Espíritu de la Cultura Photography Workshophosted by Carol Watson

Day of the Deadin Mexico

San Miguel de Allende, MexicoOctober 30 - November 4, 2014

In putting together this workshop, I want to provide the participants with an awe-inspiring and immersive experience that is educational and inspirational. This workshop is aimed at photographers at any level using any type of gear -- whether it be a digital SLR , a Holga or even an iPhone camera. To quote David duChemin, “Gear is good, vision is better.”

By immersing the participants in different aspects of the Mexican culture (religious festivals, music, food, and daily life) they can gain a deeper understanding of what they are capturing via their cameras – the “Spirit of Place”. I want them to leave as better photographers with a new understanding of the culture, a beautiful and compelling visual story plus many wonderful memories of their photographic journey.

This a small group workshop with a maximum of 10 participants in order to provide a personalized and intimate experience for everyone involved. It will be an unforgettable experience and a very unique way to experience Mexico.

Everyone is welcome. Just bring an open heart and a willingness to be transformed by the amazing beauty and color of Mexico. And extra memory cards or film…

The ExperienceIn putting together this workshop, I want to provide the participants with a culturally enriching experience that is educational and inspirational.

By immersing the participants in different aspects of the Mexican culture (religious festivals, music, food, and daily life) they can gain a deeper understanding of what they are capturing via their cameras – the “Spirit of Culture”. I want them to leave as better photographers with a new understanding of the Mexican way of life, a beautiful and compelling visual story to share, plus many wonderful memories of their photographic journey.

This a small group workshop with a maximum of 10 participants in order to provide a personalized and intimate experience for everyone involved. It will be an unforgettable and unique way to experience Mexico.

This workshop is aimed at photographers at any level (from beginner to advanced) using any type of gear -- whether it be a digital SLR , a Holga or even an iPhone camera. As David duChemin says, “Gear is good, vision is better.” Everyone is welcome. Just bring an open heart and a willingness to be transformed by the amazing beauty and color of Mexico.

The Experience

Scheduling the workshop during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) allows the participants to experience and capture one of the most colorful holidays in Mexico.

Although Dia de los Muertos is celebrated all over Mexico, the colonial mountain city of San Miguel de Allende pays tribute to the tradition during the 4-day La Calaca Festival -- an art and culture festival that takes place during the Day of the Dead celebrations.

Dia de los Muertos traditions commemorate the return to Earth of those who have departed from this life and by doing so, allows us a moment of reflection of the transitory nature of life and death. During this day, you can remember those that have passed and welcome them back. You’ ll immerse yourself in a cultural experience that will challenge your mind and soul to reach new understandings of life and its relationship to death.

During this workshop, you will have the opportunity to photograph many of the Dia de los Muertos preparations, processions and celebrations throughout El Centro and at the panteon (cemetery) in San Miguel de Allende. You will also visit Mineral de Pozos for a conceptual photo shoot.

Day of the Dead

San Miguel de AllendeCondé Nast Traveler named San Miguel de Allende the Top City in the World in 2013

San Miguel de AllendeCondé Nast Traveler named San Miguel de Allende the Top City in the World in 2013

San Miguel de Allende is a city that manages to be both quaint and cosmopolitan at the same time. Once an important stop on the silver route between Zacatecas and Mexico City, its historic center is filled with well-preserved buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. With its narrow cobblestone streets, leaf y courtyards, fine architectural details and sumptuous interiors, San Miguel de Allende is arguably the prettiest town in Mexico. -- visitmexico.com

San Miguel de Allende nabbed the No. 1 spot thanks to its “great atmosphere, excellent restaurants, culture and ambiance galore.” The “lack of [traffic] lights and billboards” makes the region “romantically and historically beautiful, and the city itself offers a “traditional feeling of a small town in the heart of Mexico.” “An amazing place to be.” -- Conde Nast Traveler

ColonialBeauty

Located about three hours north of Mexico City, 6,200 feet above sea level, this prosperous city of about 160,000 residents unfolds like a brightly colored quilt in a dusty tan and sage landscape. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, the historic district boasts well-preserved 17th- and 18th-century buildings — with flowering courtyards, arched porticoes, and elaborate carved-wood doors — painted Venetian red, ocher, umber, mustard, cayenne, emerald, cerulean, and vermilion. W hen the sun rises, the city dazzles. -- Boston Globe

ColonialBeauty

For photographers, San Miguel de Allende is a feast of colors,

textures and characters...

