By Janet Unwin

Andalucian Adventures – Morocco

Introduction

Having sampled a weekend in the Cotswolds on a digital photography course with Andalucian Adventures I felt inspired to go further afield; to a place where the sun shone and the culture quite different from ours, but also to go with the security of a company who had so inspired me one cold weekend in April.

To see Paul’s friendly face in Marrakesh’s huge bustling airport was most reassuring! A great start to a great week. We were a convivial group, some single, some with their partners, but all of us with the common interest in photography.

Our first night was spent in a carefully chosen luxury, but authentic hotel where we were fully briefed on the delights of the week ahead of us.

Early the next morning Paul’s tireless enthusiasm lead us to the heart of Marrakesh, to Djama El Fine, the famour square, where early in the morning traders stands stood gorged with piles of apricots, figs, dates and citrus fruit and stalls selling glasses of peppermint tea. This provided a wonderful opening act to the scenes that followed in the souk.

Our guide led us through mile upon mile of carefully coordinated stalls, vivid colours, textiles, sights and smells and shafts of sunlight beaming through holes in the corrugated iron roofs creating a stage like effect, all of which we were happily capturing on our cameras. Advice was always on hand to help us take the best possible shots.

The following morning was spent at Bou Saf-Saf Garden, designed by the French Islamic artist Louis Majorelle and latterly owned by the late Yves Saint Laurant. Verhandahs, ponds, fountains and pots were painted in a vivid Morrocan Blue. Fabulous plants spilling over walls and tubs, and water flowing through channels and pools. This was a wonderful opportunity for pictures with symmetry and reflection. Only a day into our course and I was now starting to feel confident and happy with my camera!

From Marrakesh we were driven to the coastal fishing town of Essaouira. Putting photography aside this gave a fascinating view of country life. We drove through huge olive groves, beautifully tended countryside with farmers astride their donkeys. Fertile land and then rough land as we neared the coast, with an abundance of yellow flowering Wattle lining the roadside.

In the old Portuguese sea port of Essaouira we stayed in an Arab house built into the sea wall on the edge of the Medina. Exquisite mosaic tiles adorned the walls along with archways and fountains. This was our base for the remainder of the week.

We had an early morning rise to capture the sun rising over the harbour and also to photograph the activity as fishermen prepared their boats for a day at sea. I found this particular morning very special. Paul and Linda inspired us to look further at a subject and capture the colour and reflection it created.

Summary

The venue for this photographic holiday had been well researched by Andalucian Adventures with the most stunning opportunities for creative and candid shots. I would thorough recommend it for both the amateur and experienced photographer.

Janet Unwin is an amateur photographer. She works on a large estate in the West Country helping to run a small tourist attraction which consists of ancient woodland, waterfalls and lakes. Much of her spare time is spent capturing the seasons on her camera. She also enjoys photographing the wildlife and flowers seen in springtime.

The PTR Team continues to search for outstanding Photo Seminars for those who seek to combine photography, travel, and adventure. Our standards for recommending seminars are high. We look for experienced tour companies that have a good reputation, provide interesting and exciting places to travel to, and charge reasonable rates for their tours.

Wild Photography Holidays meets our criteria.

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During 2011 the company has scheduled four photographic holidays in Iceland, two departures to the Picos de Europa, Spain, one to Kerala/Tamil Nadu, India, one to Morocco and one to South Africa.

* Southern Contrasts – Glaciers Volcanoes and Waterfalls
* Flowers and Landscapes of the East
* Highland Exposure
* Trails of the Deserted Fjords
* Predators and ‘Big Five’ Photographic Safari, South Africa
* Morocco – Sahara, Atlas Mountains and Marrakesh
* Mountains Forests and Villages of the Picos de Europa
* Mystical South India – Kerala and Tamil Nadu 2011/12

The tour to South India in the Kerala and Tamil Nadu regions is of particular interest.

After seeing the YouTube video featured by Wild Photography Holidays, PTR Member Bill started checking out flights! Produced by Kerala Tourism’s international campaign, Your Moment Is Waiting is a film that goes far beyond the realm of a commercial, to capture the soul of Kerala like no destination hitherto has. Stark Communications, which has been handling the Kerala Tourism brand for almost two decades, conceived, scripted and then assigned the task of creating this film to the renowned ad film maker Prakash Varma.

Wild Photography Holidays offers a very reasonably priced tour to this area — £2,380 for 16 days.

