Venice phototrip essential seeing

ENGLISH VERSION

TIMELESS

VENICE PHOTO - IMMERSION TRIP

15th -19th January 2020

© Copyright Essential Seeing - Photography Learning

TIMELESS VENICE - WWW.ESSENTIALSEEING.COM

“The love for travelling has run in my blood for as long as I can remember. Even if all locations have their unique and special soul, after 20 years of travelling the world I have found some places where I stood in awe, feeling especially connected to the land and the light, touched and stirred by the power, beauty and mystery of the world. Come and discover these places with us; let us share those emotions and express them through photography.�

TIMELESS VENICE

HIGHLIGHTS

PHOTO-IMMERSION TRIP

There are cities and then, ... there is Veni­ ce. Join the award-winning photo­ grapher Rafael Rojas and his partner Anca Minican on this exclusive Photo-Immersion trip to one of the most magical, photogenic and surrea­listic cities in the world: Venice.

This photo-immersion trip will take place during one of the periods we love the most for photographing Ve­ nice, winter, when the number of visitors is at its lowest and the mists are more likely to arrive, filling the maze of canals, streets and squares with an extra veil of mystery and minimalism under the faint light of the lamps.

JOIN US !

We will photograph all the iconic places of the floating city, but also many other locations off the beaten track where we will photograph the authentic essence of Venice. We will also photograph during the night, as there is nothing like the mystery of an empty Venice under the light of the moon in a silence broken only by the sound of the water lapping in the canals and the buzz of the lamps in the mist.

We will be based at a cosy central hotel for four days from where we will have easy access to all the areas we will photograph.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE DATES 15th - 19th January 2020 TOUR LEADERS Rafael Rojas and Anca Minican

• Discover and photograph not only the most iconic places of Ve­ nice, but also those hidden streets, canals and squares which are seldom visited and where the authentic essence of the floating city can be found.

• Photograph wide vistas, intimate scenes, details and abstracts under all types of light conditions.

PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL All photographic levels EXERTION LEVEL Easy PRICE 1,980 CHF (Swiss Francs) VAT incl.

BOOKING DEPOSIT Deposit of 1’000 CHF NUMBER OF PEOPLE Group of 4 (min.) to 6 (max.)

• In winter, crowds dwindle and the winter mists tend to fill the maze of canals, squares and streets, reducing clutter to a minimum and allowing us to photograph the most mysterious, intimate and graphical character of this magical place.

This is by far our favourite time to visit Venice...

• Several night photographic sessions, when we will have the whole of Venice to ourselves and will photograph the maze of alleys, squares and canals under the faint light of the lamps.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHAT’S INSIDE

3 5 6 7

TIMELESS VENICE THE PHILOSOPHY

THE LOCATION

PROGRAMME

8 9 10 12

INCLUDED & EXCLUDED MAIN DETAILS

LEADERS

FAQ

15 16 19 21

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST WEATHER & CLIMATE

TESTIMONIALS

BOOKING

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THE PHILOSOPHY

WHAT TO EXPECT?

PHOTO-IMMERSION TRIP Photography is not the goal, but the path. Nowa­ days, we all rush through our life. We travel fast and we see the world without experiencing it. We think that in order to see more, we need to move faster.­But the truth is that travelling in time and light, ­travelling through mood and weather is often more rewarding. Feelings and emotions, experiences and souvenirs, are not measured in quantity, but in qua­ lity. Slowing down makes you connect more with a place. When you slow down, your inner landscape tends to blend with the outer one. And then, magic happens. Life is like a good whisky, and should be consumed in small sips. Photography is the best of the glasses for that whisky.

Our Photo Immersion trips offer a slightly different approach: to slow down our pace, to forget about running after photographic trophies and to focus on creating highly personal work about a specific area for a certain number of days.

We minimise the travel in space to focus on travel in the light, travel through the changes in the weather, travel in time. Every day, we photograph a certain “playground” where you will notice that conditions are never the same. Every day, we get a little closer to the spirit of the place. Every day, we make a bet­ ter friend. In a way, we focus on a type of internal travel, rather than an external one.

