TURKEY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP TOUR FOR STUDENTS
Istanbul, Bursa
Nicaea & More...
Our specialized trip offers a unique, creative and interactive experience, aiming to achieve:
- Mindful observation, as a Photographer’s skill and as a personal value.
- Intimate exposure to an exploration of a different culture.
- Tolerance and acceptance of the each other, appreciation of the value of diversity.
- Improve artistic abilities as Photographers.
These objectives are achieved by:
- Artistic assignments all through the trip.
- Mini-workshops in photography skills at some of the most picturesque places on the globe.
- Introduction to Visual Anthropology as an integrative concept.
- Group discussions during the day at key points and at the end of the day: debriefing, sharing the experience and learnings.
The workshop is recommended for students aged 14 and above.
About This Trip
People, Cultures, Places – and the way they all integrate into one frame. During this trip, we invite you to an adventure of exploration and experience, through your camera lens and by all means without it.
We offer you one of the most interesting destinations on the globe from a cultural point of view. Yes, it is visually interesting before anything else.
Istanbul, the only capital city in the world built over two continents, blending the colors of both. Bursa, earlier Ottoman Capital, at the western end of the silk way.
During this trip you will have the opportunity to get to know ‘another world’ in the most intimate way; you will have the opportunity to get to know yourself as a photographer and an artist much better through experimenting, discussing, offering and receiving feedback; you will have an opportunity to improve your photography skills and even learn some new progressive techniques (HDR, Long exposure, Silhouettes).
Istanbul
“There, God and human, nature, and art are together; they have created such a perfect place that it is valuable to see.” Lamartine's famous poetic line reveals his love for Istanbul, describing the embracing of two continents, with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe.
Istanbul, once known as the capital of capital cities, has many unique features. It is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires - Christian and Islamic.
Istanbul still remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of Turkiye, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here. Its variety is one of Istanbul's greatest attractions: The ancient mosques, palaces, museums, and bazaars reflect its diverse history.
The thriving shopping area of Taksim buzzes with life and entertainment. And the serene beauty of the Bosphorus, Princes Islands, and parks bring a touch of peace to the otherwise chaotic metropolis, Istanbul.
Let Us Plan The Most Incredible
Adventure This Destination Can Offer
"If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital." Napoleon Bonaparte
On Request
On Request
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul
Meet your guide at ATATURK Airport
- On the way, photo stops at the City Walls of the ancient Constantinople
- Drive to one of Europe’s highest towers to view whole of Istanbul, photo opportunity from its terrace
- Visit Istanbul’s highlights by the simulator at the Sapphire Tower
- Rustempasha Medresesi (built in 1560 by Turkish architect Sinan the Great as a college, today it is a lovely cafe and an art school)
- After check-in and a quick dinner drive to watch and photo shoot world famous Whirling Dervish Ritual Show
Drive back to the hotel
Day 2: Old City Tour
Meet your guide at your hotel in the morning for a photo walk through Istanbul’s iconic spots in Old City, focusing on:
- Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque (built in the 17th century AD. Photo opportunity: using early hour for first mini-workshop in progressive techniques, HDR)
- Hippodrome where chariots once raced (built in the 2nd century AD)
- Hagia Sophia Museum (built in between 532 - 537 AD under the rule of Emperor Justinian)
- Underground Cistern (built by Emperor Justinian, 6th century AD)
- Topkapi Palace (built in the 15th century AD by Sultan Mehmet II)
Walk back to the hotel
Day 4: Bursa via Nicaea
Drive to ancient Nicaea passing through Nicomedia (at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ, was condemned and the Nicene Creed, which sets out the criteria of Christian orthodoxy, was formulated. The first steps were also taken to establish formal co-operation between church and state).
What do walls tell us?
Exploration of past cultures through our camera lens (Short introduction to Visual Anthropology)
Upon arrival in Nicaea, visit:
- Hagia Sophia of Nicaea
- Remnants of Senate Building
- Roman theatre
- Ancient City walls and gates
- Ancient Nicene Tile Kilns
- After lunch by the Nicene lake drive to a local village. Encounter with local traditional life, photo opportunity: local figures, villagers’ portraits in their natural surroundings.
