France, Languedoc Weekend Workshops Course 1 : Friday 10th - Tuesday 14th September 2010 Course 2 : Friday 17th - Tuesday 21st September 2010 Click here to book your place! This year we’re offering you the option of joining us for a long weekend of photographic indulgence and challenges in one of our favourite parts of the world; Languedoc, in south western France. As with our ever-popular Umbrian courses we’re running two courses over successive weekends in September based at a truly unqiue location; the converted abbey of the Hotel Abbaye Ecole de Soreze (www.hotelfp-soreze.com).   In association with :     LowePro and David Noton Photography Workshops are teaming up to offer you the chance to win a LowePro Pro Trekker 400 bag - see below for details.           Traditional boats and tow path on the tree lined Canal du Midi near Carcassonne, Languedoc, France           The village of Olargues with the 12th century bridge over the River Jaur, Haut Languedoc, France   The Course : Each course will comprise a 4-night stay at Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze with 3 full days of photographic tuition, 4X4 excursions into the surrounding countryside, tutorials and demonstrations. The size of each course will consist of a maximum of 10 photographic guests guided by myself and my highly experienced associate Jon Gooding. My wife Wendy will be on hand to make non-photographic partners welcome with a program of local excursions and activities in this beguiling and varied region. The courses are aimed at anyone who wants to improve their photography. With a program of individual guidance, hands on demonstrations in the field whilst waiting for the light, picture shows and specialised tutorials on the regular photographic forays all levels will be catered for. The central theme of the instruction of how we use our eyes to develop a photographic vision is backed up with sound practical advice on how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to make the most of it photographically once there. With our two four-wheel drive vehicles we will transport you to places un-reachable to all but the occasional shepherd just when the light is best, at dawn and dusk. The days will be long and full, starting with a dawn photographic shoot and ending with dinner in the Hotel Abbaye Ecole de Soreze's renowned restaurant. Of course all activities are optional. If you fancy a lie-in, that’s fine.               The medieval Cite and the old bridge over the River Aude at dusk, Carcassonne, Languedoc, France   Poppies and barley blowing in the wind with the medieval Cite beyond, Carcassonne, Languedoc, France               Here’s a typical daily itinerary:                 5:30   dawn shoot     7:00   in-the field tutorial     8:30   breakfast     9:30   tutorial- location finding     10:30   photographic walk     12:30   lunch     13:30   siesta     15:00   depart on photo-shoot     15:30   in-the-field tutorial - composition     16:30   move on to second location     17:30   in-the-field tutorial - perspective     18:00   evening shoot     20:00   return to Hotel     20:30   dinner                 The Region :               Quite simply Languedoc encompasses all that we love about France. The rolling verdant landscapes are interspersed with the vineyards of Corbières and Minerve, quant villages, The Montagne Noire and the Canal du Midi whilst all the time to the south lurk the peaks of the Pyrenees. Tree lined avenues and picturesque markets complete the quintessential French visual package. Throw in the incomparable vista of the medieval Cite of Carcassone, the charm of the Lauragais countryside and the wealth of the Haut Languedoc Regional Nature Park and you’ll see why we’re so excited about running workshops here. But enough of my waffle, here are some pictures...               tree lined road nt Gignac, Languedoc, France.   garlic & chillies for sale in the market, Place aux Herbes, Uzès, Languedoc, France.               Your Accommodation :   Partners :               Abbaye Ecole de Soreze features exceptional architecture. Here, in this remarkable building and in the middle of a 6-hectare park, is our hotel. Abbaye Ecole de Soreze, its park and part of the village of Sorèze are listed 'Historical Monuments'. Here is a place stamped with history; a prestigious and original setting with simply and elegantly decorated rooms, creative catering favouring local products, and warm and friendly hospitality. You will be accommodated in a 3 star room and dine in the Logis des Pères ***. To get a flavour of this unique setting have a look at www.hotelfp-soreze.com. The nearby picturesque village of Sorèze is half-timbered with corbelled houses, cobbled streets, artists and craftspeople.   Non-photographic partners are positively welcomed with open arms. We’re sure this is a place partners will have no trouble at all in relaxing and enjoying the ambience of the beautiful surroundings. Additionally we’ll be offering the option of walks and excursions to local the villages and markets with Wendy Noton. In addition partners are welcome on the photographic forays where transport logistics allow.               