Sicily

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

2024 / 2025 (Dates to be announced)

Given its geographical position, Sicily has for centuries been a key player in what went on in the Mediterranean arena: battles, culture, politics, commerce, art . . . all this has given shape to much of our civilization. Yet, in spite of all that it stands for, Sicily is a place which to a great extent still remains undefiled by global commerce and trade. On this island, deeply fascinating as it is, time seems to be irrelevant. As a photographer, one wants to explore and discover things, and this place is the perfect destination for such a person, for Sicily has so much in its character that awaits discovery, artistically speaking.

In as much as history, art and culture are the soul of Sicily, any visual artist, above all others, must not overlook the physical character of the place. There are mountains, valleys, lakes – beautiful landscapes and seductive coastlines that render the place a mecca for photographic exploration. Roads winding through the mountains take you through picturesque villages whose friendly inhabitants make your visit a unique experience.

We are very much accustomed to hearing of Tuscany and Provence as perhaps the places more synonymous with landscape and light. Sicily, however, holds some very pleasant surprises for the inquisitive visitor. Our days will be spent immersed in spectacular photographic opportunities – smooth, rolling hills of varied textures; fields of endless colour palettes dotted at times with architectural gems, at others with forgotten ruins; small villages, precariously perched on hills that overlook breathtaking sceneries. Isolated winding roads will lead us through undulating landscapes into ancient towns where time seems to have wiped itself out. Whilst the main emphasis of the workshop will be upon landscape photography, there will also be many other opportunities to capture Sicilian life on your digital “film”.

And then, there is the gastronomic experience. Sicilians live to eat – that’s a well known fact. Food is what makes them who they are and what nourishes their day-to-day culture. Cooking and dining is for Sicilians a way of extending their hospitality and strengthening relations. Their cuisine is an expression of their identity.

These are some of the major reasons why Sicily has been chosen as a setting for our photography workshops. During the week, we will have the opportunity to explore part of the island (Parco delle Madonie and whereabouts) and its people, learn the right techniques to help you take pictures that are artistically superior, understand photography better and the creative process which leads you there. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your work with your peers and receive guidance from a professional who has been in the field for years.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Group

A maximum of 6 participants

Lodging

Masseria Rocca di Gonato, Castelbuono

Duration

2024 / 2025

6 days/7 nights

Meet

Piazza Castello, Castelbuono, on Day 1 @ 12:00pm

Transport

All transport included – Mercedes Vito 9-seater

Tuition

Conducted by professional photographer John Grech

Accommodation

“Masseria Rocca di Gonato” is a place where guests come home to. . . It is a place of tranquility, enchanting colours, fragrances and landscapes. The property, surrounded by the “Parco delle Madonie”, is situated a few kilometers from the town of Castelbuono, in the north of Sicily. It is located in a part, which is considered an arrival and starting point for the observation and contemplation of an uncontaminated nature.

The property is the ideal getaway from the daily rush and routine. Ten acres of Mediterranean vegetation offer a colourful background for excursions. Traditional accommodation with a warm and welcoming style and excellent Sicilian food brings flavour into each day.

For more information about the place we will be staying at, you can visit www.roccadigonato.it

What you will learn

Shooting landscapes, sunrises & sunsets
Visualising and seeing differently
Using filters creatively
The difference between snap-shots and making photographs
Shooting with different lenses and how they can change your image
Low Light / Night Photography
Creative exposure control
Using movement creatively
Street Photography

6 Day Schedule

The schedule below is just a guideline of what the workshop would look like. There will be a mix of out-in-the-field photography, discussions, packed lunches, lunches and dinners together. There will also be some free time, which can be used to work on the images you capture during the week or spend the time in whichever way you please.

