MANI’S UN-SPOILT BEAUTY

“As a passerby, you can see Mani in three days, as a walker you can see it in three months and to see its soul you need three lifetimes. One for the sea, one for its mountains and one for its people.”

That’s what the locals say. This is Mani. Its unspoilt beauty remains unscathed.  The ghosts of its past linger amongst the endless olive groves. A heavy past which spans back thousands of years and carries with it the weight of history and mythology.

Mani will inspire us, as we hike to the southernmost point of the Balkan Peninsula, Cape Tainaro and walk through picturesque fishing villages. At all points of our enriching experience, the powerful Mount Taygetos will remain closely behind us, providing the backdrop for ample photo opportunities. Mani’s stone-built towers and barren land undergo a metamorphosis every day at sunset as the light illuminates their eerie presence.

To capture all aspects of Mani’ s rugged beauty is nearly impossible but through the photography workshop we will attempt to take some of this beauty with us to keep forever!`

THE WORKSHOP

The idea throughout your travel photography workshop 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 to visit designated sites and work on specified photo projects. Our aim is to cover as many areas of photography as possible, such as street, architectural, landscape and portrait photography.

Although instructors will provide technical tips and tricks throughout the duration of your photography trip, 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.

DAY ONE  – ATHENS ARRIVAL

The first day will be dedicated to guest arrivals at the hotel.
We will wait for you to check in and as soon as the group has gathered, we will all meet in the afternoon for an acquaintance dinner in one of the finest urban restaurants. By the end of the evening, you will know all details concerning our Mani photography workshop trip.

DAY TWO – GETTING TO MANI

Rise and shine! It’s an early start today as we head off to Mani. The trip will be around 4 hours long and our final destination is the enchanting bay of Gerolimenas; where we will stay for the duration of our photography workshop in Mani. It’s a comfortable journey so once we arrive we can have a little rest at our hotel and have our first shots at the natural port with the charming stone-built houses reflecting in the calm blue waters. Later, after our dinner at one of the quaint taverns in the surrounding area, we will have our first meeting with the Greece Photo Workshops photographer/supervisor where we get the chance to discuss our aims, objectives and individual needs.

DAY THREE – A TRIP TO ANOTHER…WORLD!

An early start for a brilliant day! Armed with our cameras, we will head south. As far south as we can go in fact! Tenaro is the southernmost point of the Peloponnese and of the Balkan peninsula. An area veiled in mystery as the locals still support that it is from here that Hades, god of the underworld, would take people over to the next world. A once in a lifetime opportunity for landscape photography! The impressive stone-built towers of the village of Vathia, built on the hill looking towards the sea in fear of pirates are a photographer’s dream photo.

After our lunch, we go back to have some rest and it’s time to review our first f day.

DAYS FOUR  – LACONIAN AND MESSINIAN MANI: BALANCING BETWEEN MYTHOLOGY AND HISTORY

Days four will be divided between Laconian and Messinian Mani. We will let our cameras do the talking as the photography workshop tour goes from village to village. Walking through the picturesque narrow roads, with the traditional stone-built houses and the small churches that go back as far as the 10th century, the opportunities for architectural photography are vast. In Messinian Mani, we will visit Riglia, Platsa, Thalames as well as the small fishing villages of Trachila, Agios Dimitrios, Agios Nikolaos and Stoupa. The Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine influence can be seen almost everywhere. In Lagkada lies a magnificent monastery with significant national historical value. In the small fishing village of Trachila the three-level cave provides a real photography extravaganza. Agios Dimitrios also boasts of having the biggest cave in Greece and it is said that it is from this small fishing village that Helen of Troy was taken by the Trojans. Finding inspiration for our photography tour in a place where mythology walks hand in hand with history will not prove a difficult task.  After all, it is not a coincidence that it was by the remarkable sandy beaches of Stoupa, at the shore of Kalogria, that Nikos Kazantzakis was inspired to create the immortal character Alexis Zorbas (Zorba the Greek).

Crossing to Laconian Mani we will find ourselves in the historic area of Oitylo – Karavostasi. Oitylo has been inhabited since Homeric times, and its traditional architecture is truly an experience to photograph. It is in Oitylo that the historical Medici family originated from. The beautiful village of Areopoli, with its narrow streets and truly remarkable churches, bustles with life. Areopoli played a significant part in the Greek Revolution. As we head down to the small gulf of Limeni our cameras are clicking away at the absolutely astounding view.

After all of this, you must be hungry! Don’t worry our afternoons/evenings will be accompanied by the delicious and aromatic Mani local cuisine, local wine and relaxing atmosphere coupled with a review of each day.

