Brazil
12 Days | June 18-29, 2027
We hope you’ll join us in Brazil for an epic workshop stepped in cultural immersion and creative opportunity. We’ve chosen the month of June when the regional festivals (Festa Junina) are in full swing. These festivals are exuberant celebrations held throughout Brazil, particularly in the Northeast.
Dancing, music, costumes, rituals, and high energy offer an extraordinary stage for us to make pictures. The intensity of the festivities combined with the distinct flavor of each location will create a rare environment for visual storytelling and great adventure.
After Campina Grande and Santiago, we’ll explore Curitiba, a European-influenced city in the south, for a totally different take on Brazil. We’ll be led by a local to unusual spots and experiences, both urban and rural.
We can’t wait to explore Brazil with you. It’s going to be fun and challenging (in the best way). We’ve chosen locations that are safe to make pictures and engage fully with the people and surroundings.
Overview
São João Festival
June is the season of color and joy as small towns and larger cities burst to life with festive traditions that blend Catholic rituals and rural heritage. The month-long Festa Junina celebrations feature enormous open-air dance floors filled with forró bands, plaid-clad revelers leaping over bonfires, and town squares strung with colored paper flags in honor of saints like Saint Anthony, Saint John and Saint Peter. In Campina Grande, our focus will be this exuberant festival, and other nearby regions, including Caruaru, which come alive with food and folk dancing for days on end.
We will spend two full days and nights here, photographing the vibrant celebrations.
Salvador: Festa Junina Continues
From Campina Grande we'll fly to the beautiful and historic city of Salvador, the Afro-Brazilian heartland and hub of traditional music and food. Here, the festivites continue. Salvador is an unparalleled mix of Brazilian heritage, colonial architecture, and tropical landscapes, offering us varied and rich tapestry of local life. We'll photograph the festivities but also allow plenty of time to work on pictures, edit and sequence, and discuss what we love most: photography.
Salvador rises in tiers above the Bay of All Saints. In the stone streets of Pelourinho, baroque façades painted in lovely hues frame the town square, the lifeblood of the city. Beachgoers drift toward Porto da Barra for a swim - even in early winter when we’ll be there.
Salvador has its own particular vibe. The June festival, combined with the city's markets, music and food, will be an exciting stop on our workshop travels.
We'll spend three nights in a centrally located hotel.
João Pessoã
Joao Pessoa is where the workshop officially begins, is a charming city on the Northeast coast, nestled in the heart of Paraiba. This is the easternmost city in the Americas. The sun rises here before anywhere else in the hemisphere, and sunrise at Ponta do Seixas is a local ritual.
Founded in 1585, João Pessoa is among Brazil’s oldest cities, and its historic center preserves pastel colonial façades and baroque churches without the crush of Brazil’s more famous beach cities - less carnival, more contemplative. This is where we’ll begin, acclimating to our surroundings and setting creative intentions for the rest of our workshop.
We'll spend two nights in a lovely beachside hotel. After watching the sun rise on our second morning, we'll drive two hours to Campina Grande, our first festival stop.
Curitiba & Points Beyond
From Salvador, we'll fly to the beautiful southern city of Curitiba, our base for the last four days of our workshop. This is Brazil's most sustainable city: green, with a laid-back European feel, but still atuthentically Brazilian. It has a humane urban plan that will be easy for us to navigate, parks and lakes, bustling neighborhoods, and an excellent bus system we’ll use on our explorations.
Nearby, we’ll visit the remnants of the Atlantic Forest, and spend an evening glamping in the Escarpa Devoniana region. We'll ride the Serra do Mar train to the ocean. As one of our participants is a local, we’ll have an insider perspective — and experiences — all along the way.
We'll stay in a central hotel for 3 nights; rustic accomodations for 1 night.
Details & Pricing
We hope you'll join us for our 12 day workshop in Brazil, a once-in-a lifetime adventure.