Day 1

12:00 Meet in Castelbuono
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch at Masseria
14:30 – 16:00 Introduction & Briefing
16:00 – 17:00 Free time
17:00 – 19:30 Explore surrondings
20:00 – 21:30 Dinner at Masseria
21:30 Evening drinks

Day 2

07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast
09:00 – 12:00 Excursion Parco delle Madonie
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch at Masseria
14:00 – 15:30 Free Time
15:30 – 17:00 Drive Masseria – Petralia Sottana
17:00 – 18:00 Walk through Petralia Sottana
18:00 – 18:15 Drive Petralia Sottana – Petralia Soprana
18:15 – 19:15 Walk through Petralia Soprana
19:30 – 20:45 Dinner at Petralia Soprana (Lu Carme)
20:45 – 21:15 Night shoot at Petralia Soprana
21:15 – 21:45 Drive Petralia Soprana – Gangi
21:45 – 22:45 Night shots of Gangi
22:45 – 00:15 Drive Gangi – Masseria

Day 3

07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast
09:00 – 10:30 Drive Masseria – Gole di Tiberio
11:00 – 14:00 Excursion Gole di Tiberio
14:00 – 15:30 BBQ at Gole di Tiberio
16:00 – 17:30 Drive Gole di Tiberio – Masseria
17:30 – 20:00 Free time
20:00 – 21:30 Dinner at Masseria
21:30 Evening drinks

Day4

07:00 – 08:00 Breakfast
08:30 – 10:30 Drive Masseria – Palermo
10:30 – 12:00 Mercato del Capo Palermo
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:30 Ballaro`
14:30 – 16:00 Duomo
16:00 – 17:30 Walk through Palermo (Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria)
18:00 – 20:00 Drive Palermo – Masseria
20:00 – 21:30 Dinner at Masseria
21:30 Evening drinks

Day 5

07:00 – 08:00 Breakfast
08:00 – 11:00 Drive Masseria – Polizzi Generosa
11:00 – 11:30 Walk through Polizzi Generosa
11:30 – 12:30 Drive Polizzi Generosa – Gangi
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch in Gangi (Trattoria Sant Anna)
14:00 – 15:00 Walk through Gangi
15:00 – 16:30 Drive Gangi – Masseria
16:30 – 18:30 Free Time
18:30 – 19:45 Drive Masseria – Cefalu
19:45 – 20:45 Sunset shoot at Cefalu
21:00 – 23:00 Dinner in Cefalu
23:30 – 00:45 Drive Cefalu – Masseria

Day 6

08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast
09:00 – 11:30 Wrap Up & Presentations
12:00 End of workshop & departures

Dates & Cost

2024 / 2025: dates to be announced

Workshop Cost: €1700.00

Deposit: €400.00

You can pay the full price now or the deposit

with remaining balance payable 6 weeks prior to workshop start date

OTHER WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Meeting Place

We meet in Piazza castello, Castelbuono, on Day 1 @ 12:00pm

Locations

Castelbuono
Parco delle Madonie
Petralia Sottana / Soprana
Gangi
Gole di Tiberio
Palermo
Polizzi Generosa
Cefalu`

Getting There

The closest and most practical airport is Palermo Centrale – Falcone-Borsellino. From there you can easily reach the train station and get a train directly to Cefalu’. From Cefalu’ you can get a bus to Castelbuono. Arrangements can be made for you to be collected from Castelbuono. Please advise us well in advance.
Depending on your flight schedules, other airports are Catania and Trapani. Train connections from these airports to Castelbuono are not direct and the journeys are over 4 to 6 hrs long, due to the fact that you would need to change trains and busses at a number of stations en route.

The closest station is Stazione di Cefalu’. From there, you can get a SAIS bus to Castelbuono. We can arrange a free pick up service from Castelbuono. It is a 10 minutes drive from Masseria Rocca di Gonato.

GPS: 37.93429895388731, 14.088619743168096

Included

Tuition during the entire workshop
Accommodation for the entire workshop where all rooms have their own bathroom
All transportation during the entire workshop
Daily breakfast
Packed lunches

Excluded

International air travel to and from Scotland
Transfer to and from airports, train or bus stations
All meals and drinks apart from breakfast and packed lunches
Travel and health insurances
All other expenses not included in the package

Difficulty

Some of the places we visit will be close to where we park our van but there will be a number of routes which will require between 1-5 hours of walking. Terrain could be uneven in certain parts, slippery, steep and no clear paths. A good level of fitness will be required for this workshop.

