Provence Photography Workshops

Lavender fields and vineyards, mountains and beaches, abbeys and Roman vestiges Welcome to the most photogenic region in France

With its mythical charm, breathtaking natural diversity, and universal appeal, Provence is a region at the top of many travellers’ bucket lists.

This magnificent region is shaped like a giant wedge of quiche. From its sunburned crust, fanning out along the Mediterranean coast from the Camargue to Marseille, it stretches north along the Rhône Valley to Orange. The Romans had been here for centuries and left many vestiges — some of the best anywhere. Great artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne enjoyed their years in Provence and painted some of their masterworks depicting this magnificent land. Now it's your turn, as a modern days' Van Gogh, to endeavour in the same venture.

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Main Shooting Locations

Plateau de Valensole

Covering an area of 800 km2, the Valensole plateau is located at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. Kingdom of the famous Provençal perfume plant, this territory, covered with lavender and wheat fields, is also dotted with charming localities, such as Saint-Martin-de-Bromes, Riez and Valensole itself.
Lovers of typical landscapes of Provence will not fail to crisscross the Valensole plateau in the months of June and July, when the lavender, then in bloom, lights up with a beautiful blue. An enchantment for the eyes and the sense of smell...

Le Colorado Provencal

Located in the massif of Luberon and not far from Gordes in the department of Vaucluse, The Provençal Colorado is an old open-air ochre mining site from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, classified as Natural Monuments of historical character. You will discover exceptional colors in the old ochre quarries, but also the remains of its industrial past such as size fronts, settling basins, channels, pipes…
The current landscapes are the result of the work of the hand of man and natural erosion.

Arles

The city of Arles, placed just north of Camargue, preserves impressive Roman monuments among the very best in the world, the oldest of which – the arena, ancient theater, cryptoportics - date back to the first century BC. It experienced a second golden age in the fourth century, as evidenced by the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of the Alyscamps.

Camargue

Placed between the two arms of the Rhone, the Camargue is simply an exceptional land, a country at the end of the world with its singular atmosphere that can not be found anywhere else. A paradise for migratory birds, land of pink flamingos, wild bulls and the famous white horses.

Plateau de Sault

Dominated by the Mont-Ventoux and the Albion mountain to the north, limited by the Vaucluse Mountains to the south and west, the Sault plateau is a vast expanse of limestones at an average altitude of 900 m. in the department of Vaucluse. It features some of the biggest and best looking fields of lavender in the whole region of Provence, literally miles and miles of lavender, woods and scattered farm houses.

Abbey of Senanque

The abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque is a Cistercian monastery ilocated in the town of Gordes, in the French department of Vaucluse, Provence.
Founded in 1148, it became an abbey in 1150.
Today priory of the Lérins Abbey, the monastery, located in the valley where the Sénancole flows, is still occupied by a community of 6 Cistercian monks from the Cistercian. In June and July this abbey is completely surrounded by some of the most beautiful fields of lavender of the whole region

Pont De Gau

Located just outside of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, the capital town of Camargue, the ornithological park of Pont de Gau is a concentrate of Camargue. It's the ideal site to discover, observe and photograph many species of birds, including hundreds of pink flamingos, in their natural environment. Pond, marshes, lawns, rubines, reed beds and sansouires form this vast space of 60 hectares entirely devoted to the discovery of nature and the birds of the Camargue.

Gordes

On the borders of the Luberon Regional Natural Park, in the heart of the Vaucluse mountains, Gordes is the emblem of the Provençal hilltop village.

Described a thousand times, photographed, admired, it owes its aura to the illustrious artists who once revealed it and left a lasting cultural imprint.

Example of a typical
day in the field

Early morning

We will leave Arles right after breakfast and with an 1hour trip by car we will get to the abbey of Senanque, a medieval abbey in the outskirts of the town of Gordes, surrounded by beautiful fields of lavender

rest of the morning

We will spend the rest of the morning visiting and photographing at the Abbey. We will then have a quick lunch at some bar/restaurant in a nearby village have breakfast at the hotel in Arles and then we will check out and head to our next destination, the Verdon river gorges. This is the deepest and longest canyon of Europe, the deepest point is about 800 mts (2500 ft) below the level of the surrounding terrain. The name of the river comes from the opal green colors of its waters. This is a one of those paradise of the landscape photographer, with fantastic big vistas at every corner. The trip will take about 2h30', so we will check in at our hotel at around noon.

Afternoon and sunset

Right after lunch we will take the car again and with a transfer of about 1h30' we will get to Valensole. This is a small town lying right at the centre of a plateau, and the plateau itself is probably the best place in France for photographing lavender, as there are acres and acres of lavender fields there. We will spend the rest of the day shooting in this amazing location.

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Why should I take an Italy Photography Workshop with Paolo De Faveri?

Simple: because you will learn how to take better photographs. Consider a Paolo De Faveri's Photography Workshop as an invaluable add-on to your gear: a tool that will teach you how to take wonderful photos wherever you go. We make the art and technique of photography simple to understand by breaking it down into easy pieces of information that you will find useful to apply every time you will be in the field.
What will I learn?