All of our trips include carefully selected accommodations, restaurants, private transportation, local guides, and entrance fees. Hands on instruction, assignments, project & story guidance from Dan & Elena
Brazil
What's Included:
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Single accommodation in 4 star hotels
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Airfare to Salvador & Curitiba
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Private van with professional driver
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All breakfasts and 8 dinners
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Wine or beer with meals
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All entrance fees and guides as a group
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Pre trip group virtual gathering
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Dedicated one-on-one instruction and mentorship
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Daily assignments and reviews
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Airport pick up and drop off on official start and end dates (June 18/29)
What's Excluded:
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Airfare from home country
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Airfare to meeting city (Joao Pessoa)
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Personal travel and medical insurance
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Expenses related to arriving/departing early or late
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Airport transfers on non start & end dates
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Personal items/laundry
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Alcohol other than beer and wine during group dinners
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Fees for overweight baggage, passport, andinsurance
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Bar bills
*First Meet: June 18, at hotel
Introductions & dinner, 5 PM
*Last Meet: June 30
View Terms & Conditions & FAQ for important details.
*Paying in installments can be arranged.
Returning participants receive a 5% discount
For more information, payment options and other questions, please email directly
Tirana
The capital, with a population of over half a million and growing more cosmopolitan with new restaurants, shops, and galleries joining the almost surrealist pastiche of testaments to the city’s past. Here, eras collide. We’ll visit Skanderbeg Square, recently renovated with new fountains and rosy granite paving, and home to an 18th-century mosque and minaret, a domed Albanian Orthodox church, a set of government buildings that echo the fascist architecture of Mussolini’s Italy and a Brutalist monolith that houses the National Historical Museum. We'll see the newly opened Secret Surveillance Museum and Bunk’Art, Dictator Hoxha’s five-story underground nuclear bunker.
We’ll spend the first two nights at the centrally located Rogner, an extremely comfortable hotel with a pool and spa.
Korce
Known as the Paris of Albania, Korce is a beloved city of cobblestone streets, high hills, historic spice and food bazaars, and plenty of busy bars and cafes. Renowned for its exceptional cuisine, like lakror--spinach and cheese pie whose recipe has been passed down through generations. Korce has a laid-back atmosphere with culturally significant architecture and museums.
We'll explore Korce's French-style villas, iconic cobblestone boulevards, medieval art and photography collection and, of course, sample the famous beer of Korce.
Shkoder
This beautiful and historic city is situated between Lake Shkoder and the foothills of the Albanian Alps. It is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the Balkans. Shkoder is regarded as the traditional capital of Northern Albania and is renown for its arts, culture and religious diversity.
We’ll have a curator-led walk through of the Marubi National Museum of Photography, a gorgeous, modern archive showcasing the history of photography in the city of Shkoder. We’ll visit renown churches and mosques as well as the Venice Art Mask Factory where "30,000 masks per year are made using the labour-intensive cartapesta technique”. For those who wish to bike, we’ll pedal around Lake Shkoder and visit a small atilier of traditional women weavers.
Two nights will be spent at Hotel Tradita, a boutique inn with incredible charm, delicious food and homemade liqueur.
Voskopoje
While based in Korce we'll visit the beautiful, high mountain village of Voskopoja, known for its spectacular post-Byzantine-style churches with floor-to-ceiling icon paintings. We’ll dine at a mountain restaurant with some of the best traditional food in the country.
Berat
Berat is a charming and beloved city as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A striking feature is the collection of white Ottoman houses that dot the hills to the castle. Berat is surrounded by mountains, and locals flock to the outdoor cafes lining the Osum river that runs through the city. We'll be guided through the city by a native Berati.
Lodging for one night in a centrally located hotel.
Shkoder
This beautiful and historic city is situated between Lake Shkoder and the foothills of the Albanian Alps. It is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the Balkans. Shkoder is regarded as the traditional capital of Northern Albania and is renown for its arts, culture and religious diversity.
