Albania: June 2023 Workshop

Albania: June 2023

9 Day Photography Workshop

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Ancient Cities, Spectacular Landscapes

Hike the Albanian Alps, traverse an artisan city surrounded by a castle, visit traditional weavers in a quaint beach town, and end your trip on a boutique farm - all while fully emersed creatively and culturally with like-minded fellow travelers

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.

Theth

After the bustle of Shkoder we’ll head to the gorgeous, remote mountain village of Theth, nestled below the dramatic Albanian Alps. We’ll spend three days in this incredible, majestic location, shooting, editing, sequencing and book making. In addition, we’ll star gaze, hike to the splendid Blue Eye natural spring and waterfall — and beyond — and explore this traditional village, its customs, and delicious cuisine. This region, more than any other, suffered tremendously during Communism because of its remoteness. Recently, a new road was paved, modest inns were constructed, and hikers of the world began to trickle in. Still, it is mostly undiscovered and utterly charming.

Lodging is a very comfortable, extremely picturesque family run guest houses with modest private rooms and bathrooms.

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Shkoder

North of Tirana on our way to Shkoder, we’ll stop to shoot in Durres. Known for its Roman amphitheater, a 9th-century church with mosaic-covered walls, and the former summer villa of King Zog. Duress has also become the South Beach of Albania, only stranger. This is a jam-packed opportunity to make pictures of beach culture, new architecture, and nouveau rich sun seekers.

Shkoder, ninty minutes from Tirana, is one of the most ancient cities in the Balkans, and a personal favorite. The bike capital of Albania, Shkoder is colorful and vibrant. We’ll make pictures throughout its cobblestone streets, bike and swim. Shkoder is also home to the historic Marubi Photography museum, on our agenda.

Two nights will be spent at Hotel Tradita, a boutique inn with incredible charm, delicious food and homemade liqueur.

Wide Angle Creative