THE WORKSHOP

The idea throughout your photography workshop  tour is to have daily photo shoots that we can view and discuss at the end of the day. Each day we will take one or two tours around the places to visit designated sites and work on specified photo projects. Our aim is to cover as many areas of photography as possible, such as archaeological, street, architectural, landscape and portrait photography.

Although instructor will provide technical tips and tricks throughout the duration of your photography holiday, the workshop will emphasize on what makes images interesting rather than simply technically correct. Provisions will be made so that we may download and quick-view images on a daily basis. Instructors will be available to comment on your images individually. Furthermore, there will be two long group sessions -halfway and at the end of the photo workshop- to review the photos taken by all participants, to discuss them technically and aesthetically, and to explore post-processing options.

Upon registering, you will be contacted by the instructors via e-mail. You will be sent a short questionnaire and a multiple choice test to establish your skill level as well as your photographic needs and wants. This will help instructors prepare for individual counselling.

THE DESTINATIONS

Athens – A Historical modern day Metropolis

Athens, the capital of Greece is a magnificent city that combines past and present in perfect harmony. Its unique landscape provides the backdrop for one of the most individual cities in Europe, welcoming people with a thirst for knowledge and beauty. No other capital city in Europe has the combination of so many moments in time imprinted in its subconscious – from ancient Greece, to Ancient Rome and Byzantium and from the Ottomans through to Modern Greece. An intense city characterised best by its history and decorated perfectly with good food, blue seas, sun and light.

The opportunity of seeing Athens’ many faces through the photographic lens and of telling this city’s long and magnificent story through the art of photography is a great challenge for any photo-enthusiast. During these 2 days of the photography workshop tour , you will find all of your senses brought together to produce an array of unique photographic images each bursting to tell their own story!

Sophisticated Tinos
(read here a testimonial about the experience of the island)

Tinos, our favourite island, is a unique travel and photography destination. Besides the typical characteristics of the Cyclades Islands, Tinos is defined by rich history and a long tradition in the arts, which impart a genuine, refined character to the island. Combined with diversified scenery, distinctive villages, a multitude of amazing beaches, exquisite food and the famous Greek light of the Aegean Sea, Tinos is certainly a one-of-a-kind photography travel experience.

The cosmopolitan Mykonos

No many introductions are necessary for the queen of Cyclades and one of Greece’s most popular islands. Mykonos besides its comspolitan flair and its numerous and most amazing beaches in the Aegean, possesses one of the best  beautiful examples of architecture and best preserved Cycladic capital’s (Chora). Mykonians have evoluted alongside tourism respecting their island special character and keeping their proud hospitality and extrovert temperament almost unaffected.

The sacred island of Delos, the whole an archeological site itself,  is a big contradiction to the glitz character of the island of Mykonos and adds mystery and extra archeological interest in Greece’s history in total.

Half an hour from Mykonos it could be a destination by itself.

DAY 1

Athens, arrive any time. In early afternoon, a guided visit at the  Acropolis Museum as an introduction to the historical value of Athens and its Acropolis. Soon after we continue with a sight seeing photo walk at the old neighbourhoods around Acropolis; Plaka and Thisio. Aquaintance lunch at one of the finest urban tavernas.

DAY 2

Morning food tasting (Coulouri, loukoumas, greek coffee, cold cuts & cheeses) through a photo workshop tour in Down Town, Monasteraki, Psiri. Break for rest/lunch and afternoon visit of Acropolis site along with the photographer.

DAY 3

Ferry to Mykonos (4,30h), lunch and aquaintance photo tour of Mykonos town.

DAY 4

In the morning, capture the wondrous Mykonos Town and port and in the afternoon guided visit in on of the most amazing archeological sites in Greece, the archeological island-site of Delos!

Day 5

Ferry to Tinos. Photo stroll at the alleys of the ‘marble village’ of Pirgos / lunch in a local taverna and afternoon photo walk in one of the most picturesque and bright villages of Tinos, Isternia.

Day 6

Half-day  road trip to discover the most intriguing bays/beaches of the island, loaded with tones of beauty and stories. Picnic at the beach with seasonal local delicacies. Free afternoon- review of the photos.

Day 7

Start the day with a hike between two of the most amazing landscapes and villages of the island. From the dotted with giant boulders area/village of Volax, to one of the oldest villages of the island, Agapi (Love) perched in a valley. Free afternoon, photo review.

Day 8

Visit and document with your camera the most famous pilgrimage destination of Hellenism for orthodox christians at the sacred shrine of Panagia Evangelistria . Farewell dinner at one of the finest tavernas in Tinos

Day 9

Departure from the island on your own arrangements depending on what you want to do next. Visit one of the wonderful islands around or visit mainland Greece

Greece is a beautiful country so if you want to explore further we suggest to continue with a Greece photo tour pre or post trip extention.
Post trip extensions:
METEORA PRIVATE PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
AWE-INSPIRING CONTINENTAL GREECE

For those joining the photo trip in September, you can combine it with the Mani  photogtaphy road-trip in a small group  running just after.
Post trip extension:
PHOTOGRAPHY ROAD TRIP IN MANI – PELOPONNESE

Note: With your registration you will receive the program more detailed.

