ISTANBUL PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAY | 6 - 10 SEPTEMBER 2024 ** 6 PLACES LEFT** |£1575
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAYS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS | ISTANBUL
There is nowhere in the world quite like Istanbul. Spread across two continents, Istanbul is a city of layers and contrasts. With historical sights like the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace brushing up against buzzing bars and lively cafes, with Ottoman-era mosques a short walk from contemporary art museums and galleries, with traditional carpet shops around the corner from trendy boutiques, Istanbul is a city of old and new coexisting. The city never stops moving.
Join us for five days exploring all the must-see’s (and the behind the scenes) – discovering the hypnotic charms of whirling sufi dancers, head underground to cavernous cisterns, shoot some of the most stunning architectural wonders on our planet, try out reportage in vibrant historic markets, and enjoy the city like a local, not tourist.
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“Creative Escapes are a good option if you want a dedicated learning holiday. Group sizes are small, meaning there’s more 1-on-1 time with tutors, less competition for spots to shoot from and plenty of supportive group critiques.
Creative Escapes – the name says it all!”
Travel Photography Holidays for all skill levels | Highlights.
Istanbul has it all. From physical reminders of past empires to the sights and sounds of a modern city as experienced through its up-and-coming neighbourhoods, the reasons to visit Turkey’s largest metropolis are aplenty.
Spanning both Europe and Asia and surrounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, the scale and topography of the city – once home to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires – are fitting of its richly diverse past.
Historical sights dot Istanbul – picture palaces adorned with mosaics and frescoes and beautiful mosques piercing the skyline. In the vibrant neighbourhoods, a variety of cafés, bars, boutique shops and rooftop restaurants line the streets, and most areas have colourful bazaars.
For aspiring travel photographers, you’ll …
Shoot swirling dancers in a historic school courtyard in Fatih
Snap cavernous underground cisterns, a marvel of Byzantine engineering
Photograph sun rays beaming into some of the world’s most famous architectural marvels
Experiment with reportage-style photography in one of the oldest and largest covered markets on the globe
Dine al fresco in the buzzy backstreets of Istiklal, centre of everything that is happening in Istanbul
Shoot locals on trams and underground subways, directly connecting with the zeitgeist
Optional visit to one of the most revered hamams in the city
Learn to maximise your shooting, and get the shots you want every time
Try out techniques used by pro travel photographers to make your work stand out from the pack
Learn how to bring together single images into a cohesive series
Sequence your shots, so you can do this every time you visit somewhere new
On arrival, we’ll whisk you direct from the airport into your boutique residence, then head out showing you some of the highlights of this incredible city – voted European Capital City of Culture.
We’ll get back to grips with our camera again, and work through each of your specific objectives for the trip, so we can plan customised tuition for each of you. We’ll leaf through some core techniques of quality travel photography, things that aren’t normally covered in magazines, then take a tour around in warm sunshine to try them out.
Come evening, we’ll dine at a delicious, open-air restaurant, sampling modern Turkish cuisine whilst watching the warming sun set over the ocean.
Now that we’ve mastered camera fundamentals, we now concentrate on the creative: how to conceptualise and capture great images. We’ll swing by some of the jewels in Istanbul’s crown, exploring the magical district of Sultanahmet, home to Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia.
You’ll move beyond what’s there, instead taught how to create images that are more personal to you, travel photography techniques to make your work stand out, so you start to craft your own impressions of this vibrant city.
The holy grail of photography, and surely one of the best places around to learn reportage, we’ll swing by the ancient Grand Bazaar, location for countless films such as Skyfall, Taken and From Russia with Love – and the oldest and largest covered market on the planet – to develop your technique in both B&W and colour, capturing the rich scenes that happen at every corner.
Bustling shoppers, swirling smoke and atmosphere galore, the shooting options here and simply magnificent – it’s a ready made film set just waiting to be captured.
Towards dusk, we’ll head over to a historic school courtyard in Fatih, and take our places to shoot the Sema, whirling dervishes in an old atmospheric hall.
We’ll celebrate later with an open air supper in Beyoglu and a trip to the uber cool, 360, the city’s tallest bar, with panoramic views of both Europe and Asia.