After many years conducting photo-immersion trips, we have realized the best way is to allow our participants to immerse themselves with plenty of time out in the field on their own, undisturbed unless they need any help. Rafael and Anca are always available for participants, anytime, anywhere,

to discuss technical, compositional, artistic, or philosophic aspects while we work in the field.

Participants will not only get a lot of hands on tuition from Rafael during the photographic sessions, but they will also have the possibility of seeing how Rafael works, how he visualizes, composes and creates his own photographs in the field. Rafael will use many of his photographs to explain many concepts in the field, and later on during the postprocessing and critique sessions which will take place at our hotel base. You will receive a lot of instruction about post-processing, which is an essential part of contemporary landscape photography.

We want to eliminate all the hassle of travelling so that we can focus on creative photography and maximize our natural immersion in the location. For our entire stay we will be based at an exclusive hotel ideally placed in the center of Venice, close to the areas we will photograph. This will also allow us to make the most of the conditions, tailoring our programme to the weather and light we will experience during our trip.

During this photo­trip, we will photograph in all kinds of light conditions; sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, day and night. In winter the sun remains low over the horizon providing us daily with 8 hours of great light for landscape photography.

Truly a landscape photographer’s heaven...

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THE LOCATION TIMELESS VENICE

Between the land and the sea lies a floating city which seems to have been drawn from a fairy tale. Hundreds of towers, churches, palaces and charming buildings rise from the water within a maze of streets, narrow alleys, squares and canals. Venice is not just another city, but a surrealistic dream come true.

the sound of the water accompany us wherever we go. Pigeons mix with seagulls. Cars become boats.

Streets become canals. Pedestrian crossings become bridges. Horse carts become gondolas and traffic lights become illuminated windows reflected in the water...

Talking about Venice is talking about time. On one hand, there is a timeless character which seems to reign over the entire place. Due to the lack of refe­ rences and its uniqueness, one would think that Venice has been there from the origins of this world.

Wande­ring around the city, it is difficult to imagine that, time ago, Venice started as hundreds of natural islands nestling in the middle of the sea lagoon. On the other hand though, it is the charm of its decay that creates most of its magic. Rubbing shoulders with amazing palazzos and glinting cathedrals, a myriad of deliciously derelict buildings show the scars of time in their peeling facades full of character.

For the photographer, there are few places as rich, photogenic and inspiring as Venice. Variety is the name of the game there. Wide vistas exposed to the golden light of the rising and setting sun, a myriad of distant islands which become glorious focal points for the photographer, intimate details of hidden alleys, facades, hanging cloths and monumental buildings...

And then, there is the water. Water everywhere, around the city, within the city, below the city and, during the mists of winter, over the city. The smell of the sea and

One of the main attractions of Venice for the photographer is the possibility of playing with many different light conditions. At dawn and dusk, the atmospheric light of the blue hour mixes beautifully with the artificial light creating wonderful photo opportunities. As the sun rises and sets, the direct rays of golden light kiss the contours of the city, bathing the buildings, palazzos and towers in warm and striking hues. During the day, direct light filters through the streets, is reflected by

THE FLOATING CITY

the water and the facades of the buildings and casts a highly photogenic glow on the surroundings which can provide quite special lighting conditions. Under a cloudy or misty sky, the diffused light allows us to focus on the textures and colours of Venice, providing a low contrast light which can prove ideal to photograph the inner parts of the city. Even during the rainy days is Venice magical, when the wet stone glints with an eerie light and the water saturates the colours of the buildings facades.

During the night, Venice is transformed as the shadows creep into the city, swallowing the chaos and complexity and turning it into a mysterious stage where the scattered lamps cast their light over bridges, lonely squares and dark canals.

Join us for this photo-immersion trip, where we will explore the maze that is Venice, photographing a ­myriad of subjects, moods and ambiances in all kinds of light and weather conditions. And when our legs start to ache, there will be always a nearby cafe where we can enjoy an expresso or a delicious gelatto...

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PROGRAMME TIMELESS VENICE PROGRAMME AND TYPICAL DAY DAY 1 - 15TH OF JANUARY 2020 - ARRIVAL IN VENICE We will meet you at our exclusive hotel, ideally situated. All participants will receive easy to follow instructions about how to get there, both if they are flying into Venice or arriving by train. We will meet all participants at the hotel at18:00 hours. We will hold an introduction of the photo-trip, dinner together and eventually hold a first night photographic session.