We’ll have a curator-led walk through of the Marubi National Museum of Photography, a gorgeous, modern archive showcasing the history of photography in the city of Shkoder. We’ll visit renown churches and mosques as well as the Venice Art Mask Factory where "30,000 masks per year are made using the labour-intensive cartapesta technique”. For those who wish to bike, we’ll pedal around Lake Shkoder and visit a small atilier of traditional women weavers.
Two nights will be spent at Hotel Tradita, a boutique inn with incredible charm, delicious food and homemade liqueur.
Beirut
Beirut embodies the beauty and spirit of Lebanon. With its liberal (hedonistic?) leanings it is one of the great capitals of the Middle East. Inhabited by about two million people, it is a city full of history, emotions and division. Although the scars of the past are visible on the surfaces of the buildings, Beirut is a safe, vibrant and exciting city.
Beirut’s history started about 5,000 years ago. At one point it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave. After World War I most of its ancient quarters were demolished and replaced by Oriental style buildings. At the beginning of the French mandate in 1920, Beirut established itself as the 'Paris of the Middle East,’ and became the capital of Greater Lebanon. It is in this fabled city where we’ll begin our photography workshop.
We’ll spend three days photographing throughout the distinctive neighborhoods of Mar Michael, Hamra, Aschrafieh, Gemmaze, Sursock and the Corniche--the iconic promenade which pulses with activity. Of course, we’ll eat (and drink) and partake in a bit of the city’s famed nightlife.
Byblos & Tripoli
Leaving Beirut we'll head north up the coast to the archeological site of Byblos, and the ancient city of Tripoli, offering two very distinct shooting and cultural experiences.
Byblos, a UNESCO world heritage city, has been continuously inhabited for centuries. It was here that the Phoenician alphabet was developed. Tripoli is the country’s second largest city, and one of the most traditional places in Lebanon. Predominantly Sunni, Tripoli is a friendly and lively city with beautiful architecture, traditional souks full of artisans, and the World's Fairgrounds--Oskar Neirmeyer's unfinished architectural wonder. In between these two cities we’ll stop for lunch in the surf town of Batroun.
We’ll spend one night in a mountain hotel in Ehden
The Cedars
The bread basket of Lebanon, the Bekka Valley, is reknown for its beautiful andscapes and emphasis on food and all things local. Here, we’ll spend time photographing and hiking in small villages and experience the famous Shouf Biosphere and Cedar Forest, the same trees cited in the Bible. The Shouf is one of the oldest documented forests in history, estimated to be 2,000 years old. The reserve incorporates the Ammiq Wetland, a remnant of the extensive marshes and lakes that once covered parts of the beloved Bekaa Valley. This is one of our favorite places in Lebanon.
We'll end our day at Tawlet Ammiq, one of the most beloved eco- restaurants featuring local and sustainable home-grown food and wine--and a fantastic atmosphere.
Qadisha Valley
The Qadisha Valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world, and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here, there are several incredible monasteries, some carved directly into the mountains. After exploring the ancient sites we'll hike among the wildflowers in the valley below, with a view of Lebanon’s highest peak (Qornet As Sawda) soaring above. This is truly a peaceful and beautiful part of the country. Nearby, we’ll also visit the Kahlil Gibran museum, Lebanon’s most beloved poet.
Baalbek & Bekka Valley
From the Qadisha Valley we’ll make our way east to the ancient town of Baalbek, inhabited as early as 9000 BCE, and an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world for the worship of the sky-god Baal.We’ll spend the afternoon wandering through the magnificently preserved Temple of Bacchus and the vast adjacent Temple of Jupiter.
Two nights will be spent at a hotel in the gorgeous Bekka Valley.
Tyre
We’ll continue south to Tyre, an ancient port on the edge of the Mediterranean and, at 4,000 years, one of the oldest cities in the world. The historic souks and Ottoman-style architecture offer a full-sensory experience. We’ll explore a tangle of busy, winding streets, historical markets, and seaside life. Tyre’s religious divide is microcosmic of Lebanon’s larger struggles, where historically constructed sectarian differences resulted in territorial demarcations. Despite past conflicts, the heart of Tyre remains warm and hospitable.
We'll spend one night in a centrally located Hotel.
