Holiday itinerary
Learn the art of digital SLR photography on this fun and relaxed digital photography immersion course set in the beautiful white village of Gaucin in Andalucía, Spain.
The small group sizes are perfect for beginner and intermediate photographers as this great value digital photography course includes pretty much everything you’ll need to master your digital SLR technique.
You will have great quality hotel accommodation in stunning surroundings, delicious food, and return transfers from Malaga airport and fun, hands on digital photography tuition taught by 2 experts with a passion for photography.
During the course, you’ll explore this stunning area of Spain learning to master the settings on your digital SLR and the basics of digital photography from your tutors Alberto and Sue who will help you get to grips with exposure modes, white balance, ISO, focusing and in the field conditions which will all lead to greater creativity with your photography.
This photographic course in Spain, capturing spectacular landscapes, dramatic seascapes, beautiful buildings, forests and stunning sunsets, promises a unique learning experience that will stay with you long after the holiday is over.
Suitability
- The small group lessons are aimed at complete beginners through to those with photography experience although more advanced photography enthusiasts can be catered for as the classes are tailored to your level
- Please note that digital SLR cameras are suitable for this course
- Minimum age 18
- Courses are based on an intimate group size and NO single supplements making this a perfect choice for a singles holiday
- The course is focused on digital SLR photography
Who Are Our Guests?
- Holidays are typically made up of international travellers looking to get more from their holiday
- Ages vary, but the typical customer falls in to the 30-60 age bracket
- The majority of our guests are beginners or those with limited experience
- Of course, everyone shares a passion or interest in discovering a new activity or continuing a hobby
- To read some more in-depth guest reviews, click here to visit our blog
Digital SLR Photography Course Start Days
- All arrivals are on Thursday and departures are on Sunday although there is some degree of flexibility with the course so please email us on or call us on 08445 020 445 if you would like to arrive on an alternative date
- Most dates are on request but we will always do our best to accommodate your request so please contact us with your preferred arrival dates to check availability, you will be assured a quick response
Typical Digital SLR Photography Course Itinerary
Please note that itineraries change depending on the time of year, the weather, festivals happening in the area so the following itinerary is for guidance only:
Day 1 Thursday - Arrival day and airport pick up
- Thursday is your arrival day
- You’ll be collected from Malaga airport, the pick times are between 4pm-7pm
- After the short drive to the village, you’ll settle into your hotel accommodation
Day 2 Friday – take control of your DSLR
- Enjoy breakfast before spending the first part of the morning getting to know your individual cameras and their functions and features
- Lunch is included
- After lunch once you have a better grasp of what your cameras can do you’ll set off with both photographers to the village to learn about exposure, depth of field controls, menu functions and more putting your new found skills into practice
- During the afternoon you'll become more confident and familiar with the controls of your camera allowing you to become more creative with your photography, a hands on approach and a variety of examples and practical exercises will help you with the finer details of using your DSLR
- In the evening return to your hotel accommodation
- Later in the evening, guests are invited to opt for a night shoot around the village to practice taking pictures at night and if there's a full moon you'll take a short drive to the cork forest to capture the stunning scenery lit by moonlight, but if you prefer, you can rise early on Sunday morning instead for a sunrise shoot
Day 3 Saturday – Creating great images
- After breakfast, you’ll spend the day shooting the straits of Gibraltar, combining landscape and street photography
- You will visit the way the old fishing port of Tarifa, the sand dunes of Punta Paloma and the mysterious beaches of this particular part of the Atlantic coast line
- Later, there will be a review and discussion of the practical session
Day 4 Sunday – The Digital Darkroom
- Following an early morning shoot at Jimena's 13 century Moorish castle there will be a wonderful breakfast
- Afterward you will go to the digital darkroom where you will be introduced to downloading, picture editing and retouching using the image processing software, adobe Photoshop
- Late afternoon, you’ll collect your bags ready for your flight home
- Transfers are included back to Malaga airport between 4pm-5pm, where you’ll take home new photography skills and pictures to be proud of
What Will I Learn?
- As group sizes are small with the tutors, you’ll have expert guidance and tuition will be adapted to each client’s needs and your own individual digital SLR cameras
- You will learn photography fundamentals and core skills such as controlling exposure, focusing, depth of field, aperture, camera modes, white balance and colour temperature
- You will also learn about the elements of composition and how to benefit from natural lighting
- You will be taught how to change resolution and image size, image adjustments and layering
- You'll receive an introduction to downloading images, different file formats; introduction to photo editing software including Adobe Photoshop
- The digital SLR course will give you a great introduction to taking better pictures and aims to inspire you to take your photography skills to the next level
Digital SLR Shoot Locations
The shoot locations depend on the time of year and any events happening locally but you might visit one of the following:
- Jimena castle
- Shooting at various locations around the village, many of which are not open to the public and offer amazing views
- In and around the cork forest
- Down by the river and old ruins in the area
Your Photography Tutors
- Passionate about photography, your hosts are both photographers with complementary skills
- Sue is Australian and exhibits her photographs in both Australia and Spain in private and public collections
- Alberto is Spanish and is a keen photographer with a passion for food, wine and Spain so you can expect not only a creative weekend but a cultural one
- To read more about Albert's passion for photography, visit our blog
Your Accommodation And Meals
- Accommodation is in a lovely, small hotel called Hotel La Fructuosa in the pueblo blanco of Gaucín
- You will have a private bedroom with ensuite bathroom for no single supplement making this a great singles holidays
- Each of the five room in La Fructuosa has its own style
- All rooms are spacious and comfortable, with private bath in each room, individual jacuzzi in four of them and a large shower in the last one
- All of the rooms enjoy the spectacular views that have made Gaucín famous
- From their windows it is possible to see at the same time two continents, three countries, the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean
- Each of the rooms has a TV set with both Spanish and international channels
- Central heating is also installed in each of the rooms
- Wireless internet connection is available everywhere in the hotel: rooms, restaurant and terraces
- You will have breakfast daily at the hotel
- For breakfast, served in the restaurant, you can choose from coffee, tea, cereals, Gaucín's bread, olive oil, butter, jams and local sweets, fresh fruit, fresh cheese, yoghurts and fruit juices
- Lunch is usually taken either at the house or in a tapas bar or cafe on location depending on where you are shooting that day, you may also have picnic lunches
- Dinners are not included in the holiday price but your hosts will be happy to recommend local places to you or you can eat in the hotel if you’d like
- Vegetarian and any dietary requests can be catered for, just add your special request at the time of booking
Extra Nights
- If you wish to come a day early or stay longer, we will do our best to accommodate you
- If you’d like to extend your stay, please email with your ideal dates and we will come back to you with availability and prices very quickly
Transfers and Transport
- Pick up and drop off to/from Malaga airport is included in the price for 4-7pm for arrivals and 4-5pm for departures
- You will be out and about for most of the day around the village and local area and all transport will be included as you get off the beaten track, down dirt roads, through forests and out to beaches
Weather Conditions and Itinerary
- Your photography tutors will alter the itinerary if the weather doesn’t offer the best conditions for photographing the area
What To Bring
- Bring your own digital SLR camera (with manual), charger and memory cards and if you have one; a tripod
- You may wish to bring a laptop to download your photographs but this is not essential
- Please bring suitable footwear for walking as you will be spending a lot of time exploring the different areas and a sun hat and rain jacket (just in case!)
Learn how to become the photographer you always wanted to be and take home new skills that will stay with you long after the photography course is over.