Well, a whole lot, you can be sure. Paolo De Faveri's workshops are designed to help take your creativity to a new level. Through a combination of both in-the-field image sessions and class/lecture sessions on many different topics both technical and artistic, I want to get you to start thinking differently as an artist and spark your artistic vision. key features always include: - master the basics of landscape photography - learn how to compose effectively no matter of the subject, from macro to grand vistas - learn how to photograph with challenging lighting, such as at sunrise and sunset - learn about when and how to use filters - explore advanced photography techniques such as long exposures in broad daylight and image stitching for panoramic compositions Check the lessons section in this website for an exhaustive list of topics usually covered in my in-the-field and classroom sessions.
What happens on an Italy Photography Workshop with Paolo De Faveri?

All of my workshops start with a brief Introduction, a presentation of the daily schedule and the technical and artistic goals of each day, followed by questions and answer session for getting to know each other, assessing the level of knowledge of the group, each person's goals and expectations. On average we will spend from 8 to 10 hours a day in the field, every day in a different location, having big fun in chasing the best possible light and scouting the area looking for images that capture the innermost beauty of the amazing world around us. My tours are a mix of adventure and teaching, and they are not intended as only formal teaching and instructions They are more about wandering in some of the best natural or urban environments I know and getting fully immersed in photography. A "learn by doing" kind of education, as I answer questions and solve problems as they arises, completed by a debriefing in the evening when we will thoroughly review and critique together the work done in the day, and we will analyze in details basic and advanced techniques of image processing.
What will I learn in the classroom/webinars?

Check the lessons section in this website for an exhaustive list of topics usually covered in my classroom sessions and webinars.
Does the instructor shoot over the workshop?

Yes, I will be shooting during the tour/workshop, but in a limited capacity as participants needs come first of course. I often take pictures right along with the students inspiring them to learn to see an image the way I do. Much of my shooting over the workshop is meant as direct field demonstrations aimed to improve student's creative vision and technique.
How advanced do I need to be?

Anyone, no matter of how advanced he/she is, will find my workshops to be a great learning experience. The majority of my students are usually somewhere between intermediate to advanced amateur up to semi-pro and pro, but many beginners attend too. You should in anycase be at least familiar with your equipment and its operation. Always bring your camera manual for quick reference in the field.
What kind and how much equipment should I bring?

The essential photo gear you should have with you is listed here below. This gear is highly recommended for taking full advantage of the instructions you will receive in my workshops. - tripod - dslr camera - a good quality zoom lens covering a focal range length of at least 28 to 100 mm - enough storage cards for at least 16 GB - extra camera batteries - camera bag or backpack - camera user's manual
Will weather ever force us to change the workshop's schedule?

Bad weather always provide unusual and harsh conditions that contribute unique drama and mood to our images. So the answer is no, normally. We only stop shooting and/or move elsewhere if an element of danger arises.
Is transportation included?

Usually yes, it's included, unless when stated differently in the workshop description. For group tours we will use vans/small buses for our daily transfers from the hotel to the shooting locations and back. For private/small groups workshops I will drive my own car. Of course, you have to arrive on your own to the hotel/lodging.
How should I dress?

I recommend to come prepared for anything and bring an extra layer of warm clothes with you. Here is a list of clothes/accessories you should always dress/have with you when shooting outdoor: - trekking shoes if you shoot in a natural environment; a pair of very comfortable - and possibly water-proof shoes - if you shoot in a urban context - wind/rain proof jacket - pile pullovers - gloves - headdress - head lamp and batteries
How do I register for a workshop?

Simply use the pre-registration form available in the pages describing each workshop and compile every field of it, letting me know about the workshop of your choice, the number of participants, the desired dates and duration, etc. I will be back to you right away for confirming the availability and with the instruction for booking. To validate your reservation, you will be asked to pay the 35% of the workshop price as a deposit.
What is your cancellation policy?

All my workshops are subject to the following Cancellation Policy: - If you cancel within 30 days before the workshop start, you will be refunded the deposit minus 100,00 € as administrative fee. - No refund will be issued for cancellations received with 30 days or less remaining before the workshop starting date. Please note that there is no exception to this policy. For this reason it is strongly recommended to purchase refundable plane/train tickets only and endow yourself with a trip cancellation insurance. All cancellation request must be in writing.
Details and Requirements - Key Features

Number of students per workshop: minimum 1, maximum 3 students Duration: minimum 3, maximum 7 days 5 or, even better, 6 days is the recommended length, as it is indeed the ideal timeframe for putting together a very effective itinerary, there are long distances to cover as the Ardeche is quite a big region Workshops Availability From March thru November Difficulty Easy. Most of the shooting locations are directly accessible by car. A few of them require short hikings of no more than 1.5 kms one way, on easy trails with moderate elevation gain. The trail along the Ardeche River Gorges is not difficult but long and demanding in terms of stamina required. It can be added as an option, just ask What's included - full time in-the-field tutoring and instructions - at least one image processing class (min. 2 hours) per workshop - all transportation during the workshop will be provided with a rented car/van. included in the price What's not included - Travel costs for reaching the accommodation, hotels/B&B rates, meals and beverages are not included in the cost of admission unless specified. - Excursion boats - Entrance tickets to archelogical sites. museums, etc. - Lodging costs of the instructor Insurance All participants must be in possession of a valid Health and Accident Insurance with repatriation cover.

About your Photography Instructor

Ciao! My name is Paolo.

I have been a full-time professional landscape, nature, travel and architecture photographer since 2007. Since then, I have planned and led hundreds of private one-to-one and small groups photo workshops and tours in some of the best looking regions and cities of Italy and France.

My pictures have appeared in calendars, books, travel magazines, brochures and as wall art in offices, hotels, restaurants and corporate venues. For more info please click here