DAYS 2 TO 4 During 3 full days, we will explore and photograph the most interesting and photogenic areas of Venice. During this period, the sun rises at 7:15 am and sets at around 4:30 pm, giving us a good light duration, decent waking hours for dawn and also the possibility of photographing night scenes without having to stay up for too long. Our daily schedule will vary according to the locations we visit and the nocturnal photographic sessions we may have, but a typical day may be similar to the following:

4 FULL DAYS

- 06:30 - 08:30 - Early morning sunrise photographic session - 09:00 - Breakfast at our hotel - 10:00 - 13:00 - Photo critique session and/or some rest time - 13:00 - 14:00 - Lunch in the city - 14:00 - 17:00 - Photo session - 18:00 - Group dinner in the city - 19:00 - Night photography session DAY 5 - 19TH OF JANUARY 2020 - END OF PHOTO TRIP After a sunrise photographic session, we will have breakfast together at our hotel and hold a critique session on the computer. The photo Immersion trip will officially finish in the morning. You will then be able to easily reach either the airport or the train station to leave the city.

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INCLUDED EXCLUDED

& INCLUDED

EXCLUDED

Tour led by Rafael Rojas and Anca Minican

Photographic equipment

I n the field photography advice, daily briefings, review ses-

Transport to and around Venice

sions of images taken by the participants

(including transfer from airport or train

Special workshop session on night photography

station)

Accommodation in exclusive hotel ideally located

Meals other than breakfasts, in order to

Single accommodation in double rooms for all participants

give extra flexibility to participants

All breakfasts

Personal expenses: telephone, gifts,...

Introduction session to the use of Adobe Lightroom

Entry fees to museums, churches, etc

Introduction session to the use of digital DSRL for beginners Unforgettable experiences and a lot of fun!

Medical and Accident Insurance valid for Italy (compul­sory for all participants) Cancellation insurance

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MAIN DETAILS

TRIP DETAILS PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL All photographic levels, from beginners to advanced photographers, are welcome. A certain familiarity with your camera will be highly beneficial in order to get the most from this photographic trip.

EXERTION LEVEL Normal. Most of the travel will be on foot so you need to be able to walk seve­ral kilometres a day around the city with your photographic bag.

PRICE 1,980 CHF (Swiss Francs) VAT incl. for photographers 1’000 CHF for accompanying non photographers SINGLE OCCUPANCY Single Occupancy accommodation is included for all participants. Couples will be able to share the same room.

PAYMENT DETAILS Deposit of 1’000 CHF to secure your place at the time of booking.

Full payment of the Photo Trip due 120 days (4 months) prior to the departure date.

CANCELLATION FEES Should you need to cancel this Photo Trip, the following fees apply: - 90 days or more before the departure date: Your deposit fee - 89 to 61 days before the departure date: 50% cancellation fee - 60 days or less before the departure date: 100% cancellation fee It is strongly recommended that you acquire travel cancellation insurance. If you need any help, please contact us and we will be very glad to assist you.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE Groups are limited from 4 (minimum) to 6 photographers (maximum). A limited number of non-photographing partners / spouses could join the group.

LOGISTICS All breakfasts are included and will take place at our hotel. Participants will have the freedom to decide on their lunches and dinners, for which we will allow time in our programme. Group meals will be encouraged.

NON-PHOTOGRAPHING SPOUSES / PARTNERS Non-photographing partners / spouses are welcome and could join the group at a reduced rate. Even though the dinner conversations will certainly revolve around photography, all locations visited will allow non-photographing partners and spouses to discover and fully enjoy the beauty of Venice.

LANGUAGES The official language for this photographic trip will be ­English. However, bear in mind that personal explanations to each participant can be done also in French or Spanish, as we are bilingual in these other languages.

A certain international composition of the group should be expected, with all the fun and wonderful implications that brings!

