Non UK Photographic tours abroad

Rooster

Rooster

Messages
683
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
Has anyone been on an organised photographic tour abroad? There are locations I would like to go to such as Iceland or even Japan but the organisation is daunting to me, especially in actually finding the best views. Has anybody ever been on one? Two things put me off - 1) being stuck with a group of strangers who I might not get on with particularly well and 2) the prices are just jaw-dropping, eg Iceland for 6 nights £3000, excluding flights. Are they worth it?
 
I can't comment on an organised photo tour, but having been on lots of TP meets, and having never met anyone who wasn't a nice person on said meets, why don't you see if there are people on here who might join you on a trip/ You could always meet up for a days photography before hand, to see if you get on, and then take it from there. That way, you could research where and what you want to see, and have your own timetable, instead of relying on a guide. I'd be up for an Iceland trip, even Japan (but not until next year)
 
To me planning and discovering locations and views, probably not the standard ones, that crop up all the time on say Flickr, is the real joy, not only of the adventure of photography but also of any holiday.

Its all about the 'journey' , ............... your photographic journey.

If you just want the text book views then go out and buy the book, it is far cheaper and can be done from the comfort of your armchair.

Waking up at 02:30 to get to a suitable location and maybe, just maybe gaining a cracker of a shot in the early morning is what the journey is really all about. Being fleeced and led to a location to press the shutter stifles creativity and will never make you a great photographer, just a poorer one.

There are no short cuts to life, why expect them in the photographic journey? And if you take perfect shots all the time because someone else told you to do so.......really means it isn't your creativity at all.

We see these folk on here all the time......look in the classifieds........ 'Selling up all the kit. Tried this, doesn't work for me, move onto something else' for instant gratification. :wave:
 
Last edited:
shreds said:
To me planning and discovering locations and views, probably not the standard ones, that crop up all the time on say Flickr, is the real joy, not only of the adventure of photography but also of any holiday.

Its all about the 'journey' , ............... your photographic journey.

If you just want the text book views then go out and buy the book, it is far cheaper and can be done from the comfort of your armchair.

Waking up at 02:30 to get to a suitable location and maybe, just maybe gaining a cracker of a shot in the early morning is what the journey is really all about. Being fleeced and led to a location to press the shutter stifles creativity and will never make you a great photographer, just a poorer one.

There are no short cuts to life, why expect them in the photographic journey? And if you take perfect shots all the time because someone else told you to do so.......really means it isn't your creativity at all.

We see these folk on here all the time......look in the classifieds........ 'Selling up all the kit. Tried this, doesn't work for me, move onto something else' for instant gratification. :wave:
Click to expand...


I kind of agree, but when visiting a place for the first time there's a great deal to take in and I would like to get a feel for the palce doing obvious shots and scouting locations then maybe go back on my own and do my own thing.
 
Hi OP - I must confess I've not used them (almost did but that's a different story), but their prices include flights and sometimes meals - Tatra Photography. They tend to have a pro lead a group of about 5.

Whilst I agree with shreds about whether it's really your work with an organised tour, it certainly is a useful learning exercise. I suppose you have to ask if it's a useful learning exercise, i.e. are you concisouly composing, setting up the shot or are you taking lead from the group guide?

The alternative is to head off somewhere where people haven't neccesarily been en-masse and find your own locations, but to me that can be a very risky way to spend your holiday time in a foreign country. I suppose you could scrutinise a tour operator before going for it - ask them where you'll be going and whether it's a route plenty of independent tourists take.
 
UKmitch86 said:
Hi OP - I must confess I've not used them (almost did but that's a different story), but their prices include flights and sometimes meals - Tatra Photography. They tend to have a pro lead a group of about 5.

Whilst I agree with shreds about whether it's really your work with an organised tour, it certainly is a useful learning exercise. I suppose you have to ask if it's a useful learning exercise, i.e. are you concisouly composing, setting up the shot or are you taking lead from the group guide?

The alternative is to head off somewhere where people haven't neccesarily been en-masse and find your own locations, but to me that can be a very risky way to spend your holiday time in a foreign country. I suppose you could scrutinise a tour operator before going for it - ask them where you'll be going and whether it's a route plenty of independent tourists take.
Click to expand...

I've done quite a few trips with On The Go - they use local facilities and guides. It's not a photography holiday firm, so it's all your own effort. Without their local guides help, I probably wouldn't have canoed into the Okavango or camped on the Nile, both of which are awesome photo opportunities.
 
try buying a local postcard of the views where you are staying that will give you some idea
 
Hi @Rooster

bit late in replying but here's my 2 cents..... is purely relating to Iceland .

If you fancy Iceland then it's easy to do on your own & come back with some good shots .Before I went I looked at almost every organised tour going there but , money is a big factor in my trips & I couldn't justify the figures being quoted for an organised trip even though I would possibly get to some places a little off the well beaten track .

There's plenty of reference books for Iceland to help with planning.... this I found very helpful : http://international-photographer.com/maps/iceland plus http://www.naturephotoguides.com/ebooks plus I spent hours on Google maps using street view. Iceland is easy in the sense that all the major well known attractions are pretty much on the Route 1 . & no matter how many times a location has been photographed your photo will be slightly different to the rest due to time of day, weather etc but most importantly....the photo hasn't been taken by you before.

