Workshops
Before & After
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TBA – Turkey – Ancient Monuments
Turkey
Price – $9,975
(single supplement extra $1750)
(excluding international airfare, alchohol and incidentals)
Inquire by emailing seth@digitalphotodestinations.com
Join us for an unforgettable adventure through magnificent Turkey, site of innumerable Unesco World Heritage sites. Istanbul’s mosques of Hagia Sophia and Sulemaniye. Cappadoccia’s wind sculpted volcanic monoliths with churches and towns carved into them of Cappadocia. The Kusadasi region’s Roman ruins of Aphrodisias and Ephesias. Markets and street life, arts and crafts, agriculture and orchards, vineyards and wineries. These are just a few of the many highlights of this fabulous workshop.
DAY 1 – ISTANBUL
Learn valuable information during our Orientation, Introductions, and Seminars.
DAY 2 – ISTANBUL
Explore Istanbul, home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites. We greet early morning light photographing the exterior of the imperial Suleymaniye Mosque, with boats and the Golden Horn in the foreground, before visiting the New Mosque. Enter the Hagia Sophia Museum, the masterpiece of Christian–Roman (Byzantine) architecture. In the afternoon, experience daily local life a you walk down the historical Eminonu district (the unofficial city center) and the narrow streets of Mahmutpasa and Mercan Yokusu (Corral Hill), and the Spice Bazaar. Visit the eerie Underground Basilica Cistern, a magnificent sixth-century reservoir (James Bond, From Russia With Love). Dine on roof tops with stunning moonlight views of the Blue Mosque, Little Hagia Sofia, the Marmara Sea.
DAY 3 – ISTANBUL
This morning we photograph the interior of the imperial Suleymaniye Mosque. Continue on to the historic peninsula towns of intensely colorful Fener and Balat, melting pots of cultures, including Jewish, Orthodox Christian, Armenian, etc. Embark on a private boat for an incredible Bosphorus Cruise Tour, sailing through the Bosphorus waterway that separates two continents – Asia and Europe – passing by marble palaces, ancient wooden villas designed of Ottoman architecture, and stately modern residential homes. Enjoy panoramic views of the the Dolmabahce Palace, the Ciragan Palace,the Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges. You will also view the Maiden’s Tower as well as the Rumelian Fortress. Then walk across the Galata Bridge, over the Golden Horn (which links Old Istanbul and the Beyoglu (Taksim) district) to Galata Tower. Continue on to the Pera Beyoglu Area to the vibrant cosmopolitan Istiklal Street, with many points of historical, architectural and cultural interest – Christian, Greek and Armenian churches, picturesque shopping arcades and passages, old Ottoman Hans, bazaars and coffeehouses, bustling with shoppers, students and young professionals. Dine in the famous Kumkapi fish restaurant district of Istanbul by the Marmara Sea.
Cappadocia – Gamirasu Cave Hotel
DAY 4 – CAPPADOCIA
Take an early morning flight to Cappadocia, celebrated for its lava-sculpted topography. Drive through the scenic valleys of Soganli, Love, Devrent, and Pasabagi. Our first stop at Avanos a center of terracotta art since 2,000 BC, for a demonstration of pottery-making in a traditional workshop. Visit Zelve, the most important religious center for the Christian community between the 9th and 13th centuries. Move on to Ortahisar castle and the natural rock citadel of Uchisar with its pigeons that turn flips in the air. Settle in to our remarkable hotel carved into the volcanic tuff.
DAY 5 – CAPPADOCIA
Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride over the stunning sculpted landscapes Cappadocia is so famous for. Many of the formations have homes and churches carved into them. Then explore what you saw from the air on foot. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Goreme Valley, including The Dark Church and The Black Church decorated inside with ancient frescos. After lunch, enjoy a demonstration of Turkish carpet-making techniques at the local municipality carpet cooperation. After dinner you’ll be amazed by an oriental Turkish Folk music show with a Whirling Dervish ritual dance called a Sema.
DAY 6 – CAPPADOCIA
Capture the morning light on the many magnificent rock formations in the Soganli Valley before driving on to the Derinkuyu Underground city and surrounding rock-hewn churches, colorful corrugated volcanic landscapes, and fairy chimney that have been carved by the wind and water for thousands of years. Spend the afternoon in local vineyards and sample the regional varietal wines of Cappadocian and Central Anatolian.
DAY 7 – FLIGHT TO IZMIR
An early morning flight takes you to the Aegean coast. We drive the road that passes through vineyards, orchards and olive groves, sometimes referred to as the Tuscany of Turkey, to Boncuk Koy (Evil Eye Village) famous for making traditional blue evil eye beads, to Selcuk and Sirince a 1000 feet above sea level, to Kirazli Koy (Cherry Village), stopping at famous wine houses, enjoying the gardens, and tasting the homemade fruit wines, before arriving at the seashores of Kusadasi.
DAY 8 – KUSADASI
In the morning, we’ll visit the ancient city of Ephesus the world’s best preserved roman city and the largest ancient city ever uncovered, including an amphitheater that can still hold 24,000 spectators, marble covered streets, gymnasiums, public latrines, the library of Celsius and the temple of Artemis. In the afternoon, a visit to the once-a-week local farmers/villagers in Selcuk precedes our final stop at Bird Island fishing village. Afterwards we dine overlooking the Aegean coast.
DAY 9 – KUSADASI
After a relaxing morning along the Kusadasi shore, we’ll walk the stepped streets of Priene and Iasos, virtually unchanged since Alexander the Great was there. The temple of Apollo at Didyma remains one of the most spectacular of all monuments. Then, continue on to photograph the artisans at Dogan Bey, famous for the goods they make from leather and felt.
Pumukkale – Colosseau Thermal Hotel
DAY 10 – PAMUKKALE
At sunrise you’ll visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias replete with Roman architecture and sculptures. At sunset you’ll enjoy Pamukkale, one of natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. White cliffs and the yellow travertine walls of tombs and monuments set the scene for reflections in the terraced mineral spring cascades created by thousands of years of natural calcium deposits.
DAY 11 – FLIGHT TO ISTANBUL
An early morning flight to Istanbul get you there in time to discover the colorful streets of the Grand Bazaar (James Bond film “Skyfall”) and/or enjoy a traditional Turkish bath. In the afternoon, you’ll be inspired by your fellow travelers images during Final Reviews, before our evening farewell dinner along the shores of the Bosphorus River.
DAY 12 – FLY HOME
Return home from Istanbul Airport.
Or, continue your adventure on a post-trip extension.
Curriculum
Creativity, composition, workflow, and post-processing are only a few of the topics that will be presented. You’ll get lots of guidance on site and reviews of your work off site. Get ready for a non-stop week of making images in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape!
Space is limited!