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LEADERS

TIMELESS

VENICE RAFAEL ROJAS

Rafael Rojas is a fine art photographer specialized in large format landscape and nature photography. Following a career as an engineer, researcher and university lecturer he made a dramatic change by becoming a professional photographer of nature and lands­ cape, his true passion and vocation. Today, he travels the planet always in search of those fleeting moments when light and land combine to create sheer magic and inspire the soul.

His work has been awarded in the most prestigious international nature photography competitions, including First Prize several times in the International Photography Awards (USA), Px3 Prix de Photographie de Paris (France), Nature’s Best (USA), International Conservation Awards (USA), European Nature Photographer of the Year GDT (Germany), MML International (Spain), Trierenberg Super Circuit (Austria), Panoramic Photographer of the Year, etc.

Learn with Rafael Rojas Master Hasselblad photographer and former University lecturer...

His fine art prints, which form part of numerous private collections belonging to individuals and corporations, are often exhibited at international ­level, in private galleries and museums such as the Smithsonian in Washington and the Burke Museum in Seattle­, USA. His photographs are also frequently­ used by various companies and institutions and are often published for editorial use in magazines including National Geographic Travel, Terre Sauvage, etc.

He has collaborated in the creation of several photography books, including “Visions of Earth” and “Natura” and is the a ­ uthor of his own line of photography books which he publishes and distributes from the Essential Seeing website in ­different languages as electronic Books.

One of the main activities of Rafael Rojas is tea­ ching and lecturing about Nature Photography, which he carries out during his photographic workshops and Photo Trips. This allows him to share and pass on to others his passion and knowledge about nature and photography by means of photogra­ phic tuition in locations where natural inspiration is at hand. Rafael uses his former experience in tea­ ching at the university, his contagious passion and a deep experience and knowledge of the natural environment to assure optimal learning and unforgettable memories for all his clients.

He was one of the founders and directors of the company WHYTAKE.NET - The Global Community of Nature PhotographersTM.

He is a member of the select nature photography groups “Bouts de Planète” (France) and “Portfolio Natural” (Spain).

He works with a Hasselblad 6x6 and a whole Nikon digital system, always set on the sturdiest tripod available.

He speaks Spanish, English, French and Romanian...

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LEADERS

TIMELESS

VENICE

ANCA MINICAN Anca Minican, the partner of Rafael Rojas, provides a very special touch to all our photographic workshops and trips.

Trained as an architect and interior designer, she is a true lover of nature and the wilderness and always accompanies Rafael on his photographic expeditions all over the planet.

Co-led by Anca Minican, codirector and cofounder of WHYTAKE.NET - The Global TM Community of Nature Photographers

Her broad experience in the corporate world, her professionalism and her methodical and serious approach make her a valuable asset for the organization, on-site logistics and the support to customers during our workshops and photographic trips. She also plays a key role in the team building and knows how to create an amicable environment with a personal touch as all our clients can testify!

She is co-editor of the whole range of Rafael Rojas Photography books, ensures the representation of our Limited Edition Fine Art prints and manages the photographic library of Rafael Rojas Photography.

Anca was one of the founders and directors of the company WHYTAKE.NET - The Global Community of Nature PhotographersTM. She speaks Spanish, English, French, Italian and Romanian.

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FAQ

TIMELESS VENICE CAN I BRING MY NON-PHOTOGRAPHING SPOUSE OR COMPA­ NION? Non-photographing partners / spouses are welcome to this photo-trip and they could join the group at a reduced rate of 55% of the full prize. Even though the dinner conversations will certainly revolve around photography, all locations visited will allow non-photographing partners and spouses to discover and fully enjoy the beauty of Venice.

IS THIS TRIP AVAILABLE FOR ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC LEVELS? Yes. This Photo Immersion trip caters for all photographic levels, from beginners to advanced and even professional photographers. However, the truth is that to make the most of the possibilities of this photographic trip it would be best that you already have a certain knowledge of the use of your camera so it is re­ commended that you exercise a little and become accustomed to your equipment in the weeks prior to the trip. Or you may prefer to enrol on one of our intensive photographic workshops of 1/2 day or 2 days in Switzerland (see availability). In any case, during our Photo Immersion trip to Venice we will tackle the basic technical use of a DSRL for all our beginner participants.