The Old Cite at dusk, Carcassonne, Languedoc, France.   The Val du Fenouillet in the Corbiere region, with the Pic de Canigou & the Pyrennees in the distance, Languedoc, France.               The Cost : Click here to book your place!               Photographic Guest                              £980.00 GBP (£200.00 deposit + £780.00) Non-Photographic Partner                    £400.00 GBP  (£150.00 deposit + £250.00)   The ramparts of the medieval Cite at dusk, Carcassonne, Languedoc, France.             What this includes: all the photographic tuition, excursions and activities 4 nights accommodation in a 3 star room at Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze breakfast and evening meals with a third of a bottle of wine per person all transport whilst on the course               What this doesn’t include: international travel to and from Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze airport transfers drinks from the bar lunches insurance cost of excursions/activities for non-photographic partners                 Details :               Additional Nights Accommodation: We strongly recommend you consider coming earlier and/or staying after the course has finished to make the most of this beautiful area. Bookings for additional nights can be arranged directly with Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze . Airport Transfers: Transfers can be arranged for a reasonable price from Toulouse or Carcassone airports directly through Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze . Equipment: Bring whatever gear you use. We only stipulate that you should be familiar with your own equipment. Whether it's film or digital is up to you, our tuition will be relevant to both mediums and all formats. The only requirement is that you bring a tripod. Language: All tuition will be in English. Fitness: Although we will be using our 4x4 vehicles to access remote locations a reasonable level of fitness is required. Typically we may need to walk for 20 minutes over hilly terrain with our equipment to reach some locations. Additionally a photographic walk of about 3 km over undulating terrain in the region of Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze is part of the itinerary for the first day. Non-Photographic Partners Excursions/Activities: These will be arranged depending on demand on arrival. Arrival Time: We kick off by all meeting each other at the bar at Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze on the Friday evening at 1800, followed by an introductory talk with pictures and drinks, then dinner. Therefore please arrange your travel to arrive at Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze by 1700 on the Friday at the latest. As there will be an early start on the Saturday guests with long journeys may care to consider coming a day or so early to acclimatise and relax in the tranquil setting. Departure Time: We finish the course with dinner at Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze on the Monday evening. As the days are long at this time of year this will be quite late so accommodation for the Monday evening is included in the price. Checkout will be by 11am on the Tuesday unless additional nights have been arranged with Hôtel Abbaye Ecole - Soreze. Payment: We take all major credit cards. A deposit of £200 (£150 for a non-photographic partner) will be required to secure your booking, with the balance due 2 months prior to the commencement of the course.               Bookings :               Click here to make a booking through our secure online payment system.     To view our Terms and Conditions about Bookings and Cancellations, please click here.               The tow path on the Canal du Midi near Carcassonne, Languedoc, France.                                   Workshop Competition :                   Workshop participants will be invited to submit an image from each Languedoc workshop into a competition which will be judged by David Noton. The winner will receive a LowePro Pro Trekker 400 bag kindly supplied by LowePro for this workshop.                             Pro Trekker AW 400 is the ultimate, hydration-ready, expedition camera backpack. Lightweight, yet durable, it offers superior protection and comfort with Lowepro’s premium suspension system. Inspired by Lowepro’s world-famous Trekker series of backpacks, Pro Trekker AW appeals to professional outdoor and adventure photographers who need a solution that travels well in rugged terrain or by air. A full roster of inventive and convenient features include: 10 adjustment points from top of pack to lumbar; removable waistpack/backpack lid; three tripod sleeves; hydration pocket with seam-sealed pouch; checkpoint-friendly laptop sleeve; Hideaway Tripod Mount and Lowepro’s patented All Weather AW Cover. Click here to visit the LowePro website - http://www.lowepro.com/protrekker/ To win the Pro Trekker AW 400, David will be looking for the best image taken during this workshop in Langeudoc. (There is one prize for each Workshop)
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