Mystical South India – Kerala and Tamil Nadhu
Highlights include…

* World famous shore temples of Mahabalipuram
* The ancient and remarkable boulder-strewn landscape of Gingee Fort
* Arunachala, one of the world’s great spiritual power centres
* An ascent/exploration of Mount Arunachala
* Visit to the famous temple of Thanjavur (Tanjore)
* Tiny French sea-side state of Pondicherry
* The tropical forests of the Western Ghats
* Kerala Backwater cruise
* Ancient city of Cochin
* Emerald green tea plantations
* Exciting cycle rickshaw ride through old Madurai

General Summary

An innovative and exciting photographic adventure visits both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. For over two weeks participants will be immersed in the vibrantly colorful, spiritual and bustling heart of this mystical sub-continent. South India’s culture like its people is a rich mosaic, vibrant, chaotic, a land of incredible contrasts and paradoxes: a singularly beautiful land offering abundant opportunities for landscape, people and architectural photography; a fantastic challenge to those of us hoping to capture its essence in images. By immersing yourself in the moment and approaching each day with curiosity and flexibility you will come to understand that India is truly one of the world’s most stunning photography locations; we will no doubt return home with some truly striking adventure travel images.

Accompanying the tour throughout is Martin Sammtleben as the photography tutor, joined by various local experts who will ensure that you are in the right place at the right time for those superb and unusual images. Non-photographer spouses/partners will be welcome. The Locations in Brief Kerala: a region of South-West India well known for its stunning natural beauty. Bordered by the tropical rain forest of the Western Ghats on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the west, Kerala is covered by lush tropical vegetation, fascinating back-waters, the fragrant spice and tea plantations of the Cardamom Hills. Tamil Nadu: home to an ancient and little changed Dravidian civilisation, it is less frequented than its more visited neighbor Kerala; a remarkable and intensely rewarding place to explore, the Tamils are a welcoming, curious and friendly people. The coast of the Gulf of Bengal offers long and lovely beaches where traditional fishing aboard catamarans is common, you will find, rice-fields, coconut groves, market garden produce, cotton plantations, sugar cane, tobacco, mangoes and bananas.

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Wild Photography Holidays also offers four separate tours of Iceland. Priced at £2,380, the tour is called “Southern Contrasts – Glaciers, Volcanoes and Waterfalls.”

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Highlights include…

* Walking on the Solheimajökull glacier
* Black sands and Basalt cave Vik
* Skaftafell National park
* Glacial iceberg lagoons including the Jökulsárlon
* The Blue Lagoon
* Colourful geothermal areas of Hengill Volcano
* Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Geysir

General Summary

An early season photographic holiday combining some of Iceland’s classic and iconic sights with some less visited places. Locations include the myriad colors of the geothermal areas on Hengill Volcano, Þingvellir National Park, a thrilling walk onto the Solheimajökull glacier to photograph bluish green crevasses, glacial caves, waterfalls and a magnificent landscape of sea and ice. Further East we explore the Skaftafell national park, glacial iceberg lagoons, black beaches, a basalt columnar waterfall and magnificent close up views of Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur.

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Although 1st May is the official first day of summer in Iceland, the roads and tracks through the interior of Iceland will remain snowbound until the end of June. During May, the mountains and highlands will still have a covering of snow providing the perfect back-drop for those spectacular and unusual wintry shots. At the end of May the temperatures are increasing and you will be just three weeks from the summer solstice, essentially it will be light all day with the sun disappearing for around three hours only. This will give you several hours of ambient light with sunrises and sunsets that go on and on!

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The team which makes up Wild Photography Holidays is rich in experience and talent.

Geraldine Westrupp is a qualified mountaineering instructor with many years experience and she is passionate about photography.

José Navarro works as a freelance photographer and travel writer. He’s traveled extensively in remote places such as Iceland, Alaska or the Andes.

Martin Sammtleben is based in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he runs a photography and graphic/web design business. He spends a great deal of time in the outdoors exploring new and exciting locations.

Photo Travel Review Magazine highly recommends Wild Photography Holidays and has earned our Five Star Rating (✭✭✭✭✭). Given the diversity of offerings, from Iceland, Spain, Morroco, India, South Africa, one could not find more to choose from when considering a Photo Travel Adventure! And what is wonderful is that the tour offerings by the company are very reasonably priced. In today’s economic climate, this is very important. Currently the company is offering a 90 pounds discount each for two people booking together and sharing a room.

One can read more about the offerings of the tour company by visiting their website. For more information contact Geraldine Westrupp in the UK at 00354 5888939 or email info@wildphotographyholidays.com