IS VENICE SAFE, EVEN DURING THE NIGHT TIME? Yes. In terms of safety, it has often been said that Venice is one of the safest cities in the world. The truth is that we have photographed extensively even in the most isolated streets and in the middle of the night with absolutely no feeling of danger or threat at any moment. That being said, as in any urban place you should be very careful with your photographic equipment, keeping it close at hand at all times.

WHICH EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING? In terms of photographic equipment, the choice depends very much on your experience, your budget and your style of photography. There are a few general points though which should be mentioned. Most photographers tend to bring too much equipment to Photo Trips, leading to extremely heavy bags which then become a burden more than a useful tool to experience and photograph the places we visit. Bear in mind that all photographic equipment will need to be carried by you for the whole trip, since virtually all transportation will be made on foot. Never bring pieces of equipment you are not familiar with to a photo trip, and limit your equipment to what you will need in the majority of cases. Typically, any camera you use normally and a couple of zooms like a 24-70 and a telephoto 70-200 are more than enough

Will we practice underwater photography?

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for the vast majority of situations. A tripod is paramount as well as a cable release which can be blocked in the bulb position for our night photographs. You might want to bring with you gradual density, polarizer or neutral density filters.

Please refer to the Checklist document where we mention photographic and non photographic equipment necessary for this trip.

I STILL WORK WITH FILM... CAN I COME ALONG? Of course you can! If you shoot film and want to bring your system, feel free. In fact, Rafael works with film for a very large part of his work and he will be very happy to help you with yours. Venice is a fantastic place to photograph with black and white film, and we will be pleased to instruct you on the use of the zone system. For obvious reasons, we may not use your photos for the critique session during the trip (unless you use a Polaroid), but you will take part in the critique session of the other participants photographs.

WILL I HAVE CONNECTIVITY TO THE INTERNET DURING THE TRIP? Yes. In the hotel we will have free Wi-Fi connection.

WHY MEALS OTHER THAN BREAKFAST ARE NOT INCLUDED? During the day, we will be walking and photographing around Venice. We know that eating in Italy is part of the experience, and in order to allow the flexibility of budget and other options to our participants, we have decided not to include meals other than breakfasts in this photo-trip. For lunch and dinner, we will allow a certain amount of free time so that each participant can decide on their options. We will in any case encourage lunches and dinners as a group, and will propose and arrange for some meals at restaurants or places where we can eat with a very good quality to price ratio. Lunch and dinner times will be accommodated in a flexible way so that we can make the most of our day, photographically speaking.

WHICH LANGUAGE/S WILL BE USED DURING THIS PHOTO-TRIP? The official language for this photographic trip will be ­English. However, bear in mind that personal explanations to each participant can be done also in French or Spanish, as we are bilingual in these other languages.

A certain international composition of the group should be expected, with all the fun and wonderful implications that brings!

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WHAT CLOTHING SHOULD I BRING? You should bring comfortable boots/shoes for walking several kilometres a day, along paved alleys and stairs. In the rare case “acqua-alta� conditions are forecast for our visit (a rise of the water level with partial flooding of Venice, which happens normally once per year), we will advise you to bring wellington boots.

By the way, acqua-alta can also provide some extraordinary photographic opportunities!

Bring really warm clothing, especially for the early morning and late evening, as it can get really cold and humid in Venice, particularly in winter and during the night. It is very important that you bring a layered selection of clothing, with thermal underwear (merino wool is recommended), polar fleece and down inner jacket, and an impervious outer garment with a rain hat to keep you dry.

This layered system should also be used for your lower clothing: Merino wool leggings, preferably down trousers and impervious over-trousers which serve to protect you from the wind and rain. Gloves and a balaclava can be useful too. It is always easier to dress down than to dress up, and you can always leave those things you might not need at the hotel. Bear in mind that after several hours along the canals we can quickly feel cold unless we are properly dressed.