9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS*

– Professional photographer (instruction on the field) all along to every photography/travel location.
– 2 nights (1st, 2nd, day of your trip) in Athens, accommodation* at the 3 star hotel Acropolis Select or similar.
– 2 nights (3rd, 4th) in Mykonos at the 3 star hotel Elena or similar.
– 4 nights (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th ), in Tinos at the boutique hotel Altana or similar.
– All transfers with a private vehicle.
– Ferry tickets from Rafina to Mykonos and from Mykonos to Tinos
– Breakfasts, 1 welcome dinner and 1 farewell dinner.
– A complimentary arrival transfer if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us.

Tours

– Guided tour of the Acropolis museum.
– Guided tour of Delos sacred island.
– Visit the Acropolis
– All entrance’s fees in the referred museum and archeological sites (Acropolis museum, Acropolis, Delos)

Activities

– Food tasting in Athens.
– Hike one of the amazing trails in Tinos.
– Half-day road-trip to discover bays of a past era and picnic of local terroir delicacies (Tinos)

*Hotel accommodation is provided on a double occupancy basis.

OPTIONS

Single room supplement € 620.
If you are traveling alone and wish to find a room mate to share a twin bedroom, we will try to match you with another guest of the same sex and desired profile requesting the same.

See all the health protocols we follow due to Covid-9 here.

    Socrates Baltagiannis

Socrates is a documentary photographer born (1979) and based in Athens, Greece. Apart from his commissioned work, which often lies between editorial and assignments covering news, humanitarian crisis and current affairs, his personal work is multifaceted, dealing with subject matters not necessarily popular but always with an eye on social issues and how people are affected by society, the environment and vice versa.

Many of his images have been published in prominent newspapers and journals worldwide, such as the Wall Street Journal, Der Spiegel, MSNBC, the Guardian, Courrier International, Internazionale, LePoint, Le Temps, Stern, La Croix, Die Zeit and FAZ among others. He works freelance for dpa (German Press Agency) and from 2015, he has been working closely with organizations such as the UNHCR and IFRC, documenting the refugee crisis in Greece. He is a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece and a member of the Frontline Freelance Register. On June 2018, he took part at a “Hostile Environment & First Aid Training” hosted by 1st Option safety group.

In 2016, part of his work on the refugee crisis was included in a book published by the Greek office of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation under the name “No Direction Home”.

EQUIPMENT

DSLR’s or Mirrorless are preferred, but today’s high-end compact cameras are very impressive. In addition, its recommended you bring a lightweight tripod, extra memory cards and is imperative to bringa laptop. Once completing registration, you will be contacted by the photography instructors and you will be sent the full list of the prerequisites.

NOTES

Since we will take walks, comfortable shoes are required. On a warm sunny day, we strongly urge you wear a hat and dress lightly. Some sunscreen might also help!

Try not to over pack with heavy photography equipment. If you do not know what to pack for your tour, we will be happy to consult.

When photographing in archaeological sites or Museums, tripods and flash are not allowed. All photographs in archaeological sites or Museums are for our own personal use, selling your images or using for commercial purposes requires a special photography license issued by the Greek Ministry for Education and Culture. When we have a street – photography workshop tour, you may need to ask people if it is OK to take their picture. If you have a language problem or feel uncomfortable, let us do the talking ;-)

HOW TO GET FROM TINOS BACK TO ATHENS & ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The shortest way to reach Athens is to get to to the port of Rafina since this port is closer to the island and to Athens International Airport as well. Conventional ferryboats boats depart from Tinos daily. The trip lasts aprroximately 4 hours, with one intermediate stop at the port of Andros. The fare varries from 30- 40 Euros.

The boats are modern, pleasant and safe. At the same time, during the touristic months, Tinos can also be reached by high-speed boats. The trip with these boats lasts only 2 hours, once again with one intermediate stop at the port of Andros, while the fare costs approximately 50 EUR. You have to keep in mind though that when it is very windy (+6 on the Beaufort scale), the high-speed boats are most susceptible to heavy pitching so we only recommend them if you are well accustomed to the sea.

Tinos has no airport. The nearest airport is that of  Mykonos (ferry boat to Mykonos takes less than an hour).

For information and ticket reservations you can visit the following sites:
Travel Agency Nikos Togias (for information about timetables, as well as for your tickets reservations)

FROM RAFINA PORT TO ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

There are two ways to reach the Athens International Airport from the port of Rafina:
a) Intercity buses (KTEL) conducting regular Rafina-Airport routes. It takes 30′ and it costs 4€.
b) Taxis. It takes 20′ and costs 35 EUR at daytime and 50 EUR at night (from 0:00 until 5:00)

FROM RAFINA PORT TO ATHENS 

There are two ways to reach  Athens from the port of Rafina:
a) Intercity buses (KTEL) conducting regular Rafina-Athens routes. It takes 60′ approximately and it costs 4€.
b) Taxis. It takes 45′ more or less, depends on the traffic and costs 40 Euros approximately at daytime.