Casa dela Luz

Luxury accommodation in El Centro...

Casa Estrella Grande

Luxury accommodation in El Centro...

Casa de la LuzLocated in the historic center of San Miguel de Allende, this will be the main location of the workshop sessions. Up to 5 participants will stay in this gorgeous casa.

Casa Estrella GrandeLocated just up the street from Casa de la Luz, this casa has a pool and an amazing rooftop deck view. Up to 5 participants will stay in this colorful casa.

Arrival Day: Thursday, October 30Arrive and check in at Casa de la LuzEvening meet and greet at Casa de la Luz

Day 1: Friday, October 31Breakfast Morning session: Introduction to Dia de Los Muertos, telling a story with photographyComida (Afternoon meal)Photo Adventure #1: San Miguel de Allende, the magic and color of the city

Day 2: Saturday, Nov 1Breakfast Morning session: Tips for editing in Lightroom and PhotoshopComida (Afternoon meal)Photo Adventure #2: La Calaca Festivities and Parade of the Catrinas

Day 3: Sunday, Nov 2Breakfast Morning session: Panteon VisitPhoto Adventure #3: Conceptual shoot - Mineral de PozosComida (Posada de Los Minas)

Day 5: Monday, Nov 3Breakfast Morning session: Mercado VisitComida (Afternoon meal)Afternoon session: Compiling Your Story

Departure Day: Tuesday, Nov 4BreakfastDepartures to airport

I ti n er ar y

Note: Itinerary is tentative and is subject to change.

Investment

Your investment includes luxury lodging for 5 nights (at Casa de la Luz or Casa Estrella Grande) including breakfast and an afternoon meal on workshop days, classroom session instruction plus transportation and other fees associated with the photography field trips. Note: Airfare/airport transfer to San Miguel de Allende is not included.

Workshop fees are based upon your choice of sleeping accommodations. The double sharing rate is for those willing to share lodging with another participant. If you would prefer to have a room to yourself, an additional single supplement fee is added to the workshop fee. If you would like to stay an extra night and take a day to explore on your own, the fee for an additional night is added to your workshop fee.

A retainer of $650 is required to secure registration, with the balance due Sept 15, 2014. Retainers are non-refundable but may be transfered to another substitute attendee of your choice.

Rooms are booked on a first-come basis. You will have a choice of available rooms following registration and receipt of your retainer. Register early to ensure your first choice of rooms!

This workshop is strictly limited to 10 attendees.

SAVE $100 Register by

Aug. 31st

Your investment includes luxury lodging for 5 nights (at Casa de la Luz or Casa Estrella Grande) including breakfast and an afternoon meal on workshop days, classroom session instruction plus transportation and other fees associated with the photography field trips. Note: Airfare/airport transfer to San Miguel de Allende is not included.

Workshop fees are based upon your choice of sleeping accommodations. The double sharing rate is for those willing to share lodging with another participant. If you would prefer to have a room to yourself, an additional single supplement fee is added to the workshop fee. If you would like to stay an extra night and take a day to explore on your own, the fee for an additional night is added to your workshop fee.

A retainer of $650 is required to secure registration, with the balance due Sept 15, 2014. Retainers are non-refundable but may be transfered to another substitute attendee of your choice.

Rooms are booked on a first-come basis. You will have a choice of available rooms following registration and receipt of your retainer. Register early to ensure your first choice of rooms!

This workshop is strictly limited to 10 attendees.

Workshop Fee:Double Sharing

$1,400 USDper person

Single Supplement:Add

$400 USD

Extra NightAdd

$150 USDper person

Getting There

The are two international airports near San Miguel de Allende: the Aeropuerto del Bajio (BJX), located 110 km (about 70 miles) from San Miguel, and the recently opened Aeropuerto Internacional de Queretaro (QRO), about 75 km (45 miles) from San Miguel de Allende. Some people find it more cost effective to fly into Mexico City airport (MEX) and make the 4-hour trip via car to San Miguel de Allende.

The major American carriers fly into all of these airports. If you are going to fly into Mexico City, you might find a good deal on non-stop flights on Interjet -- my favorite airline. For example: Interjet flies non-stop from San Antonio to Mexico City for $320 return.