HOW IS THE TEACHING STRUCTURED IN THESE TRIPS? After many years conducting photo-immersion trips, we have realized the best way is to allow our participants to immerse themselves with plenty of time out in the field on their own, undisturbed unless they need any help. Rafael and Anca are always available for participants, anytime, anywhere, to discuss technical, compositional, artistic, or philosophic aspects while we work in the field. Participants will not only get a lot of hands on tuition from Rafael during the photographic sessions, but they will also have the possibility of seeing how Rafael works, how he visualizes, composes and creates his own photographs in the field. Rafael will use many of his photographs to explain many concepts in the field, and later on during the post-processing and critique sessions which will take place at our hotel base. You will receive a lot of instruction about postprocessing, which is an essential part of contemporary landscape photography.

HOW EASY WILL IT BE TO CHARGE MY BATTERIES? We can charge our batteries every day in our hotel; however, bring plenty of batteries with you (2 minimum) so that you are always ready and flexible. Bear in mind that cold temperatures can strongly affect the time of use for a fully charged battery, as well as long exposures needed to photograph during the night.

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CHECKLIST OF EQUIPMENT DON’T FORGET PHOTOGRAPHIC GEAR Camera (DSRL strongly recommended, but all cameras are welcome)

P assport

Lenses (wide angle, standard, telephoto)

Visa if required

Tripod (compulsory!!) AND cable release for long exposures (B mode)

C omfortable boots/shoes for walking in the city for several hours

Memory cards or film, batteries (minimum 2) and charger

NON PHOTOGRAPHIC GEAR:

Filters (if available): Polarizer, Neutral Density, Graduated Neutral Density

Wellington boots if acqua-alta conditions are announced (you can ask us a

few days prior to the trip whether these conditions are expected)

Portable Storage Device or extra memory cards

W arm clothing based on three layers: thermal underwear, fleece and down

We recommend you to have your images in 2 or more different supports!

jackets, fully impermeable hard shell. Gloves, balaclava and good shocks.

L aptop, only if available, with Lightroom 4 and Photoshop software

Sun hat

installed (30 days trial versions available for free on Adobe.com)

Sun cream

for processing your digital photographs for the various critique sessions

Sunglasses

For the night photography sessions, bring a cable release which can be

Head torch

blocked in the bulb position of the camera, and a watch - timer.

Small umbrella if needed

E lectric plug adaptor, in case you need one

Personal and hygiene items (no towels needed) Medical insurance + Travel insurance + eventual Cancellation insurance docs

Please bear in mind the volume and weight limitations for your photo-bag. Almost all transport will take place on foot during the entire duration of the photo-trip, and we will walk several kilometres a day. You do not want unnecessary gear to become a burden!

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WEATHER AND CLIMATE

In winter, average temperatures are about 10°C. They might however reach freezing point during the night and twilight hours, rising to around 15°C during the day. Therefore, it is easy to forget that Venice is surrounded by the ocean and the humidity allied with the low temperatures can really exacerbate the cold feeling. This is even more so for the photographer who stays still for a long time waiting for the right light conditions or working out a composition on one of Venice’s narrow canals or streets, oblivious to the passage of time. Winter is also the season when we might experience fog hovering over the city, particularly as the day breaks or the night falls. This is particularly interesting for the photographer who wants to inject an extra dose of mystery into the photographs. Fog tends to wipe out detail, minimise the complexity and confer a strong sense of depth to the images as the contrast decreases with the distance. During the night, fog tends to create atmospherical halos around the artificial light sources, increasing even more the mood and the magic of the night scene. If we have chosen winter for our photographic trip, there is a strong reason!

One of the particularities of Venice is that it gets flooded from time to time in those events known by the locals as “acqua alta” (high waters). Once in a while, low pressure fronts associated with rains and high tides can converge, raising the water level and flooding large parts of Venice. In those situations, the city sets up a network of elevated boards which can be used by pedestrians to walk around the city. The use of high wellingtons can be useful when the water level is not too high, allowing circulation everywhere. Even if these events are occasional and relatively uncomfortable for the normal tourist, they can provide extraordinary photographic opportunities, as in many squares we can see islands within an island and incredible scenes like the St. Marcos cathedral rising from the water, or the buildings being reflected in the water. In the rare event an acqua alta event is forecast during the period of our photo-trip, we will advise you to bring high wellington boots so that we can make the most of this extraordinary event.

