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Thread: Photography holidays in Europe???

  1. #1
    davidedric's Avatar
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    Photography holidays in Europe???

    Hi everyone,

    In May next year, my wife is going on holiday for a couple of weeks with her sisters. They are off to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and other fabulous destinations. She's feeling a bit bad at abandoning me (she needn't!), so she has suggested I look for something for me.

    So, a possibility could be one of those photography escorted holidays, with tuition. In theory, I am allowed to go anywhere, but I think a week somewhere warm in Europe would be good.

    Does anyone have a recommended company or other source? (I've looked at Light and Land, but they don't have anything at the right dates.)

    Any ideas gratefully received. Budget unlimited , well, almost.

    Thanks,

    Dave

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    Clactonian's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    I can't recommend any tour companies as I mostly go independently but rural France say the Burgundy area, Italy around Florence, the Austrian Lakes or Lake Constance in Germany offer great photography, good food and a warm welcome. You'll notice I didn't mention the wine ... too much camera shake!!

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    Shadowman's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    I used the company linked below for three European tours. I'm sure there is a European website.

    https://www.trafalgar.com/usa

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Insight https://www.insightvacations.com/asia does the occasional tour with an escorting photographer.

    The link is to their Asia board, they have a USA one. They are a sister company to Trafalgar mentioned by John.

    Wherever you go in Europe there are loads of photo opportunities, the problem with a normal escorted tour (and we have done over 20) is that you can't wait for the right time of day or for the clouds to clear.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    I am reminded of the suggestion to visit the local tourist spot shop and buy postcards ...I suspect that an escorted tour will show you no more with the problems connected with 'time of day'. Makes me think I have the right idea of using a bridge camera for lightness and flexibility unless one is prepared to spend 'time'.

    The difference between a holiday and a photo exercise.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    May I suggest a photo workshop tour instead...there are a lot of them. One fine example is the Bryan Peterson workshop. They have definite places to go and things to photograph. Perhaps you can negotiate the price with them since you are already in Europe as this is a US start price or find something similar. They usually have a limited number (about 6 or 8 and no more than 10 people in each tour/workshop) and also be with someone who has the same interests as you, yet learn something too in the process. Just a thought.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Can't recommend a tour or workshop but the thought of meandering through Tuscany, famous for all that wonderful rolling countryside, small hill-side towns and the light that it is famous for has Long been on my to do list. Having said that I am posting this from Salzburg airport on my way home from a Christmas market binge. Stunning place full of photo opportunity and we are already planning to return.
    Last edited by John 2; 23rd November 2015 at 07:55 PM.

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    Clactonian's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by John 2 View Post
    ... Having said that I am posting this from Salzburg airport on my way home from a Christmas market binge. Stunning place full of photo opportunity and we are already planning to return.
    Now you are talking. St Wolfgang on Lake Wolfgang about 40 minutes out of Salzburg is one of my favourite all year round destinations. High time I returned.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Dave,

    I recommend that you do an in-depth research regarding what the "photo tours" offer.

    I attended a "Travel Photography" seminar given by a well known travel photographer (his name eludes me right now as a result of me being 75-years old and having a senior moment). The neat thing for me about this travel seminar (which was really a hype to advertise his tours) was that there were several folks there who had attended previous travel tours given by this guy...

    I found out that his "Travel Photography Tours" were not really such. He would contract with a tour agency and add his photography tour participants to their standard tour. Then he would accompany the tour and give photo help to his participants.

    One of the participants of a previous tour loved it. Her comments were, "It was just great, he told us all about exposure, depth of field, focus and focal lengths".

    Well, I would not need a "Photography 101" lesson on a photo tour. Neither would I want to tag along with folks on a regular tour and spend extra money on a photo tutor.

    I would like a photo tour that would collect several photographers and transport us to interesting places to shoot and perhaps even getting us entry into places that the individual photographer would not have access.

    An example of this would be a tour in Beijing, China that brought photographers into the dressing rooms of the performers in a Chinese Opera while they were having their intricate makeup applied or a tour in Paris that brought the photographer into the kitchens of a famous restaurant...

