Tours - Magic Travel

Byzantine Greece - Beginners Level

Duration: 6 Days
Availability: 12 - 17 September 2010

Improve your photo skills, shoot great images, have fun and do nothing but photography!
Photothema and Magic Travel welcome you to the Peloponnese. We organize outdoor photography workshops throughout the year in the vicinity of Sparta, Greece.

Joining a workshop means working indeed. It will be photography from morning till evening with plenty of photo shoots on great locations. After the shoots, photos are viewed and discussed together and in a constructive manner. Learning from each other, while enjoying Greek culture and country life, is the key in our workshops.

All workshops have a maximum of 6 participants and are open to everyone who shoots digital. Both compact cameras and DSLRs are welcome.

The Byzantine Empire – otherwise known as the East Roman Empire – ruled over large areas of the Mediterranean from the 4th century BC with Constantinople – current Istanbul – as its capital. Greece was its last stronghold, with Mystras as the capital (1350- 1460). Byzantine churches, often with colourful remains of fresco's and icons, can be found anywhere in the Greek landscape. The imperial city of Mystras is nowadays a fascinating open air museum.

During this 6-day workshop we combine daily sessions on technique and composure with practice on various outdoor locations. It will be photography from morning till evening. You get to know the basics of your camera: the use of speed, aperture and ISO values. You will experience how to handle your camera well and practice the basics of editing.
After the daily outdoor photo shoots you view and discuss the results together and in a constructive manner. We end each day with a joint dinner in one of the Xirokambi restaurants.

Outdoor photo shoots
Xirokambi – Village and surroundings
Mystras - Churches and ruins from the heydays of the late Byzantine Empire (13th century AD)
Mani - One of the most fascinating areas in Greece, with its desolate landscape and villages dominated by tower houses
Kidonitsa - Huge olive tree dating back to the Byzantine era (at least 1000 years old)
Sparta - Olive oil museum with tools for squeezing the olives during Byzantine times
Parori - Cave church of Panagia Lagadhiotissa with 14th century frescoes

In each location, we take ample time to photograph.

The workshop starts on Sunday afternoon, September 12, and ends on Friday around noon, September 17.

Location

Xirokambi is a lively Greek village, nested at the foot of the Taygetos Mountains, 15 km (9,3 miles) south of Sparta in the Peloponnese.

The surrounding area of Xirokambi is paradise for photographers who love the enticing combination of nature and culture. The Evrotas Valley borders with the high-rising Taygetos Mountains in the west and the more sloping mountains of the Parnonas in the east. The gorges and the endless olive groves hide small ancient sites, Byzantine churches and monasteries, and traditional villages. Furthermore, the Byzantine cities of Mystras and Monemvasia, the tower houses on the desolated Mani, Ancient Sparta, and the lively harbour town of Gythio offer a dramatic stage for photography.

Photothema is located in an old stone house, surrounded by olive and citrus trees, and a large patio under the vine leaves. Before and after the outdoor photo shoots you gather in our workshop accommodation. Here you can use your own laptop or one of the available computers for the storage, selection and editing of your photos.

12 Sep 2010 - 18 Sep 2010