SRI LANKA PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Considered to be one of the finest train journeys in the world, this morning we board the train with the locals and spend 3 hours climbing through stunning tropical plantations, jungle waterfalls and rolling valleys up to Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka.

The next day, at our mountain retreat hotel – set in over 50 acres of organic farmlands, with long, lush views over forested hills and the Mahaweli river snaking through the valley below – we’ll build on our new skills, exploring techniques used by professional photographers to shoot still life, interiors and architecture.

Today, we visit one of Sri Lanka’s most important temples, at Dambulla, with over 2 kilometers of murals in a temple underneath a majestic 160m rock. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved monument in Sri Lanka. Outside, 157 statues, incredible sweeping vistas; chance to generate some incredible imagery for your collection.

Next morning ,we board the mountain train, and head south, journeying at a leisurely pace through the heartland of Sri Lanka’s hill country, and chance to shoot incredible landscapes of hill stations, carpeted tea plantations, mountain ranges, plus railway life as we stop off at rural stations to stock up on sweet tea and snacks.

This is a travelling classroom, our team roaming the carriages helping you craft fine art landscapes of these ever shifting vistas, giving individual tuition on tripod use, composition, styling and impact. You’ll even get chance to shoot some people; we’ve plenty of tips to make those images sing too.

After a long day’s photographing, we relax in the canopied jungles of Ella, everyone’s favourite hill country village. We’ll have a review of the finest of the day, and get chance for a walk through tea plantations to temples, waterfalls and viewpoints.

It’s only a short hop to Yala from here, so early we’ll board our 4×4 elevated Jeep, and entering the realms of the leopard, crocodile and sloth bear at Yala National Park, touring at speed to capture nature in the wild. Monkeys crashing through the trees in this vast region of dry woodland and open patches of grasslands; with elephants and crocodiles ambling about and cunning leopards sliding like shadows through the undergrowth. This the Jungle Book brought to glorious life – and enormous fun.

Later, we’ll review our best images of the day on our big screen by the pool at Tangalle, then kick back and relax beachside, enjoying a glass of something cold. Next day is a you day, chance to take a breath and enjoy some seclusion on Sri Lanka’s southernmost shores overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Beach-blessed Tangalle is the go-to place for laid-back, forget-about-everything lounging.

This morning, we’ll take a look at the masters of portrait photography, and understand how to craft people images with impact, before venturing inland to the world renowned 140-year-old Handunugoda Tea Estate, where you’ll learn about the plantation history and try out documentary & portrait photography – right in the plantations where they make the world’s most expensive and renowned Ceylon Virgin White Tea. Later, we’ll capture stunning architecture shots in the grounds of historic Galle Fort – a World Heritage site and Sri Lanka’s most perfectly preserved colonial town – where time-warped streets lined with historic Dutch villas sit hidden behind enormous ramparts. Late afternoon, we shoot fishermen at Unawatuna, a picturesque bay with ramshackle charm, then come evening dine out in one of the many candle-lit cafes strewn along the horseshoe-shaped beach.

We’ll slowly make our way north, and discover the delights of Colombo, before editing down all of your best images of the week, and get ready for our final night pop-up exhibition in the grounds of the hotel – first a cocktail reception, then a gourmet dinner to celebrate all our exploits.

Next morning, chance to get some final 1-on-1 feedback from your professional tutors on your progress emerging style and tips on where next to take your photography. Before lunch, we sadly say our farewells, exchange email addresses with new found friends (and creative collaborators) – chance to reflect on 10 days on world-famous trains, adventure-laden safaris, stilt fishermen, World Heritage sites and the fine taste of the world’s most expensive cuppa.