DAY FIVE – KARDAMILI: MANI’S WELL KEPT SECRET

Today the day will be dedicated to the enchanting Kardamili.
Kardamili – first mentioned by the ancient Greek poet Homer – was the main port for the ancient city of Sparta.  As you walk through fruit orchards and olive groves, from modern to old Kardamili, its long history flashes before your eyes. The temptation to capture the moment will be irresistible; the fortified tower houses provide a timeless architectural backdrop for our lenses as they gather around an 18th-century church. This magical seaside village, with its turquoise waters, found at the feet of the majestic Taygetos mountains, is also one of the best-preserved ecological areas in Greece. A photographer’s feast! Before our farewell dinner, and if time allows, we may also venture to a nearby village.

DAY SIX – THE “FAIR EYES” OF KALAMATA

Our last day in Mani and time to do something different! Kalamata, the town with the “fair eyes” (Kala Matia) is one of the most beautiful suburban towns in Greece and capital to the district of Messinia. It has a rich history and between the Castle area and the old town, we will get the chance to practice our street photography as we wander through its bustling with life picturesque streets. Mingling with the locals also means an opportunity for portrait photography, and there will certainly be some interesting faces to capture! Kalamata, of course, is well known for its olives and olive oil, so as we photograph we will not forget to stop, taste and buy, some of the exquisite local products.

After a rewarding lunch, we are ready to go back to Athens.

DAY SEVEN  – DEPARTURE FROM ATHENS

The day is all yours! Don ’t forget to check out! We wish you a pleasant journey and hope to see you soon in another Greece Photo workshop!

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 2024 and May 2025 , you can combine it with the Greek islands small group photo trip which runs just before.
Pre trip extension:
GREEK ISLANDS PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAY

7DAYS / 6 NIGHTS, ROUND-TRIP ATHENS

– 2 nights (1st and 7th day) accommodation* in Athens at the 3 star, Hotel Hermes or similar, in a standard room.
If you wish to skip Athens’ 2 nights, you can join Mani’s photo tour by arriving directly by some direct charter flights, to the nearby town of Kalamata. The price will adjust. Please advise.
– 2 nights (2nd-3th day) accommodation* in Gerolimenas, Mani, at Laoula Guesthouse or similar, in a standard room.
– 2 nights (4nd-6th day) accommodation* in Areopolis, Mani, at the 3star hotel Kastro Maini or similar, in a standard room.
– All transfers with private cars (what is not included, is the transfer from and to the airport).
– Breakfasts
– 1 welcome dinner and 1 farewell dinner.
– Guide photographer to every photography & travel location.

* Accommodation is provided on a double occupancy basis.

OPTIONS

– Single room supplement € 510.
If you are travelling alone and wish to find a roommate to share a twin bedroom, we will try to match you with another guest of the same sex and desired profile requesting the same.
-Please advice if you want to upgrade you room.
– If you wish to skip Athens (2 nights), you can join Mani’s photo tour by arriving directly by some direct charter flights, to the nearby town of Kalamata. The price will adjust accordingly. Please advise.

PRE OR POST TRIP EXTENSION

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 Greek islands small group photo trip which runs just before.
Pre trip extension:
GREEK ISLANDS PHOTOGRAPHY HOLIDAY

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 it’s imperative to bring a laptop to download and edit your photos.
Once completing registration, you will be contacted by the photography instructors and you will be sent the full list of the prerequisites.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

– You must be in good physical condition,  able to walk approximately 3 miles unassisted and be comfortable participating in 6 hours of physical activities each day.
– On the 3rd day, there is a hike to get to Cape Tenaro on a 3.9-km (2.5 miles) out-and-back trail. Generally considered an easy route.
– Most of our days include walks or hikes of 2-5 Km (1-3 miles), some on uneven surfaces for a minimum of 2 hours.

NOTES

-Since we will be walking, comfortable shoes are required.
-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.

CLIMATE

The weather in early Μay is mild in general with averaging 20-27°C (68-80°F). There are some rare cases of light rain.
September is comfortably warm with average temperatures 20-27°C (68-80°F) suitable for a swim in the fresh sea waters of the coastline region!

THE OPTION OF SKIPPING ATHENS

If you wish to skip Athens (2 nights), you can join Mani’s photo tour by arriving directly by some direct charter flights, to the nearby town of Kalamata. The price will adjust accordingly. Please advise.

HOW TO REACH HOTEL – CENTER OF ATHENS FROM THE ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (33 KM/20.5 MILES)

Taxi
The taxi terminal is located just outside the airport arrivals terminal at Exit 3. There is a flat rate of 38 Euros during the day and 54 Euros at night for going to the centre of Athens.
Metro
The metro is another transportation option available at the Athens International Airport. It is quite easy to use and the charges very consistent. The train station is connected to the airport although one will require to go up a level from the arrivals using an elevator and cross over a pedestrian bridge. You are required to purchase a ticket from the station desk for 10 Euros per person. Trains run every 30 mins (on the hour and half hour) from 0530-0015 (0200 on Fri & Sat nights) and take 40 mins from/to city centre (Syntagma Square)
Express bus
The express bus station is located just in front of the Athens Airport Arrivals. The express bus X95 is the one that goes directly to the Syntagma square. It takes approximately one hour to get to the centre of Athens. It costs 6 Euros.