This morning, we’ll head outside to the palace gardens, continuing with more advanced camera and image manipulation techniques, delving into lens selection, white balance, bracketing and proper use of flash. After lunch, we venture out shooting, taking in the sites of the Spice Bazaar and Basilica Cistern as the backdrop for your story. Following a group review, we head into the ancient backstreets and sample food the locals want to keep quiet.
Our flight leaves late today, so we’re up early to capture the morning Turkish light, our final day spent putting together everything we have learned and planning, preparing and shooting a major work on location.
You will spend the day creating a series of images that highlight the finest elements of Istanbul – people, architecture, food and its otherworldly culture. then learn how to sequence your images to complete a series, discuss options for post production, printing, and review as a group – ready to print and hang proudly on your wall
There’s just time for an early dinner at our favourite place, a spot of shopping to get fine leathers, silver, handmade jewellery boxes and the ubiquitous spices, then a short hop to the airport for the flight home.
Istanbul is quite unlike anywhere you’ve been too, almost stands in a country of its own, and guaranteed to have you coming back for more.
Price includes
4 nights accommodation at listed hotels (or similar)
5 days tuition from our UK-based professional photographer
All airport transfers, plus all transportation around the area
Entrance to sufi dancing & all entrances to monuments.
Multiple 1-on-1 tuition sessions
Price excludes flights, meals.
Wizzair, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and British Airways all fly direct to Istanbul from London, with prices starting at £81 each way. Wherever you are flying from, we aim to arrive into Istanbul around midday on the first day, so we have the whole day to explore. On the final day, there are several late flight departures leaving Istanbul from 1800 onwards, that will get you back that evening.
Nena
Combining Turkish and Byzantine era architecture, the recently renovated Nena in downtown Sultanahmet is within walking distance of Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
"Thank you for an amazing adventure! I learnt so much and had such an incredible time! Creative Escapes is a fantastic company, the whole experience was excellent - from initial queries about the trip, throughout the booking process, and of course - the days away. Great balance of photography, learning, and having fun!"
4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS | PALERMO / ETNA / CATANIA / TAORMINA / ORTIGIA ISLAND
Shrugging off its size limitations, Sicily reveals bustling cities, dramatic coastlines and mountainous countryside. This have-it-all Mediterranean island is Italy in microcosm – a dazzling diversity of landscapes and cultural treasures – gently soothed by palm trees and scented orange groves one minute, and exhilarated by exotic architecture (and divine food) the next.
Come experience five days of un poco di tutti (a little of all), shooting epic landscapes at Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, black and white reportage at Catania’s famous La Pescheria, to the punchy capital Palermo, with a glut of gutsy galleries and ornate churches, linked by a spaghetti-tangle of mediaeval streets – and discover Italy like it used to be.
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“Provided all the inspiration needed to turn a happy snapper into a fully-fledged photographer on a photography course including expert tuition and challenging local assignments. Now back home, I hold my camera differently now – no longer a scary piece of equipment, but a tool to work with to create an image. That’s a lasting holiday souvenir.”
A historical feast with 300 days of sun per year, spectacular landscapes, and a vibrant culinary scene, Sicily is becoming one of Italy’s buzziest destinations. It’s the perfect location for photography holidays .
There’s something for everyone here, the perfect location to come learn the basics of photography, get under the skin of the island, hang out with some like-minded people, and bring home some killer snaps of your adventures.
The largest Mediterranean island off the southern coast of Italy has a rich history as a nexus of global trade (dating all the way back to the ancient Greeks). Sicilian culture, from the food to the fashion to the art, has been influenced by a unique fusion of forces—the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, you name it. Whether it’s fine wine and good food, ancient ruins or majestic beaches you desire, Sicily has it all.
For photography holidays beginners, you’ll …
Learn how to use your camera from Auto to Manual, within 3 hours
Capture the sunset on the tiny island of Ortigia, apero in hand
Learn the art of black and white photography at Catania’s famous La Pescheria Snap landscapes at the summit of Europe’s largest volcano
Test out your reportage skills in cinematic Palermo
Shoot portraits of locals at our pop-up outdoor studio
Complete the journey at one of Europe’s most picturesque beaches
We’ll meet you directly off your early morning flight into Palermo, then begin our exploration of this diverse city; one of Europe’s great capitals. We’ll refresh ourselves on the workings of our camera, then explore this ornate film set of a city with its myriad palazzis, unmissable architecture and vivid street life.