One of the advantages of Venice is that the nature of the subject and the configuration of the city mean that every type of weather condition will be useful and optimal for practicing photography in a different way. On sunny days, we will take advantage of the rising and setting sun and, later on, the light reflected by the water and the facades of the buildings. Under a cloudy or misty sky, the diffused light will allow us to focus on the textures and colours of Venice, providing a low contrast light which can prove ideal to photograph the inner parts of the city and create photographs with an extra dose of mystery and mood. This period may be perfect for black and white photography. Even during the rainy days Venice is magical, when the wet stone glints with an eerie light and the water saturates the colours of the buildings facades.

In Venice, the old adage “there is no such thing as bad weather for photography” could not be truer!

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“ A realist, in Venice, would become a romantic

by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him. “

Arthur Symons (1865-1945)

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VISAS/PASSPORTS: Please ensure:

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

1) That you have pre-arranged your entry visa if required 2) That your passport is valid to visit Italy and does not expire on a critical date HEALTH: No vaccinations are mandatory.

It is a condition of booking that you disclose any medical conditions you may have including allergies or special nutritional requirements. This is essential as it may affect both your own and other peoples enjoyment of the trip and will allow us to understand the implications in relation to the particular trip.

LUGGAGE: Please bear in mind the volume and weight limitations for your photo-bag! Almost all transport will take place on foot during the entire duration of the photo-trip, and we will walk several kilometres per day. You do not want unnecessary gear to become a burden!

INSURANCES: All participants must be in possession of Health and Accident Insurance (with repatriation cover).

Additionally, we strongly advise you to organise Cancellation Insurance. If you need any help with this, let us know and we will suggest some leading companies with which we normally work.

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TESTIMONIALS “ The photo immersion trip was an exceptional experience. Due to the very small group size everyone receives a very personal attention to develop his photographic skills, not only on the field but also the critique sessions and post processing where very helpful. Not only the professionalism of Rafael, but also the other aspects of the trip such as the choice of diversity in shooting locations, the excellent lodging facilities and food, the personal attention of Anca for the “non-photographic” needs of everyone of us, the humor and group dynamism with which Rafael and Anca fuel everyone’s enthusiasm are the extra assets that made this trip unforgettable. Believe me, these people are 200% engaged and passionate in what they do ! I am really looking forward to go on another trip with them.

J. Van Marcke, Belgium “ Rafael and Anca are jovial, methodical, multilingual and determined organizers, with ­enor­mous attention to detail and always striving for perfection, radiating a positive atmosphere.

Rafael’s­photographic eye and qualities as a patient teacher have deeply contributed to the improvement­of my photographic work, not only in the field, but also at post-processing.

A total success! ” Yves Curchod, Switzerland

“ Breathtaking landscapes, unbelievable lodges in the middle of the desert, a dream camping under the acacia trees and the milky way, a perfect organization... Rafael and Anca have ­offered us a magical photo-trip, out of this time, which remains with you long after it is finished...

Sharing a couple of weeks with a group of strangers is always a tricky thing... but not a problem at all with Rafael and Anca, who knew how to create a great ambiance in the group and foster the complicity of all its members. In terms of photography, the sheer variety of the places chosen

by Rafael, his permanent implication and his effective photographic tuition elevated the quality of this experience to a higher level. ”

Bernard Dupas, Switzerland “ Namibia is without doubt a dream destination for every landscape photographer. The itinerary, the places and the timing chosen by Rafael and Anca for this photo-trip made it border on the sublime. Rafael and Anca’s attention to detail turned this trip into an unforgettable experience.

Congratulations and thanks so much to both of you. ” Yvonne and René Hick, Belgium

“ Not only is Rafael a very talented photographer, but he also knows how to coach and foster his participants’ photographic work. His enthusiastic passion for photography is highly contagious! A top-notch photographic trip! Thanks so much to both of you! I am looking forward to seeing you again. ” Jean Cognard, France

