THE WORKSHOP

Primely, this is a personalized, private photo tour that aims to cater to your personal needs and pursuits.
In a friendly casual format, through this 3-day photography workshop tour you’ll receive  hands-on photography instruction & integrated talks, in the context of a joyful trip in an amazing place.

Meteora as a photography destination offers the unique experience of nature’s grandeur in conjunction with history, architecture and man’s everlasting desire to connect with the Divine. A truly inspiring and sensational photography setting of overwhelming rock formations, but one must also be prepared to expect that this photo workshop tour is much more than merely capturing an exquisite landscape. It is a great chance to sense and depict the pilgrimage to a holy place,  that has become a preservation ark for the 2000-year-old Christian Orthodox creed, for all Christians around the world.

So, the objective of this photo workshop is mainly landscape & cultural photography with some portraiture chances.  Under the guidance of your  photographer, you’ll have a lot of good hands-on photography instruction, integrated talks, review of your photos sessions, and photo assignments into each day’s schedule.

The idea throughout your photography tour is to have daily photo shoots that we can view and discuss at the end of the day.

Although the photographer will provide technical tips and tricks throughout the duration of your photography tour, the workshop will emphasize on what makes images interesting rather than simply technically correct. Provisions will be made so that you may download and quick-view your images on a daily basis. The photographer will be available to comment on your images, to discuss them technically and aesthetically, and to explore post-processing options.

Upon registering, you will be contacted by the instructor 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 1 We are happy to meet you and pick you up from your hotel in Athens. Your 4,3 hours photo trip to Meteora starts at 8.00 a.m. with a car that accommodates comfortably the respective number of passengers.
During the drive you’ll have the opportunity to discuss with the photographer your goals in photography and an array of questions, queries and answers will arise in preparation for the surprises that your photography tour will give you.
As soon as you settle in at the hotel, you will enjoy some local specialties in one of the traditional tavernas around. The local cuisine is essential part of their tradition here with the ingredinets flowing down from the natural beauty of the land. It’s a foodie’s feast.
Then the afternoon is all yours to capture the sublime scenery. A scenery composed of unique formations of giant suspended sand-rocks! Meteora’s rock pillars are topped with Byzantine monasteries that echo the nun chants creating an eerie atmosphere in their isolated and steep standing. Millions of opportunities for superb landscape photography as you capture the scenery from all possible perspectives from the bottom up to the top for a panoramic spectacle.

Each day will be followed by a critique and editing review led by your instructor through exchanging info of your shots over your photography assignments.

Day 2 The second day of our photography tour will be divided between visiting the monasteries and some more selective shots of the landscape. You will focus on monasteries’ life – wherever you are allowed to– as evolved in time, mingling with pilgrims & travellers from all over the world and taking the opportunity for some intriguing photography compositions and themes.
In the evening follows an overall review of your photography trip.

Day 3 You depart early in the morning to get back to Athens. On your way back, you won’t miss the chance of some captivating shots of the fertile plains of Thessaly the allegedly Greece’s bread basket.

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

– The point of departure for your photography trip is in Athens, at 8.00 a.m from your hotel in the centre.
– 2 nights accommodation* in Meteora at the 4 star Grand Meteora Hotel or at a hotel of equal standards depending on the availability of the period. Accommodation is provided on a double occupancy basis.
– All transfers with a private car to the referred scheduled places.
– Breakfasts.
– Professional photographer to every photography location.

Exclusions

– Meals
– Entry fees

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

FOR PRE-POST TRIP ARRANGEMENTS

We can extra arrange your accommodation in Athens before and after your photo tour in Meteora as well as any pre or post trip extensions.
Greece Photo Workshops provides all the array of services related to a trip with a wide and in depth knowledge of the country.
We’ll be happy to assist with recommendations on a trip plan and further by arranging it for you.

Nikos Kokkas was born in south-western Germany, near Stuttgart in 1972. He grew up in Thessaloniki but his family immigrated to Germany for a second time when he was 15 years old. That functioned in a way as a “new beginning” in his life and that was the point where he started expressing a growing interest in travel and photography simultaneously. He bought his first SLR camera, a Minolta X-700 by the age of 16 and started discovering the endless aspects of light, in colour and B&W. Carrying a camera on a daily basis, it started being obvious how his life would proceed. Self-taught and having already travelled a lot in Europe, “camera in hand”, he returned to Greece in 1995, to Athens, with only one aim: to start working as a freelance journalist and photographer.

With a growing economy in the press at the time, and speaking three foreign languages, English, German and a little French, Nikos started producing and publishing his own subjects. His topics which drew inspiration from Greece and other parts of the world ranged from architecture and interior design to travel and social issues. So far he has produced and published over 60 travel and social issues from Greece, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Germany, U.S.A., Israel, Panama, Zambia, England, Ireland, Oman. He was a member of the Greek edition of National Geographic Magazine, having produced 6 subjects from different places in Greece with a certain point of view. A few years ago, he also developed an interest in portraiture making it a very important part of his work until today. He has collaborated with numerous major Greek magazines and newspapers. Part of his work can be seen on his website www.nikoskokkas.com , on facebook Nikos Kokkas and the facebook group Nikos Kokkas’ Pictures.

He lives in Athens.

EQUIPMENT

DSLR’s or Mirrorless are preferred with a wide and a telephoto lens.
It’s imperative to bring a laptop to download and edit your photos.
In addition, it’s reccomended to bring extra memory cards and any equipment you want to practice on.

Keep in mind that this is a personalized, private photo tour that aims to cater to your personal needs and pursuits.

Once completing registration, you will be contacted by the photography instructor and you will be sent the full list of the prerequisites.

NOTES

Appropriate clothing is required to visit the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing and shorts are permitted, as long as you cover your shoulders and knees. Skirts and shawls are available at the entrance for those who are unprepared.

FOR PRE-POST TRIP ARRANGEMENTS

We can arrange extra for you if you wish, your accommodation in Athens before and after your photo tour in Meteora,  as well as any pre or post trip extensions.
Greece Photo Workshops provides all the array of services related to a trip with a wide and in depth knowledge of the country.
We’ll be happy to assist with recommendations on a trip extension plan and further to arrange it for you.

HOW TO REACH 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.