end of each day’s shoot there will be a leisurely discussion of the photo techniques of the day and the chance for each participant to ask questions or clarify anything that may have taken place during the course of the day’s shoot.
The workshop that is held in Les Corbières in September 2015 and will include an excursion to view exhibitions of superb photography at photography festival “Visa Pour l’Image” held annually in Perpignan, and the largest gathering of top photographers and photojournalists in the world which, in itself, will be a learning experience.
Day 1 Château:
After your arrival at the Château and everyone is settled in, the evening begins with an apéritif followed by dinner and a chance to meet, enjoy great food, and start to get to know each other as we discuss our forthcoming week, different styles of photography open to us, along with our viewpoints on photographing in France.
Day 2 Canal du Midi – Minerve:
After breakfast we begin by exploring the wine estate and the wonderful photo opportunities that will present themselves. After lunch at the Château we travel to the medieval village of Minerve where in 1210 a group of Cathers sought refuge. After a six-week siege the village surrendered, however, one hundred and forty Cathers refused to give up their faith and met a grizzly fate! However, and for our purposes, today the village presents many exquisite photographic opportunities.
Day 3 Lagrasse – Abbey Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse:
This morning we drive into the heart of Les Corbières to the village of Lagrasse, which is situated on the River Orbieu. A charter decreed by Charlemagne in 778 led to the foundation of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse. Our aim here is to find appreciation in this ancient village and its Abbey. We will also visit other hidden gems in the wilds of Les Corbières.
Day 4 Carcassonne:
After an early breakfast we head off to the best preserved walled fortress city in the world, another UNESCO World Heritage site, La Cité at Carcassonne. An early morning visit will serve us to best capture the atmosphere and architecture of this wonder. From the ramparts you will be able to look over and see another World Heritage site, the Canal du Midi!
Day 5 Perpignan:
This morning we drive to Perpignan to visit “The Center of the World” (as declared by artist Salvador Dali) but more importantly, to check out the photo exhibitions of “Visa Pour l’Image.” This will be a day where we are free to go our own way and visit exhibitions of interest, meeting up later for a leisurely lunch and discussion. There will also be plenty of photo opportunities in this last large town not far from the Spanish border and Dali’s home.
Day 6 Narbonne – Gruissan:
Today we head off to the beach and the wonderful Mediterranean, stopping on the way for a visit to the ancient Roman town of Narbonne. It is market day, and this will provide plenty of opportunities to capture the ambiance and character of a busy market day in France. After lunch we will drive the short distance to the coast where we will visit the old village of Gruissan, once the home of fishermen and saltpan workers. The houses are set out in concentric circles around the ruins of the infamous Barbarossa Tower.
Day 7 Bages – Peyriac-de-Mer:
Our last full day takes us to the route that follows the large salt lagoons – Les Etangs de Bages et Sigean – stopping in the small fishing villages of Bages and picturesque Peyriac-de-Mer where, if we are in luck, we will have the additional treat of seeing the magnificent pink flamingos that visit this area of natural beauty. We finish the afternoon off with a visit to one of the many wine producers of this area, photos first, then perhaps a glass of excellent red before returning to the Château to have a relaxed evening of discussion of our week of photo delights over good food.
Day 8 Château:
Over a leisurely breakfast and last goodbyes, we head off to the airport.
- Transfers from Carcassonne Airport to Le Château Canet
- 7 nights accommodation, breakfast and evening dinner
- Maximum of eight (8) individuals
- Sole room occupancy – no single supplement
- Transportation between shoot locations
- One-to-one and group guidance
- Post production / digital darkroom techniques
- Backup notes
- All accommodation
Not included in the Price:
Flights from your home country to Cacassonne, France. (Carcassonne can be flown to direct from Stanstead with Ryanair, alternative routes can be taken via London Gatwick to Toulouse with Easyjet).
Please read the WPA Terms & Conditions – page opens in a new tab.
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