The Beauty of Burma  2019

Workshop cost  $7,700    single supplement  $1,400

* sold out *

January 5th – 17th, 2019

I will be going back to my favorite country on earth and a lead a 13 day photo workshop from January 5th – 17th, 2019.  The hidden jewel and land of enchantment of Southeast Asia is Myanmar, or what many of the locals still refer to as Burma. Bordered by Thailand, India, Bangladesh, China, & Laos, this country is a mecca for capturing one of a kind images. From the awe inspiring monasteries & temples to the simplicity of the soft spoken people, Burma stands out from the rest of Southeast Asia. It might be the least visited & explored country in that part of the world & that is what makes it so special. The hospitality of the locals make you feel like you are the first foreigners they have ever seen. It is truly a feast for the eyes in every direction and a place that will stay in your heart forever.

This will be a trip for photographers who want to capture once in a lifetime images. My guide is one of the best guides in Burma and has guided many of the top photographers in the world. He is not only knowledgeable about every aspect of Burma but also highly respected and will go out of his way to please each and every one of us. We will be going to many unique locations for photography in all four of the cities that we will be visiting, often looking for monks, local villagers & children for our photos.

Our trip will be about one thing and that is to be in the best light at the best time at the best locations. Photo opportunities are everywhere in Burma and we will all see why this country is the jewel of Southeast Asia. I have chosen mid January as it is the best time to be in Burma with the coolest weather and a great angle for the sun in Mandalay. I know this country well and want our group to have the most amount of photo ops without other people bothering us. This magical place called Burma is a photographers paradise and this trip is for people that are serious about capturing great images and are not just here for a sightseeing trip.

Our itinerary includes the capital, Yangon with it’s many sights and sounds including the golden  Schwedagon Pagoda and colorful early morning fish markets. We will also be there for the Kayin new year festival. We will then visit the ancient religious city of Bagan, where the landscape is filled with thousands of temples and is one of the most special places on Earth. This is probably my favorite spoton this planet and the eye candy in every direction is beyond stunning. Next is Mandalay, where we will photograph monks and local children in and around local villages and many of the amazing temples and monasteries.

We will also be shooting the famous 1.2Km teak UBien Bridge at sunset, capturing monks and locals carrying their wares & goods atop their heads. In Inle Lake, we will photograph local fishermen in their traditionalfishing boats, the Padaung long necked women, bustling local markets and a floating monastery.

My love affair with Burma began long ago in 2001 and after multiple journeys throughout the years, there is nowhere I would rather be. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to get a book deal with Skyhorse Publishing in New York to make a 270 page coffee table book called Passage to Burma, which this link will take you to. Inside the book are most of the cities we will be be traveling to within Burma and it was a labor of love that was years in the making. Last November, the second edition was published with many new images.

During the workshop, we will also will be able to see many of the people in the book including my favorite monks and monk masters and also gorgeous little children that I adore to pieces over there. One of the special places inside the book is a grade school where they let me teach English to the school kids and we will all be able to go to this school and watch them learn English.

Cost

The cost for the workshop will be the same as my last two workshops and I am happy to announce this as costs always seem to go up in this country!!.  The workshop will be approx. $7.700 based on sharing a room with someone else. The single room request will be $1,400 and if we cannot find a roommate for you and you did want to share, you would have to pay the single room supplement.   We are also staying in an amazing luxury hotel in Inle lake that is incredibly special and has made the costs go up too.  Also, If I took a larger group, then I could charge less, but that is not what I like or want. The price includes: lodging, all meals, domestic economy flights, ground-transportation, guide/translator, boat fares on scheduled rides, entrance and archaeological fees for scheduled visits, portage charges at airports and jetty, camera and video fees. A visa for your passport is required for Burma which can be easily obtained by their new online eVisa system.

The price is based on two people sharing a room as is the same with most international workshops and to have your own room and not want to share is a Single Room Supplement fee.   It used to be much less and I am not happy about this but I also only want to stay at some of the best hotels in Burma, rated at 5 star and many workshops charge less but the hotels are very bad. I have stayed at some of them and this is not what I ever want for my workshops and I insist on great hotels.

Not included:  International airfare to and from Yangon, airport taxes, entry visa fees,  alcohol, soft drinks and personal shopping and tips for drivers, models, monks and our guide.

Workshop Limit

The workshop is limited to 8-9 participants.  I do not like large groups, as I said, especially to this beautiful place and I will be working with everyone individually and as a group to better their photography skills, throughout the entire trip. I take larger groups to other destinations but for what I do with my groups in this special country, even eight people is pushing it. I do not leave the group and do my own shots as other leaders do but let everyone participate in unique set ups that I design with my guide as I will share many ideas and techniques with everyone on creating compelling images. No one else does that but I want everyone to experience what I do, especially in Burma.

I want everyone to have an amazing experience and I know no other instructor will give a workshop like this. I have heard from others what they have gotten on other Burma workshops and I know none work harder than me.  You will see if you join me.  I will speak individually with each person in the group and want to know each of their wishes and goals. I also cannot guarantee that the workshop will run as sometimes this happens. So far, this has not happened to me but just want everyone to know there is always a chance of a workshop not running without the right enrollment.  Trip insurance is also highly recommended.

Skill Level

Basic understanding of your camera operations including using f/stops and shutter speed is needed for this workshop. This workshop is for the intermediate to advanced photographer wanting to expand their knowledge of photography & capture one of a kind images in this special part of the world. Good camera gear is expected and a tripod although optional is very important and I never travel anywhere without one. I will go over camera gear with each person to make sure nothing is left at home.

Registration

To register for The Burma 2019 Workshop, please click on the registration button to email me for a registration form & full itinerary. It is not complete yet as I am working on last minute details but should be available shortly.  For more information about reserving a space, deposits or anything else, please e-mail me anytime.