Contact:
Herzen CortesPhoto Xpeditions
+1 888-741-3974
Where
Azul Hotel, Oaxaca, Mexico
abasolo 313, Col. Centro
Oaxaca de Juarez 68000
Mexico
PRICE:
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Price: $3,395.00 Per person Double Occupancy. Add $450 USD for Single occupation
Includes: Accommodations at one of the selected hotels for 7 nights, All Breakfasts, all Meals and 3 dinners, Internal transportation for excursions, guides, access to natural reserves, Parks, churches, etc. as needed
Does Not Include: Airfare to and from home city, alcoholic beverages
Day of the Dead in Oaxaca
Photo Workshop by National Geographic Photographer
Tino Soriano
7Nights/8 Days
Expedition Details
What I like the most as a National Geographic Photographer is the ability to be close to the people. The landscapes and the architecture require more of an emotional and creative proximity of the mind, which allows the thoughtful and peaceful application of the classic composition rules and to emphasize the qualities of light.
But, to photograph people, specially in events which capture the interest and passion of people around the world like the “Day of the Dead” in Oaxaca, demands a different set of skills and way about it. For this, it is of the very important to interact, to understand, a rapid composition, and to be able to transmit to the viewer the spirit and the essence of what is going on, in just a fraction of a second. No time for a tripod or to wait for the sunset. The magic moment, the split second of lucidity or the emotion can appear at any moment.
In this workshop we will focus on portrait techniques, the spontaneous photography and the classic story telling without forgetting a few other fundamental photography techniques and specialties that will help you highlighting the spirit of the place, the people and the celebrations. The ancient ruins of Mitla, the Benito Juarez Market and the graves in Huitzo, the landscapes, the artisans in San Martín Tilcajete and the landscapes of the huge Tule tree will be the perfect match for this great celebration: An original and photogenic cult to the dead known in the world for its grandiosity, its action and, at the same time, for its warmth and intimacy. A story and a tradition of interest to the world, which through hard work throughout the workshop, will help all become better photographers. A one of a kind photography workshop you cannot afford to miss!
¡Un abrazo!
Tino Soriano
Detailed Itinerary - 7 Nights/8 Days
Day 1 — Oaxaca City
Arrive in Oaxaca and check into our beautiful boutique hotel, located just a few blocks from the zócalo, or town center. This evening gather for a welcome reception and dinner.
Hotel Casa Azul Oaxaca (D)
Day 2 — Mitla
Explore the remarkable ruins of Mitla this morning. Mitla, or "world of the dead" was an important ceremonial center built by the Zapotec. Then head into town to the Day of the Dead market, where decorations from paper streamers to skeletons and masks are sold. After lunch we head back to Oaxaca City for your first lecture and portfolio review in the afternoon. Dinner tonight is on your own however, after dinner, Tino will lead a photo walk of the famous “Comparsas” (Parades) and dances that happen tonight in the downtown area. You cannot miss this great opportunity. (B,L)
Day 3 — Oaxaca City/ City Market/ Municipal Graveyard
This morning we will have our second lecture and the first edit and critique session. Tino and Marcela will review your previous day’s work and will comment and provide with feedback. After lunch, we will head to the city market (Benito Juarez) where many Day of the Dead motives and decorations are presented and sold creating spectacular and colorful opportunities for great pictures. After dinner we will go to the municipal graveyard where families mourn their departed ones in adorned altars and graves with marigold and hundreds of candles. This is one of the most beautiful sights on the “All Souls Day”. (B,L)
Day 4 — Graveyards Shootings: Huitzo/ Xochimilco/ San Felipe
Finally the day is here. Continuing with the Day of the Dead celebrations, today we have an optional early departure (4:30 am) to the Huitzo Graveyard to witness the how the adorned graveyards mix with the early morning light for a one of a kind spectacle worth shooting over and over. We will be back to Oaxaca by 8am where you will have time to have breakfast and rest until 1pm. After lunch, we will have our edit and critique session along with your 3rd lecture. After dinner, we depart for Xochimilco’s Graveyard to experience a “Comparsa”, a carnival like parade of people disguised with Day of the Dead motifs. Later we head to San Felipe graveyard for yet another opportunity to shoot one of the most well adorned and interesting graveyards in Oaxaca. (B,L)
Day 5 — El Tule
After our edit and critique session in the morning we will have lunch at the hotel. Today we head to El Tule, home of a 2,000 year old Montezuma cypress tree, known as the El Árbol del Tule, which is one of the oldest, largest and widest trees in the world. In the afternoon we will shoot El Tule’s Graveyard. Tonight we will have dinner as a group at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Montealbán / San Martin Tilcajete
After our edit and critique session this afternoon we head to San Martín Tilcajete, a village known for its artisans that produce the fanciful wood carvings called Alejibres. We will visit and shoot the workshop of famed Alebrije artist, Jacobo Angeles. After lunch we depart to the archaeology site Monte Albán which was the religious, political and commercial center of the Zapotec culture for more than 1,200 years. On a photo shoot this afternoon at sunset, explore the archeological site, including the grassy Great Plaza, ball court, building of the dancers, and maze of temples and tombs. (B,L)
Day 7 — Oaxaca City
On day 7 we will have our final edit and critique session after which you can explore and shoot Oaxaca on your own. Visit the botanical garden, the beautiful cathedral, the central plaza and the beautiful Santo Domingo Church and its cloisters. The group will rejoin in the early evening at the hotel to go, as a group, to our restaurant for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Tonight we will have a class show to present the best pictures of all students. (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Oaxaca
The workshop ends today, after breakfast. (B)
Tino Soriano:
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Tino shares his work as a photojournalist with Travel Photography. Her has been honored with one First Prize from the World Press Photo Foundation; the trophies “One Vision European Photographic Competition”, “Fujifilm Photographer of the year”; the international “Lente de Plata Award” by Mexican government and five prizes FOTOPRESS (the most important Spanish distinction for press photography)> His workhas been also recognized by UNESCO, World Health Organization and Medical Sciences Academy of Catalonia, among others.
Some of his latest jobs have been the National Geographic Traveler Books: Sicily, Portugal, Madrid and Naples & Southern Italy, with other personal books and photojournalist stories, on assignment for different cporporative and media customers.
He regularly lectures and teached workshops at many universities like: University “Pompeu Fabra”, University “Politecnica de Terrassa”, International University of Andalucia and Berkeley University. His website is www.tinosoriano.com.
Marcela Taboada:
Born in Puebla, Mexico, is a freelance photographer who has lived in Oaxaca since 1986 and has participated in individual and group shows in museums and galleries throughout Mexico, the U.S., and Europe. Her work has been published in magazines and newspapers such as Elle Decor, Hasselblad Forum, Green Mountains, GEO Germany, and The New York Times, as well as in fine-art books.
Marcela's photographs are in the permanent collections of the Contemporaneo Art Museum in Oaxaca, Fotografisk Center in Copenhagen, Hasselblad Center in Sweden, Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery in New York, and Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago. She has received awards and recognition from many organizations, including Photojournalism Biennale Mexico in 1999, Hasselblad Foundation, Sweden, in 2002, National Geographic All Roads in 2005, and Women: The Image Creators, in Yugoslavia. Her Web site address is www.marcelataboada.com.
