FRANCE COURSES
To learn more about worldwide photo tours please CLICK HERE.
The trips are friendly, relaxed and casual, and I'll be on hand at all times to guide and offer assistance where necessary. The groups are small, with a maximum of 4-5 people, thereby ensuring both comfort and personal attention. Whether you are an experienced photographer or a complete beginner, the fact that I only take small groups mean that I can adapt your trip to your particular level.
THE AREA & HOW TO GET HERE LES LANDES is a national park in south west France. The area is very beautiful, within endless sandy beaches, pine forests and lakes, and although one of the biggests departements or counties in France, is also one of the most sparsley populated. Les Landes lies between Bordeaux in the north and Biarritz and the Spanish border to the south. You will be staying in the coastal town of SOUSTONS, 45 km north of Biarritz. Nestling against an emerald forest, the 700 hectare fresh-water lake and 5 km from the ocean, lined with endless fine sandy beaches, Soustons is indeed a jewel in the crown of south west France. For information on how to get here, please CLICK HERE.
ACCOMMODATION Accommodation is in SOUSTONS, a coastal town with all amenities (banks, cashpoints, restaurants, bars, doctors, chemists etc). The DOMAINE DE BELLEGARDE is a beautifully renovated 19th century stately home providing chic, boutique accommodation, and set in 2 hectares of private wooded parkland and within walking distance of the town centre and of course the lake. Run for 5 years by a Quintin and Merrilyn, a young Anglo-Australian couple with many years experience in the hotel and catering business, The Domaine de Bellegarde is a beautiful, friendly establishment with great facilities including heated pool, a selection of bikes for your use, tea and coffee making facilities, en suite rooms with TV, DVD and free WiFi Internet access. This is a fabulous place to be based for your trip and Quintin and Merrilyn will make you feel very at home!
For more information on your hotel, CLICK HERE
Please note that in the advent of a late booking or lack of availability, alternative accommodation may have to be offered.
LOGISTICS Although we will be travelling in a large, comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, to ensure that the maximum time is spent on site I endeavour to keep journeys as short as possible with several destinations being only a few minutes drive away and the furthest being under an hour (slightly more if we head up to the mountains). In the event of bad weather, we may have to travel a little further in order to make the most of the day. If we leave the road to go through the forest, we keep to specific tracks that in no way harm the environment or wildlife. There will be a certain amount of walking, both in sand and through the forests, to get us to some of the chosen locations, so an elementary level of fitness is required. Those with reduced mobility are welcomed on the course; however any special individual needs would need to be discussed to ensure that we can meet your requirements.
ITINERARY For a detailed itinerary of a 5 day photo workshop, please CLICK HERE.
AIRPORT PICK-UP/ DROP OFF
Airport pick ups and drop offs from Biarritz airport or nearby stations are included in the price of the course provided you arrive and depart on the scheduled arrival and departure days, and before 7pm. If you decide to arrive early or prolong your stay I will make every effort to try and adapt my schedule, but this is not always possible so this may mean you finding your own way. You will be aware of this well in advance of your travel days and I will of course help to organise transport if you so wish.
BLACK & WHITE WORKSHOPS I also offer 3 and 5 day black and white workshops in the Biarritz/Hossegor area, concentrating on location choice, 'seeing' in black and white, long exposure techniques and the all important conversions and post processing techniques.