I won't bore you with too much info but feel free to pm me if I can help with questions etc

Cheers :)
 
The prices are all outrageous, thousands of pounds for less than a week, usually not including flights. TBH it's more the social aspect I find iffy, I have been on group shoots and studio days where everyone got on well and the atmosphere was great but on others it's cliquey and not very friendly. I don't fancy being stuck in Iceland for a week with such people.
 
Rooster said:
The prices are all outrageous, thousands of pounds for less than a week, usually not including flights. TBH it's more the social aspect I find iffy, I have been on group shoots and studio days where everyone got on well and the atmosphere was great but on others it's cliquey and not very friendly. I don't fancy being stuck in Iceland for a week with such people.
Click to expand...


Simple solution.....go on your own if you can manage with your own company .I did 4 1/2 days there last year on a whirlwind trip & loved every moment : http://www.blondie606photography.co.uk/Travel-Diaries/Iceland-Diary if you fancy a read.

If I had the money I'd love to book a guided trip ( with one particular guide ) to get the best chance of seeing the Northern lights but I doubt I'll ever have the money so I'll continue sorting my own trips out :)
 
Blondie that sounded like a fantastic trip but very exhausting with all the driving, would you mind to give more details how much the trip cost doing it by yourself instead or organised? Would a week be enough to see the highlights and when is the best time to go?
 
HI @ingo.schroeder.5

It is quite possibly the best trip I've ever done....I was totally knackered at the end of it but adrenalin kept me going whilst I was there.

From memory car hire ( Hyundai i10) was about £400 ish & I took full insurance cover, the hostels averaged around £35 per night,which was quite expensive given how little time I spent in them BUT they were well worth it for a comfy bed, hot shower, free wifi & cups of tea :) Fuel was about £200 I think & food came in at about £50 - I survived on sandwiches, Tunnocks Caramel biscuits & crisps plus bottles of juice & one hot meal at a Kentucky Take away .

The best time to go is debatable depending on what you want to see. I wanted to experience 24hr daylight so went June 16th I think . The weather was , in general , great .In winter the weather can be anything from fine to bloody awful which will affect where & how safely you can drive. If it's the Northern Light's you want see then October thru March I think is the best . If you want to visit the Interior I think July/August would be better as ,certainly last year, the Interior wasn't open until early July & I belive it was shut down at the end of August - you'll need a 4x4 off road type vehicle I think which will increase your costs.
How long you go for again depends on how much time you want to spend at each location . I researched for hours on where I wanted to go , made lists of miles/times between places & went from there. I also accepted that if the weather was pants I'd have to change the plan .

I went this year at the same time but for 6 1/2 days & for various reasons still didn't see all I wanted to but did the whole of the ring road .Had I been on my own I would have seen lots more , but I wasn't so I didn't.

At a steady pace then I suspect a week is plenty to see the main attractions BUT I did notice that this year there were far more tourists & I expect that will be the case next year as well. Iceland is fast becoming a very very popular place to visit .

Would I do it again ? Oh by god YES !! & I'd arrange it myself,I think I probably saved about £500 on an organised trip....being a solo traveller is always expensive but there are times when it's the only thing to do

Hope this helps :)
 
Hi @blondie I am researching going it alone, was trying for this sept/Oct until I sat up late reading your blog. I am v much hoping to go now instead in June next year. Would live to see northern lights but as a single traveller but nervous about winter.
agree about the popularity too from my research. So for theOP, Def one to consider sooner than later.

Also. I havecresearched other hotter countries for photo tours or workshop days and instead of a specifically designed tour,because of the expense, thought more if going to somewhere I always wanted to visit and trying to find recommended 1:1 tutorial for a day. won't quite break the bank and you can try more if what you experienced at your own leisure. . Hope that helps..
 
@Smiffster It is possible to see the northern lights in September (season officially starts on 1st September) so if you are worried about self drive and winter conditions (I am too so i've only been by myself in September) - September is a good compromise if you want NL to be a possibility (but not the sole reason of going as that can just lead to disappointment, its the BEST time, but it is possible). They have been spotted already this season, a couple of weeks ago so still August! September will be miles cheaper than June.

I used Geysir car hire which were just about the best value with all insurances (i had a hydunai i10 as well) and this year I am using Blue car rentals who are similar prices but just had a different car i wanted (kia soul as i wanted to try an automatic). I like the idea of a guided tour, just so i'm not TOTALLY by myself but as you say they are stupidly expensive. i did a day tour with arcticshots.is last year, on the Snæfellsnes pennusula and i do recommend them if you wanted just one day off from driving if you are based in Reykjavik - really nice guys.

Im off to read @blondie606 's blog to see if any extra tips for my 3 days trip next month :) I have been planning this trip since january and my list of things to do is getting ever longer........and longer......... :-D I stayed in Hafnarfjorour last time and the moss covered boulders was on my list but i never had time to do that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top