There are various transportation services available that can arrange airport pick-up at all three of these airports and will take you right to Casa de la Luz. You can find more information on this website:http://www.sanmiguelguide.com/tours.htm

You’ll want to book your flights early since Dia de los Muertos is also a popular time to arrive in Mexico. You’ll book your flights to arrive on October 30th and depart on November 4th (unless you stay an extra night).

You will need a laptop computer of some sort for the workshop. Some of the exercises will require a bit of “homework” and you’ ll want to load and edit your images daily. A laptop is required for this workshop.

On that laptop, you should have some sort of photo editing software. I will cover Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop techniques throughout the workshop so having either or both of these tools installed is recommended.

Of course you’ ll bring your cameras and all the necessary accessories such as lenses, batteries, chargers etc. You can bring film cameras too, but expect that you won’t be able to get the film developed until you arrive back home.

Bring layers of clothing appropriate to fall days at high altitudes. It can get quite warm during the day and cool down once the sun goes down. Sensible shoes are critical since we will be navigating cobblestone sidewalks and be doing some hiking where there are cacti. Bring sunscreen, an umbrella and a hat too.

Breakfast and an afternoon meal is included, however you may want to bring along some of your favorite snacks/granola bars that you might not find in the markets. You’ ll need some snacks to keep you going between meals. You can also purchase food at nearby restaurants and mercados if you get hungry later in the evening.

What to Bring

“Over the last several years we have been keeping a close eye on travel advisories for Mexico. If you are at all concerned about safety in Mexico please be aware that the U.S. State Department has no travel advisory for San Miguel de Allende nor the states of Guanajuato and Queretaro. We feel totally safe in San Miguel, as will you, and we hope you will join us.” - Santa Fe Workshops

Safety in Central Mexico

“It’s a real shame for people to write off a whole country without looking at the map and at the statistics. Without a solid understanding of the geography (761,606 square miles) and the nature of the drug wars (internecine fighting), many foreigners assume that all of Mexico is a war zone. But it isn’t…” - Washington Post

I live here in Central Mexico and I have never felt that safety is an issue. In fact, I feel safer here than I did when I traveled to the larger cities in the US and Canada. - Carol Watson

I’m a photographer who’s extremely passionate about travel and learning about other cultures. Over the last 10 years I’ve traveled all over the world and made it a priority to connect with local people so I could become more culturally aware when I photographed my destination and its people. My years of experience as a photographer have resulted in a rather large portfolio of images from my travels.

After submitting a series of infrared images to the International Photography Awards, I was awarded the Lucie Award for New Discovery of the Year in 2005 and was the first amateur photographer selected to appear in two IPA Best of Show traveling exhibitions. My images have been displayed in numerous galleries throughout the US and the world. My work has appeared in various books and magazines including World’s Greatest Black and White Photography and National Geographic Traveler. Collectors of my fine art photographs include NBA executives, Hollywood actors and CEO’s. As a gallery owner and director I have also served as juror or co-juror for multiple photographic competitions and have been the curator for more than a dozen photographic exhibitions. My background in computer technology has allowed me to become very proficient in the digital darkroom using Photoshop and Lightroom.

Working over 20 years as an IT Manager has provided me with plenty of experience as a presenter and instructor. During those years, I’ve instructed many sessions on Cultural Awareness to help employees learn to understand and work with their cohorts from all over the globe. I strive to make my sessions very interactive and have a good understanding of how to make learning immersive and memorable. Over the last 10 years, I’ve attended workshops of multiple photography masters including Stephen Wilkes, Jock Sturges, Jennifer Hudson and Steve McCurry. I was able to observe them as instructors and plan on incorporating their successful approaches into my workshops.

I’m confident that my knowledge of Central Mexico (I live in Mineral de Pozos), my love for cultural photography, my travel photography experience and my background as a teacher will combine to make for a great workshop.

Hasta Luego,

Carol Watson

About your host:

ToRegister

To register and pay your retainer online via credit card or bitcoin, click HERE. If you’d rather pay via Paypal, send me an email and I’ll email you an invoice.

After registering, you will receive an email to make your accommodation choice. You can also provide me with information about who you’re sharing with if you are registering with a friend. If you have questions about registering and paying your retainer, please email me at any time.

I look foward to seeing you in San Miguel de Allende!

Questions?

caroltx@gmail.com

cwatsonphoto.com

facebook.com/carotx

lostcanuck.com/blog

Links