What to bring

Photographic

Photographic equipment you normally use, make sure that it is in perfect working condition

Some sessions will need a tripod

Filters if you have them

It is useful to bring a lens cleaning kit, we will be working mostly outdoors so it is a good habit to keep your equipment clean to avoid dust problems

I suggest you bring your own laptop: you will have the independence to work on your images when you have the time

Rain cover for your camera and camera bags

A selection of your work for our first meeting. This will be very useful for me to evaluate your photographic level and interests

Clothing

Weather in Sicily can hot but gets cool in the evenings. Bring clothing which you can wear in layers when cold and remove when warm

Rain is always a possibility so please make sure you have the right clothes to keep yourself dry, rain will not stop us from shooting

Meals

You should go home with very fond memories not only of the landscapes, friendly people and great experience, but also of the food experience. Meals are an important communal moment to relax, exchange opinions and ideas.

Due to the nature of this workshop it is impossible to have a designated place for our meals, however we will be eating at chosen restaurants where we will be guaranteed good traditional local cuisine. The meals in this workshop are not included in the price.

Internet

There will be Wi-Fi Internet connection throughout the accommodations

Language

Workshop will be conducted in English

Companions

Photography is a passion shared by many. Participants may choose to travel with their husbands, wives, partners or friends, who may or may not share this passion. It is possible, and encouraged, to come with a companion, who will not take active part in the workshop. I do my best to make non-participating partners as welcome as everybody else. Should you wish to attend with a partner, who might opt to or not to follow the workshop, and require a double room upgrade, please state this upon registration. I will contact you with further details and a quote.

One has to bear in mind however, that even though I still do encourage companions, since we will be constantly on the move from one location to another, the freedom of companions doing things other than the photography part of the workshop will be greatly affected.

Terms & Conditions

The Terms & Conditions hereinunder are deemed to have been read, understood and agreed upon once registration has been submitted. Registration is automatic once a payment for a workshop has been made either in part (deposit) or in full. These terms and conditions are binding once registered.

Fees & Registration

Workshops are limited to 5-6 participants in order to maintain an intimate feeling, and to allow each participant to have more individual time with the instructor.

You register for a workshop by paying the deposit or the full payment of the workshop.

There is no registration deadline but because of the small size of the groups it is advised to book your place as early as possible not to be disappointed.

Full payment of the workshop fees must be made forty (40) days prior to the date of commencement of the workshop.

Method of Payment

Payments can be made via PayPal or bank transfer.

PayPal payments can be made through the online facility on this website.

If you would like to pay via bank transfer please send me an email here [email protected]. I will send you all the information necessary for the transfer of bank payments.

Waiting Lists

If places at a workshop fill up, a waiting list will opened. You will be entered in a wait list once you fill in and send the appropriate wait list registration form on this page. You will not be required to pay a deposit at this stage. You will be notified of your position on the list, and if there are any cancellations you will be informed accordingly.

Cancellation / Refunds

Cancellation by the applicant due to illness or for personal or professional reasons does not entitle the applicant to a refund. Any cancellation by a participant must be made in writing by email or regular mail. The date on which the letter is received by will determine the cancellation charges applicable.

These charges are as follows:

1. 41 days or more before workshop – 100% of deposit
2. 21 – 40 days before workshop – 50% of total workshop fee
3. 20 days or less before workshop – 100% of total workshop fee

Cancellation by JGP

Even though I have never cancelled a workshop in my career and hope I never will, when working with professional photographers it may happen that at last minute notice, circumstances force them to cancel a workshop. In these cases the participants of that workshop can choose either to be fully reimbursed or to be transferred to another workshop.

John Grech Photography:

reserves the right to amend or cancel workshops, change workshop schedules or substitute educators (where applicable) at any time.
guarantees a five (5) working day notice when a workshop is cancelled or rescheduled. The applicant will be given the option to choose another workshop or to be given a full refund of the fees.
will provide refunds within one calendar month from notification.
will not, in any manner whatsoever, be liable for any losses including, but not limited to, travel and accommodation expenses arising as a consequence of any modification or cancellation of courses.

Insurance

John Grech Photography is not responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses in case a workshop is cancelled. It is recommend that you buy refundable air tickets and/or travel insurance.

Certificate on Completion of Workshop

A certificate of attendance will be awarded to all participants of a JGP workshop.

Students will be presented with a certificate which they will get at the end of the workshop or will receive it via email thirty (30) days after the completion of the workshop. The Certificate will reflect the details provided on the registration form.

Data Protection

John Grech Photography endeavours to keep confidential all personal information divulged by the applicant. Such personal data will not be given to third parties. Personal information will only be used for educational, promotional or marketing purposes and only if the applicant had specifically given instruction and consent on the registration form upon enrollment.

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