© David Bathgate
All Rights Reserved
|
Nestled between the planet's two highest mountain ranges - Himalayas and Karakoram - India's isolated region of Ladakh first opened its doors to tourists in 1974. Sitting at an altitude of 11,499 feet (3,505 meters), its capital, Leh, was once an integral part of the Silk Road route of Central Asia.
Today, this land is home to one of the world's last remaining Tibetan Buddhist cultures and a population of 8,000 to 9,000 nomads who live a traditional life and tend yaks, sheep and goats for a livelihood. Using film or digital cameras, we'll travel right to the heart of this world to capture the visual flavor of this fascinating and ancient land.
Highlights of the Trip
© David Bathgate
All Rights Reserved
|
Central to this in-depth workshop will be the annual Buddhist monastery festivals at Hemis and Lamayuru, both of which feature colorfully dressed and masked dancers acting out centuries-old stories in movement and dance. We'll be on hand, not just for the performances, but go "backstage" to capture all the frenzied excitement of preparation, too.
The Changpa – Buddhist nomads of Tibetan descent who move seasonally in groups of 40 to 50 families, throughout Ladakh's eastern plateau – the Changtang. The goats they raise produce the world's finest and most luxurious wool – Pashmina.
But life doesn't stop here. This is a culture rich in belief, kinship design and the efficient use of scarce natural resources. We'll meet up with the Changpa at the height of summer.
© David Bathgate
All Rights Reserved
|
On the Changtang, our days will be warm and comfortable, nights cool and fresh. We'll spend two days with one of these groups, overnighting in either our own tents, or in Rebus (yurts) provided by our hosts. Either way, they will be plenty of time to make pictures, visit and to learn the intricacies of the nomad lifestyle and the world in which they live.
The emphasis of this photo-workshop is on photography and culture. You will be led to interpret - not merely document - what lies before your lens in this foreign land. Aimed at beginners and advanced amateur photographers, alike, our workshop will start with a brief review of camera basics (film and digital), composition and the role of light and color in the work you will be producing.
Each day you will be given an assignment – a photographic task to further your skill-level, confidence and expertise. Each evening we will review our work as a group, answer questions and make recommendations where needed and set a course for the day to come.
Your Accommodations
The 3-Star and 4-Star hotels and guesthouses you will be staying in have been selected for their comfort, style, character and good management. Most hotels used for this workshop have air-conditioning, all have modern en suite facilities and some have swimming pools. All have catering facilities, usually with a choice of cuisines.
Itinerary
Day 1: Departure
Day 2: Arrive Delhi. Afternoon city tour
Day 3: Morning flight to Leh. / Afternoon guided tour / Evening introduction to your workshop
© David Bathgate
All Rights Reserved
Day 4/5: Attend Hemis Festival
Day 6/7: Visit nomadic encampment / overnight locally
Day 8: Photographic assignment in Leh
Day 9/10: Drive to Lamayuru monastery. Attend the Lamayuru festival / overnight locally
Day 11: Day at leisure in Leh. Evening editorial wrap-up of workshop
Day 12: Morning flight to Delhi. / Transfer by car to Agra
Day 13: Early morning photography and guided tour of the Taj Mahal. / Afternoon return to Delhi
Day 14: Return flight home
General Information
© David Bathgate
All Rights Reserved
|
Passport and Visas
You will require a passport, valid for at least six months from the start of your workshop. Visas are required for India and can be obtained through embassies and consulates in your country.
What to Wear?
Society across the sub-continent is still deeply religious and steeped in tradition. Rural India, in particular, is very conservative. It is important to dress modestly to avoid offending local sensibilities and also (especially for women) to avoid being the target of unwanted attention. Loose cotton clothing is most appropriate in this climate.
Practical Matters
There are no upper age restrictions, but for those who are over 68 years of age and wish to join this workshop, we do ask for a doctor's certificate of fitness. As with any foreign holiday, you must ensure that you are in sufficiently good health for your trip - again, we suggest checking with your doctor and then with us if you have any doubts. For more information on travelling in India, please put in a request for a copy of the Essential India Comprehensive India Travel Guide.
The Pace of Life
Things can and will happen more slowly in India: travel may not be as efficient as back home and at times, the bureaucracy and logic may seem incomprehensible. To help, we will supply you with as much information as possible about your trip before you depart. But a sense of humour and a positive attitude to the unexpected and unusual - the things that make India so fascinating - is all that is required when travelling to the Subcontinent.
Sign up today to take advantage of this unique opportunity!
How to Sign Up
 Sign up today!
This fee includes lodging, but does not include airfare, meals, ground transportation, or other travel-related or photography-related expenses.
Have Questions?
Direct all enquiries regarding this workshop to Essential India Ltd... Email: info@essential-india.co.uk
Payments, Refunds, & Cancellations
© David Bathgate
All Rights Reserved
|
For this workshop, a deposit of $500.00 is due at the time of registration and the balance is due 45 days prior to the workshop.
There is a $25.00 per person non-refundable administration fee that will be applied should you cancel at any time. For cancellations made 45 days prior to the event, the deposit in the amount of $500.00 will be retained as the cancellation fee. For cancellations made less than 30 days prior or for no-shows, we will retain the entire balance paid.
- BetterPhoto reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 30 days before the workshop begins.
- No refund of any fees will be made for withdrawal after the workshop begins.
- Prices include all Indian Government Luxury taxes.
- If you are a single person booking this workshop, you do not have to pay a single room supplement. This is only payable if you wish to have a hotel room to yourself for the duration of the workshop.
- Please note that domestic flight prices are not included in the price of the workshop.
- The price listed for this workshop is per person for scheduled departures and are based on twin sharing accommodation.
- Workshops are based on a minimum of 6 people. BetterPhoto reserves the right to cancel any program that does not meet minimum participant requirements, in which case participants will be informed as soon as possible and all money will be refunded.
- BetterPhoto is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of a course cancellation. We encourage participants to purchase refundable airline tickets and consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance.
About the Instructor
 A past life saw instructor David Bathgate teaching anthropology at American universities. Since 1993, however, that scenario has changed. Today based in Europe, David finds himself a lot in Asia and the Middle East covering stories for the international news and photo agency, Corbis. His work has appeared in international publications such as Time-Asia, The London Sunday Times Magazine, Stern and Focus. In addition to teaching on-line from wherever in the world his laptop might be, David conducts regular workshops near the Dalai Lama’s Tibetan Government in Exile in the north of India, advises young Tibetan photographers, and helps train future professional visual journalists in Afghanistan and Bangladesh. David also teaches these excellent online courses at BetterPhoto.com:
To learn more about David, visit his Premium Gallery or his Web site at www.davidbathgate.com.
|