- Tea and co ee with the villagers at the tea garden after a pleasant village photo walk.
- Drive to Bursa, overnight at a 4-star hotel in Bursa
Day 5: Green Bursa
(After a protracted siege BURSA was taken in 1326 by Orhan Gazi who made it the first capital of the new Ottoman Empire. Although the Turks moved their capital first to Edirne and later to Constantinople, Bursa retained its status. The founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman Gazi, and five of his successors were buried there)
- Drive to explore the city of Bursa and visit (Incl. a short intro to Islam art, main themes and motifs, as pointers for architecture photography)
- Bursa Grand Mosque (built in 1400 by the Ottoman Sultan Bayazit the Thunderbolt)
- Bursa Grand Bazaar
- The Green Mosque and the Green Sepulcher
- Climb up the Grand Mount (Uludag) by the cable car. Photo opportunity: landscape of Bursa
- Upon arrival to the mount, give a tea break and short free stroll
- Drive down to the city on the way visit giant monumental tree -self-catering lunch. Photo opportunity: students having heaps of fun preparing their own BBQ
- Sepulchers of Osman Gazi (Osman Gazi built the Ottoman State in 1299) and Orhan Gazi (Second Sultan to the Ottoman State)
Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Bursa
Day 6: Buyuk Ada (largest of the four Princes’ Islands) (largest of the four Princes’ Islands) & the Asiatic Istanbul tour
Drive from Bursa to Yalova to catch the morning ferry to Buyuuk Ada (Istanbul has more wonders and delights than it has been possible to describe; there can be few greater pleasures than leisurely day trip by a steamer, a visit to the largest of the Princes' Islands, BUYUK ADA, where motor vehicles are not allowed and visitors view the scenery from horse-drawn phaetons. Photo opportunity: commuters, local characters, and portraits, capture ‘local atmosphere’)
- Island tour by Phaetons.
- Getting lost in the breathtaking streets lined up with wooden houses, trees, and flowers.
- Ferry to Asiatic Istanbul, Bostanci (where the upper middle class of Istanbulians resides, a lovely and lively town; photo opportunity: Istanbul Landscape from the sea)
- Drive up the highest hill of Istanbul, Camlica to watch Europe from Asia; Photo opportunity: wide landscapes, panoramas.
- Drive over Turkey’s first suspension bridge to the hotel.
Overnight at a four-star hotel in Istanbul
Day 7: Golden Horn & Pera Tour
Walk through the Grand Bazaar (built in 1461, today with its more than 4000 stores, it is a real maze.)
Photo opportunity: street and market photography; Muslim Architecture:
- The Old Book Market, pass by the Istanbul University (former Theodosius Forum)
- Suleymaniye Mosque (built by Sinan the Great in 1557)
- Walk through wholesale market to the Spice Market
- Walk over the Galata Bridge and up to Galata – Pera
- Walk in the famous Istiklal Pedestrian Street
- Meet the driver and drive to Balat (where the Sephardic Jews were settled after the Inquisition in Spain in 1492)
- See the Remnants of the last Byzantine Palace
- Chora Church Museum (built in 1321 by Byzantine masters)
- Climb up to Pierre Loti Hill for a co ee overlooking the Golden Horn. Photo opportunity: Landscape at golden hour. Mini-Workshop, progressive techniques - shooting for HDR
Drive back to the hotel
Day 8 - Flight Back Home
After breakfast drive to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your homebound flight
Gule, gule! Leave with a smile!
Rates Include:
- 7 nights 4 stars BB accommodation
- Photography Mentoring and mini-workshops along the trip
- All the museum entrance fees as described in the itinerary
- Visit + simulator on top of Sapphire Tower
- Whirling Dervishes ritual
- All the land transportation by latest model motor coaches
- Bosporus tour by a communal ferry boat
- Island ferry boat return trip
- Phaeton tour in the island
- Guiding by a licensed English speaking tour guide
- Gratuities
- VAT and all other applicable taxes
Rates DON'T Include:
- Lunches and dinners
- Flight
- Tripod fees in the museums