Arrival day: The holiday begins with a private transfer from Marrakesh, Essaouira or Agadir airport and arrival in Essaouira at your Riad followed by a mint tea and evening dinner.
Day 2 Sun: Camera Fundamentals Workshop
10-11 You’ll have a brief workshop on exposure control and histograms.
11-3 Depending on the experience of the group, you’ll either visit a country market learning to shoot street photography or pursue more camera understanding within the medina. Both are followed by a review.
7 Dining (a la carte).
Day 3 Mon – ‘abstract’ ‘Light, shade, texture and angles’
The focus of today’s tuition will be on 2 abstract workshops in the medina and port, focussing mostly on using depth of field. You will also benefit from one-to-one feedback during the day to assess your progress, providing feedback on your images and taking your understanding a step further.
10-11 Presentation on composition and abstract photography.
11-2 Tutor led tour of medina and photography.
2-4 Lunch/free time.
4-7 Review of your medina morning photos followed by a tutor led workshop in the port until sunset.
7 Dining (a la carte).
Day 4 Tues- ‘Portraits’ shooting people workshop (using different lenses)
10-11 A review of the previous afternoon’s photography at the port followed by a presentation on portrait photography focusing on the traditional workers in Essaouira and their crafts.
11-1 Tutor led introduction to Essaouira’s workers: Thuya designers, Argan sellers or silversmiths.
1-3 Lunch.
3-5 Individual tutorials/Project task for the following day.
In the early evening you will either have a tutor led sunset photography session, (a chance to get some good shots of camel and horse riders in the dusk) or we’ll head out of the medina to an area rich in abstract possibilities.
7 Dining (a la carte).
Day 5 Wed: Trip into the countryside
10-2 Exploring the countryside – Argan forests and a local market in a Berber community. A day to photograph a mixture of different subjects outside Essaouira including tuition throughout the morning covering reportage photography at a local market (souk) and portraits at a womens’ Argan cooperative 25km from Essaouira.
The afternoon is set aside for an optional cooking class in the countryside and during the warmer months, a swim.
7 Dining at a stunning restaurant in Essaouira – Caravan Cafe.
Day 6 Thurs: – ‘Reportage’ workshop
10-11 Reviewing images from the previous day at the Riad followed by a presentation on reportage/documentary focusing on the fisherman and port.
11-1 Tutor led tour of the port based on documentary style photography.
1-2 Lunch.
2-5 Individual tutorials and review of your project task. You will also finalise your personal project for the remaining part of the course. The afternoon is free to explore, relax, visit the beach or practise your photography independently or you can take part in an optional afternoon activity (extra charges may apply).
7 Dining ( a la carte).
Day 7 Fri: Free day for photography
AM photography free time.
Lunch.
Optional afternoon activities/photography free time – souks, music, hammam, horse riding.
4-6 Review of your last day’s images and selection for your galleries.
7 Final slideshow of images at the Riad.
7.30 Dining.
Day 8: Departure:
Breakfast followed by your transfer to the airport.
Weather conditions can also lead to a change in the programme. This itinerary is designed for guests with some previous experience of photography as well as complete beginners.