Making our way back to Beirut we’ll stop in Saidon to sample their famous sweets and pastries and, if time allows, photograph inside a traditional soap factory.
Beirut
Beirut embodies the beauty and spirit of Lebanon. With its liberal (hedonistic?) leanings it is one of the great capitals of the Middle East. Inhabited by about two million people, it is a city full of history, emotions and division. Although the scars of the past are visible on the surfaces of the buildings, Beirut is a safe, vibrant and exciting city.
Beirut’s history started about 5,000 years ago. At one point it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave. After World War I most of its ancient quarters were demolished and replaced by Oriental style buildings. At the beginning of the French mandate in 1920, Beirut established itself as the 'Paris of the Middle East,’ and became the capital of Greater Lebanon. It is in this fabled city where we’ll begin our photography workshop.
We’ll spend three days photographing throughout the distinctive neighborhoods of Mar Michael, Hamra, Aschrafieh, Gemmaze, Sursock and the Corniche--the iconic promenade which pulses with activity. Of course, we’ll eat (and drink) and partake in a bit of the city’s famed nightlife.
Byblos & Tripoli
Leaving Beirut we'll head north up the coast to the archeological site of Byblos, and the ancient city of Tripoli, offering two very distinct shooting and cultural experiences.
Byblos, a UNESCO world heritage city, has been continuously inhabited for centuries. It was here that the Phoenician alphabet was developed. Tripoli is the country’s second largest city, and one of the most traditional places in Lebanon. Predominantly Sunni, Tripoli is a friendly and lively city with beautiful architecture, traditional souks full of artisans, and the World's Fairgrounds--Oskar Neirmeyer's unfinished architectural wonder. In between these two cities we’ll stop for lunch in the surf town of Batroun.
We’ll spend one night in a mountain hotel in Ehden
The Cedars
The bread basket of Lebanon, the Bekka Valley, is reknown for its beautiful andscapes and emphasis on food and all things local. Here, we’ll spend time photographing and hiking in small villages and experience the famous Shouf Biosphere and Cedar Forest, the same trees cited in the Bible. The Shouf is one of the oldest documented forests in history, estimated to be 2,000 years old. The reserve incorporates the Ammiq Wetland, a remnant of the extensive marshes and lakes that once covered parts of the beloved Bekaa Valley. This is one of our favorite places in Lebanon.
We'll end our day at Tawlet Ammiq, one of the most beloved eco- restaurants featuring local and sustainable home-grown food and wine--and a fantastic atmosphere.
Qadisha Valley
The Qadisha Valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world, and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here, there are several incredible monasteries, some carved directly into the mountains. After exploring the ancient sites we'll hike among the wildflowers in the valley below, with a view of Lebanon’s highest peak (Qornet As Sawda) soaring above. This is truly a peaceful and beautiful part of the country. Nearby, we’ll also visit the Kahlil Gibran museum, Lebanon’s most beloved poet.
Baalbek & Bekka Valley
From the Qadisha Valley we’ll make our way east to the ancient town of Baalbek, inhabited as early as 9000 BCE, and an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world for the worship of the sky-god Baal.We’ll spend the afternoon wandering through the magnificently preserved Temple of Bacchus and the vast adjacent Temple of Jupiter.
Two nights will be spent at a hotel in the gorgeous Bekka Valley.
Tyre
We’ll continue south to Tyre, an ancient port on the edge of the Mediterranean and, at 4,000 years, one of the oldest cities in the world. The historic souks and Ottoman-style architecture offer a full-sensory experience. We’ll explore a tangle of busy, winding streets, historical markets, and seaside life. Tyre’s religious divide is microcosmic of Lebanon’s larger struggles, where historically constructed sectarian differences resulted in territorial demarcations. Despite past conflicts, the heart of Tyre remains warm and hospitable.
We'll spend one night in a centrally located Hotel.
Making our way back to Beirut we’ll stop in Saidon to sample their famous sweets and pastries and, if time allows, photograph inside a traditional soap factory.
