Camargue White Horses Workshop Overview
Camargue White Horses must be on your photography bucket list. If they are not then oh my goodness are you in for a treat. I have been a wildlife photographer for almost 20 yrs and dabbled with horse photography along the way. Then I came to the South of France and photographed these stunningly gorgeous white horses against the Mediterranean colors of Provence and magic happened, I now love horse photography! Join me for this workshop, because you will fall in love with the remarkable Camargue White Horses and the sensational images that you will create!
In addition to the Camargue White Horses, Provence is famed for its bulls. We will enjoy an exciting and explosive “running of the bulls,” Provence style. Imagine a herd of bulls stampeding through the brilliant blue water, and you are there to capture the scene!
It is in the far southwest of France along the Mediterranean Sea that we will find the magical white horses that must have descended from Unicorns! The Camargue White Horses with the backdrop of Provence and the Mediterranean is one of the most photogenic combinations I have ever seen.
Workshop Highlights
- 5 Nights and 6 Days in Provence
- Includes All In Country Lodging and Transportation
- 7 Camargue White Horse Photo Sessions
- 1 Camargue Bull Photo Session
- Expert Professional Photographer Guide
- Local Professional Guide
- Exclusive Small Group of 5-8 Clients
Arrive in Marseille, France on May 24, 2022, around 12:00 PM.
Depart from Marseille on May 24, 2022, after 12:00 PM.
Camargue Bulls running in water
May 24, 2022 – Day 1
Today is a Monday, and you will be picked up at your hotel or the Marseilles airport at 12 noon today. Once I’ve made the pickups, we’ll begin our 2-hour private van ride to the Camargue.
You may know that I cannot resist birds and so after we check in to our 3 Star hotel, we will get in some bird photography at Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau. We should see a flamboyance (That’s the collective noun for flamingos) of wild flamingos, and they are gorgeous in the crystal blue water.
Then back to town for dinner and a good nights sleep before our early morning departure.
May 25-28, 2022 – Days 2, 3, 4 and 5
We have two photo sessions each day of the workshop. Seven sessions with the Guardians and horses and one session running with the bulls.
We will typically photograph at least a dozen Camargue White Horses in various habitats. The horses will be in multiple settings such as a salt marsh, ponds, streams, and even the Mediterranean Sea. It is an exhilarating experience. Directed by the Camargue Cowboys (Guardians), the horses will make several passes in front of your camera. Multiple runs by the horses will let you tweak your technique and increase your number of “keepers.” We will also take the time to create images of the Guardians dressed in their traditional Camargue shirts and hats, trident in hand, surrounded by the herd.
Between our daily sessions, we will enjoy lunch together (not included), and we can download images together. I will be available to help download and review your pictures from the previous photo session so we can correct any issues that may have cropped up.
Here are some scenes that I have photographed in the past.
- A shallow pond where the horses run towards us and kick up water showing the full power of their stride.
- Mares with their adorable foals.
- Time on the beach having the horses run on the sand back and forth with the sea as a backdrop
- Running out of the ocean towards us as we stand on the beach.
- In open fields, the horses will run back and forth with a bare backdrop and grass fields.
- Stallions rearing, kicking and standing on their back legs sparring with rival horses.
- Individual horses for close-ups and portraits.
- A farm visit to see the barns and tack used by the Guardians.
- Bulls running through water.
- Guardians trick riding on their personal horses.
May 29, 2022 – Day 6
Today is departure day and after a leisurely breakfast we will me make the drive back to Marseille for your flights home or your next adventure.
Included in Your Tour
- Transfers from Airports to Hotels and returns
- Accommodation in 3-star hotel in Sainte Marie de La Mer
- All entrance fees
- 3 Star Accommodation in Provence
- Fees paid to ranchers and horse Gardians
- All ground transfers
- Guiding fees
- Photographic Tuition
Excluded on Your Tour
- International Flights
- Items of a personal nature
- Meals during the tour
You will use a full range of photographic gear for this adventure. We will be photographing a wide range of subjects, including horses, birds, architecture, landscapes, street photography, twilight photography, street photography, and more.
Here are a few camera gear recommendations to give you some ideas. Please, feel free to write to me to talk about what you have and what you may need.