“ Mind-boggling landscapes, an unforgettable group of people, lots of laughs, a perfect organization of the trip and magical souvenirs which made this photo-trip unforgettable! A huge thank you to Rafael and Anca for all these magical moments ! ” Justine Epars, Switzerland “ I recently spent 14 incredible days on a photo trip to Namibia with Rafael Rojas an Anca ­Minican. The entire trip was perfectly orchestrated from start to finish. Whether a novice or s­ erious photo­grapher, Rafael and Anca masterfully meet each participants needs. I am c ­ ontinually ­inspired by Rafael’s passion for his craft and his unique ability and desire to share his considerable­ ­knowledge. It is a gift. Rafael and Anca are the consummate hosts. I left enriched, fulfilled, made some fantastic photographs, and now have memories that will last a lifetime. ” Aubra Franklin, USA

“ Having never been on a photo-trip before I did not know what to expect and was somewhat apprehensive of the anticipated trip...but to my delight and amazement, it was outstanding. ­Rafael and Anca were the perfect hosts and had made sure that every little detail was provided which resulted in a photo-trip of a lifetime that will never be forgotten. And, I would not hesitate to sign up again for another incredible experience! ” Luke Classen, USA For me it was an unforgettable trip, largely exceeding my expectations. As a photographic experience it helped me to reflect and look for a more personal, intimate and emotional kind of photography and, as Rafael said so often, look for the photographs inside of my photographs...

Thanks my friends.

Paco Conesa, Spain

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TESTIMONIALS “ Unforgettable photo-trip, not only for the places chosen by Rafael but for his top-notch orga­ nization ! Incredible accommodation in lodges ideally placed to maximize the photographic ­opportunities. Rafael knew how to pass on to us his passion for photography and his detailed know­ledge about all places we photographed. The photographic tuition was perfectly integra­ ted into the different photographic sessions in a very practical way, without it becoming too ­academic or theoretical ! ” Marie-Eve Glasson, Switzerland “

“ Excellent photographic workshops! Personalized and passionate tuition, gorgeous ambiance, field instruction mixed with feedback and critique of the photographs taken...After many workshops made with them, I never stop learning and it is always a great pleasure to come back with Rafael and Anca! All the teaching is tailored to each of the participants and of great quality, and the good sense of humor never abandons Rafael and Anca. The workshops are planned with a lot of thought, and we are always in the right place at the right time. The only problem is...all workshops and trips are quickly sold out!”

S.Schild, Switzerland

“ This was a extremely well planned and scouted trip. Rafael knew where to take us and when, as he read the weather continually. I would say that was one of the things that was of best value for me on this trip. Also, he was very open and available for help if I needed it.

The photo-trip was a real success, with lots of unforgettable moments, both photographing and with the rest of the group. Rafael and Anca are a dream team for this kind of photographic trips. They are always surpassing your needs and expectations, with top-notch photographic coaching and a wonderful kindness.

I have been to many photo trips and this one was definitely one of the best, specially in terms of the possibilities for outstanding photography. Rafael really does take you to spectacular settings. The rest is really up to us and our abilities, but he does help us to “see” more possibilities than just the obvious. As I reflect back on my week with Rafael, I truly think he has helped me train my eyes to see more simply. I feel I am more demanding and selective in what I choose to photograph. I really enjoyed myself tremendously, it was fantastic, and I did not want it to end. I hope to travel with him again! ” Lorraine Thomas, USA

“ Anca and Rafael are one of the two friendliest people I know and their good sense of humour makes the trips with them very pleasant. Going out on a trip with Rafael is one of the most rewarding photographic experiences because he readily shares his ample knowledge and experience which will almost certainly make you a better photographer. “ Jochim Thies, Germany

J.S. Jacquet, France

I have attended to many workshops with Rafael and Anca in the last couple of years. In all of them, the choice of the places, the organization, the instruction and the great ambiance created by Rafael and Anca have made a difference, turning these events into very special and enlightening experiences. To be consumed without any moderation and with a lot of pleasure!

B. Dupas, Switzerland

Rafael has made me feel his passion about photography in a way that no other photographer has never done! He really spurred on me the will to learn, always giving away without limitation!

Bravo and thanks so much!

C. Bongard, Switzerland

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ESSENTIAL SEEING MEANINGFUL PHOTOGRAPHY LEARNING Website: www.essentialseeing.com Pully, Switzerland Email: info@essentialseeing.com Phone: +41 797 886 930

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