Camargue White Horses Photo Workshop
Photo Workshop 2026The Camargue White Horses Photo Workshop
Three Days of Photography in the Camargue — Spring to Autumn 2026
Join us for three days in one of France’s most distinctive landscapes. The Camargue offers wide marshes, salt lagoons, shifting light, and wildlife found only in this region. Our focus will be photographing the White Horses of the Camargue during sunrise and sunset sessions in shallow water lagoons and in the surf of the Mediterranean sea, and the colourful birdlife that thrives in the wetlands, including the pink flamingos often seen in large groups.
Your guide, Wilf James, founder of WPA, has extensive experience working in the Camargue. He will help you develop a clear approach to photographing fast movement, expressive wildlife, and the atmosphere that defines this landscape.
The Camargue Horses Photo Workshop
Dates: for 2026
- 23rd – 26th April
- 14th – 17th May
- September – TBA
- October – TBA
Our autumn dates will be announced by the end of January 2026.
Who This Workshop Suits
Photographers at any level can take part. Whether you already work with wildlife or are new to it, you will receive guidance in the field and structured support during each session. The aim is to help you create images with clarity, intention, and a strong sense of place.
A minimum of four participants is required.
If you would like to join us in the future, sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on forthcoming photo workshops.
Workshop Highlights
- Sunrise and sunset sessions with the Camargue horses led by local gardians
- Bird photography featuring flamingos, herons, egrets, and other wetland species
- Instruction on composition, timing, exposure, movement, and visual storytelling
- Afternoon and early-evening sessions that use the Mediterranean light
- A schedule designed to balance shooting, rest, and preparation
Included in the Price
- Transport during all workshop activities
- Entry to the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park
- Guidance and support throughout the workshop
- Meeting-point information provided before arrival
Not included in the Price:
- Accommodation
- Flights or travel to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
- Meals and beverages
- Airport transfers (available as an optional extra)
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
The goal of this workshop is to capture the stunning beauty of the wild Camargue horses as they gallop through the salt lagoons in the early morning sunlight. However we will also be photographing the birdlife including the wonderfully flamboyant pink flamingos, the uniqueness of this rugged location and the extraordinary light of the south of France.
With an area of over 930 km2 (360 sq mi), the Camargue is western Europe’s largest river delta. It is a vast plain comprising large salt lagoons or étangs, cut off from the sea by sandbars and encircled by reed-covered marshes. These are in turn surrounded by a large cultivated area. Approximately a third of the Camargue is either lakes or marshland. The central area around the shoreline of the Étang de Vaccarès has been protected as a regional park since 1927, in recognition of its great importance as a haven for wild birds. In 2008, it was incorporated into the larger Parc naturel régional de Camargue. The Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds, its salt lagoons provide one of the few European habitats for the greater flamingo. The marshes are also a prime habitat for many species of insects, notably (and notoriously) some of the most ferocious mosquitos to be found anywhere in France – don’t forget that insect repellent.
Camargue horses (Camarguais) roam the extensive marshlands, along with Camargue cattle – Manade, free running bulls. The Camargue horse is an ancient breed of horse indigenous to the Camargue area in southern France. Its origins remain relatively unknown, although it is generally considered one of the oldest breed of horses in the world. For centuries these small horses have lived wild in the harsh environment of the Camargue marshes and wetlands of the Rhône delta, here they developed the stamina, hardiness and agility for which they are known today. Traditionally, they live in semi-feral conditions in the marshy land of the region. The Camargue horse is the traditional mount of the gardians, the Camargue “cowboys” who herd the black Camargue bulls. Camargue horses galloping through water is a popular and romantic image of the region, the image that we will try our best to recreate.
Itinerary – Guide Only Sequence May Change
Arrival Day
Arrive in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and settle into your chosen accommodation. We meet in town during the late afternoon before heading to the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park for a relaxed sunset session. The park holds a wide range of birdlife, giving you a chance to work with colour, form, and movement before the main sessions begin.
Day One – Horses at Sunrise and Coastal Light
Morning:
We begin before first light and travel to a location where the gardians guide the horses through the shallows. You can work on timing, focus, and reading movement in changing light.
Afternoon to early evening:
A visit to the coastline near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, followed by a golden-hour session along the dunes.
Day Two – Flamingos and Wetlands
Morning:
An early start to locate flamingos and other wetland birds. You will learn how to work with distance, rhythm, and variation within group behaviour to produce strong compositions.
Afternoon:
Another visit to Pont de Gau, where you can refine your bird-photography technique and take advantage of evening colour.
Day Three – Open Exploration and Final Horses Session
Morning:
A flexible session in one of the many locations that define the Camargue. This gives us scope to follow weather, light, and wildlife activity.
Evening:
A final session with the horses using the warm late-day light to create silhouettes, water movement, and expressive profiles.
Departure Day
We meet briefly in the morning for goodbyes and any final questions before your onward travel.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is not included. You are free to stay anywhere that suits your preference. To help with planning, we recommend two boutique hotels that provide comfort and easy access to our meeting points.
Mangio Fango – Boutique Comfort Near the Town Centre
A calm hotel with well-designed rooms and a peaceful atmosphere. Restaurants and cafés are nearby, giving you convenient choices after a full day of photography.
Mas de la Fouque – Boutique Retreat Close to the Wetlands
A stylish retreat set beside natural marshland. It suits guests who enjoy quiet surroundings and a sense of immersion in the Camargue landscape.
You will receive full meeting details once your place is confirmed.
Information:
All weather light layered clothing is required, also waterproof boots or overshoes as wading in shallow water is required. Normally the daytime temperatures are around 20°C but it can be a little fresh in the morning. Insect repellent against mosquitoes is essential. A reasonable level of fitness is required.
If you have any other questions please use the contact form.
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Camargue White Horses Photo Workshop
The deposit payable upon registration is £495.00. The total workshop price is £1,250.00, leaving a balance of £755.00. The balance is due 60 days before the workshop begins, and an invoice will be issued one week prior to the payment deadline.
We use online payment systems PayPal and Stripe to ensure your credit card details are secure and trusted. You can make your deposit payment using either PayPal or Stripe by selecting “Deposit” at checkout, adding it to your basket, and continuing to complete the purchase details.
If there are less than 60 days before the start of the workshop, the full amount will be payable at the time of booking.