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    New Member keewa's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    If you're interested in doing a self-directed tour in a hire-car, Salzburg -> Hallstat -> Melk -> Grüner See -> Vienna would make a great tour of the most photogenic places in Austria, already a very beautiful country to photograph in the summer.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by keewa View Post
    If you're interested in doing a self-directed tour in a hire-car, Salzburg -> Hallstat -> Melk -> Grüner See -> Vienna would make a great tour of the most photogenic places in Austria, already a very beautiful country to photograph in the summer.
    On the button Oliver.
    But then why not go the whole hog ... Channel Tunnel, through Belgium for an overnight stay in Remich Luxembourg, on into Germany with an overnight at Ulm, on to Austria and Lake Wolfgang as a base for a few days touring in Austria, depart via Salzburg, through the Tyrol to Bregenz and Lake Constance, overnight at Uberlingen, on to Alsace and overnight at Equisheim, overnight around Reims and back to the Pas de Calais for an overnight, bit of shopping and a midday shuttle to the UK. A comfortable two week trip and I can recommend hotels en-route.

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    davidedric's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Thanks everyone, for the suggestions and the warnings!

    I think Izzie's suggestion of a photo workshop tour is what I am looking for. I don't really fancy taking off all on my own, call me a wimp if you like, but if I did it would probably be to Spain where at least I can speak the language (never been to Barcelona, that would be a thought )

    I'll do some googling and reading.

    Thanks again,

    Dave

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    Moderator Manfred M's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by davidedric View Post
    (never been to Barcelona, that would be a thought )
    Gaudi's architecture would be a fine place to start! The gothic quarter is also quite photogenic. You could certainly do worse than Barcelona as a photo destination.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    David,

    Don't let your language ability stop you from touring Europe on your own. I lived in the Netherlands for three years. During that time, we toured Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, France and Greece and of course the Netherlands . We just packed the Westfalia camper and headed off. English is all you need to know. The only time we had to resort to sign language was in a small restaurant in Patras, Greece. The staff didn't speak English, French nor German and the menu was of course in Greek. Our waiter took us to the kitchen and we pointed at the food that we wanted. Best meal ever and it came with a complimentary bottle of house wine.

    Go for it.

    Andre

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    Clactonian's Avatar
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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by GrumpyDiver View Post
    You could certainly do worse than Barcelona as a photo destination.
    But beware the pick-pockets and bag thieves. Several friends have had bad experiences.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Not sure, but I would think it would be difficult to find a photography tour in May in Europe. I signed up for a photography course over a long week in April in the Netherlands, and this was in September. Within a week it was full with a waiting list. Perhaps there are others out there and I just do not know of them, but my experience is they fill up quick.

    I always thought it would be interesting to just spend a week in a small town, photographing the town, people and events.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by TheBigE View Post
    Not sure, but I would think it would be difficult to find a photography tour in May in Europe. I signed up for a photography course over a long week in April in the Netherlands, and this was in September. Within a week it was full with a waiting list. Perhaps there are others out there and I just do not know of them, but my experience is they fill up quick.

    I always thought it would be interesting to just spend a week in a small town, photographing the town, people and events.
    Just curious, where do you go to?

    George

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Dave, Google "photography tours Europe", there are a heck of a lot to choose from! I haven't been on one, so am unable to recommend a particular one.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by george013 View Post
    Just curious, where do you go to?

    George
    We start in Hoorn NL and spend our time in West Friesland and Flevoland. It is a 5 day workshop/photo tour of the area.

    My first time doing something like this, optimistically nervous...if that makes sense.

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    Re: Photography holidays in Europe???

    Quote Originally Posted by TheBigE View Post
    We start in Hoorn NL and spend our time in West Friesland and Flevoland. It is a 5 day workshop/photo tour of the area.

    My first time doing something like this, optimistically nervous...if that makes sense.
    When you go there, do you've an item, a subject you pay special attention to?
    Hoorn is an old city. Belonged to the Hanse cities. Also known in Germany.

    George

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