- A telephoto lens like the 80-400mm (Nikon) or 100-400mm (Canon)
- A mid-level zoom like a 70-200mm
- A wide-angle lens like the 16-35mm
- A walk around lens like the 24-105mm or 24-120mm
- Tripod
- Circular Polarizer for horses and landscape sessions
I am sure that I don’t need to mention that you need comfortable walking shoes. The exertion level is not high, but you do need to be comfortable wading in calf-deep water. The bottom is typically firm, but occasionally can be slippery.
Chest high waders will be available for you to use when we are photographing the Camargue Horses.
Mosquito Repellent!
It’s almost impossible to list everything that you’ll need, so just get in touch, and we can talk about what you have and what you might need.
US Citizens Traveling To France*
Passport
Must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned date of departure.
Blank Passport Pages
Must have at least one blank page for stamps.
Visa Requirements
Not required for stays under 90 days.
Vaccination Recommendations
None
Arrival and Departure Airport
Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) is the destination for this tour. Plan to be at the airport by noon and we will meet you at the airport and take a leisurely and photographic drive to the hotel.
If your travel plans require you to have an extra nights stay in Paris or Marseille, I’m happy to help.
We will be in Marseille by noon and so plan your outbound flight accordingly.
Travel Alternative
There are direct flights to Marseille from London, and that is nice. You can also connect through Paris. You can choose to make a direct flight and a connection, or you could take the train directly from Charles de Gaulle Airport. The train can sometimes be faster than the plane depending on your connection times.
I’ve done both if you have questions just ask.
Lodging & Transportation
All of the transportation and hotels are included in the workshop. All you need to do is travel to Marseille, and I have done the rest!
If you are coming in early or staying late me know and I can help with anything you may need.
Trip Insurance
I always use trip insurance for my travels. It’s so much easier and with so many more benefits when you compare it with your insurance. I’ve found the costs to be reasonable given the benefits. I use Travel Guard when I travel and even though; I’ve not had a claim they were helpful and easy to deal with on the phone.
*Information for US citizens travel to France was obtained from the US Department of State and was valid as of August 2019.
If you are traveling from outside the United States, please consult with your passport agency about Visa requirements for France.
Click the Green Button at the bottom the page, and that will take you to my payment processor, and you can choose your favorite method of payment. In the White Box, you can enter the number of places that you would like to book.
About 30 days before departure, you will get a welcome kit with the nuts and bolts of what to expect. Of course, feel free to email me or call me, and we can talk about it as much as you like!
There is a 2.5% convenience fee to pay your balance by credit cards. There are no fees with any of the listed payment methods for your deposit. Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions and or the FAQ to fully understand about deposits, cancellations and other important, but boring stuff.
I’ve been very passively advising my clients to purchase travel insurance for a while, but lately, it seems like there have been multiple people having travel issues. Some have lost their deposits and sometimes even the cost of the entire trip!
Based on my client’s experience, I cannot stress more strongly on how crucial it is to purchase travel insurance. Like I said before, and here it comes again, there is never a way to predict what is going to happen when you are booking trips months and years into the future.
You can read more about my thoughts about the importance of travel insurance in this blog post.
Or you can go get a free quote and book your vital travel insurance.
https://wildlifeworkshops.link/Travel_Insurance_Quote
Tuition
This 7-day tour is $4495 per person single occupancy and $ 3995 double occupancy. If you are a solo traveler, I will do everything I can to assist you in finding a suitable person to share your lodging. If we cannot find a person for you to share accommodations, the single supplement is $500.
There is a five person minimum attendance required for this workshop and will be strictly enforced. DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS for flights etc. for this workshop until you have a confirmation email indicating the workshop will happen.
Deposit
A non-refundable $750 deposit is required to reserve space in the Camargue Horses Photography Workshop. The balance will be due on July 21, 2022.
Ready to Go?
I’ve done this trip several times because my clients love it, I love it, and I am sure that you will love it too. The people are lovely, and the horses are spectacular, and the settings are divine! You are going to create captivating images that you will love, and with my help, you will see an improvement in your photography!
The Camargue White Horses Workshop is so good it might even be able to scratch your acnestis!
Click today, and you’re on your way!
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