We’ll swing by the stunning marble carved Fontana Pretoria, the ancient bazaars of Vucciria, the elegant Quattro Canti, study closeup the beautiful Byzantine mozaics, and take a sunset passegiata along the sweeping harbour.
Later, we’ll meet for an apero at a buzzy wine bar, stocked exclusively by locals-in-the-know, and review our best images of the day. Benvenuti a Sicilia!
We kick-start the day with a traditional gelato brioche before diving into the Dickensian alleyways of Capo and Ballaro, where hawkers deliver incessant chants from behind stands brimming with mounds of olives, blood oranges, fennel and artichokes – meeting locals – and learning the art of storytelling in photography. Shards of vibrant sun rays pervade the ornate architecture famous of Palermo, artisan stalls and normal life surrounded by grandeur.
This is a microcosm of Sicilian life, the remnants of mafiaosi still just visible, replaced with young, vibrant creative energy, fabulous street art and unfussy authentic food that’s so damn tasty.
Up early, we’ll head west to the set of the famous Cinema Paradiso at Cefalu – admiring the postcard-pretty honey-hued stone buildings, mosaic-adorned cathedrals and oh-so-lovely beach, before crossing the spine of Sicily to Rifugio Sapienza, the base camp on the south side of Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest stratovolcano at 3,350m.
Here, we’ll take a funicular to 2,450m – just in time to try some soft light landscapes over the crater, and learn insider professional techniques to make your work stand out from the pack.
Early evening, we’ll make our second hotel in Syracuse – an entire city listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Basking in balmy temperatures, surrounded by the rich legacy of Greek and Roman architecture – we’ll head to our cool boutique hotel through a maze of winding streets and crammed piazzas on the tiny island of Ortigia.
More than any other place in Sicily, Ortigia encapsulates Sicily’s timeless beauty. Ancient Greek ruins rise out of lush citrus orchards, cafe tables spill onto dazzling baroque piazzas, and honey-hued medieval side streets lead down to the sparkling blue sea. This is a travel photographer’s dream destination, and chance to polish our skills meandering through its deeply atmospheric streetscapes, the ruins of a 6th century temple, vibrant markets, sun kissed locals at play, and artisans galore. There’s even time for a dip in the ocean.
Later, we’ll compare shots at an al fresco restaurant deep in the port, sample fish fresh from the boat, and local DOCG wines to pleasure your palate. For foodies and travellers alike, this is one of the highlights of any tour to Sicily.
Up early, we’ll head to Catania, to La Pescheria, the city’s exuberant fish market – and try out some Cartier-Bresson-styled black and white documentary shots – sharpening our observation, timing and storytelling skills.
And to close our tour, we’ll wander the hilltop streets of Taormina; with Mount Etna as a backdrop, the views from this dramatic resort town have inspired visitors for centuries. The views of Etna are startling, best from the Teatro Greco, here we’ll practice our skills in portraiture to round off our collection of landscape, street, still life and macro photography styles, before heading back to Catania early evening to catch our flight home.
5 days. 4 nights. Starts in Palermo and ends in Catania.
£1575 / £195 single supplement
Price includes
4 nights boutique accommodation at listed hotels (or similar)
5 full days tuition from our UK-based professional photographer
Transfers from suggested flights, plus all transportation around the island
Guided tours of Ortigia, Palermo, Cefalu & Taormina
Cable car to Etna
Welcome aperos on the first night
Multiple 1-on-1 tuition sessions
Price excludes flights & meals.
EasyJet, Ryanair and British Airways fly to Catania and Palermo direct from London, with prices starting at £45 each way.
Outbound, we recommend the 0610 with Ryanair from London Stansted to Palermo, arriving at 1005.
Inbound, we recommend the 1955 with British Airways to London Gatwick, from Catania, departing 1955.
EasyJet operates from both Catania and Palermo should you have more time to stay on.
Hotel Gutowski, Ortigia
Mediterranean blues meet modern minimalism at this lovely “Hip Hotel” listed boutique hotel in Ortigia, with its glorious views of the Ionian sea.
Hotel Plaza Opéra, Palermo ****
Cool, classic designer hotel in the heart of Palermo.
"Thank you for an amazing adventure! I learnt so much and had such an incredible time! Creative Escapes is a fantastic company, the whole experience was excellent - from initial queries about the trip, throughout the booking process, and of course - the days away. Great balance of photography, learning, and having fun!"
