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CREATIVE PHOTO-RETREATS

More than a workshop, more than a tour

 

Our Photo-Retreats reinvent the photographic workshop and tour and give purpose to your photography.

They propose you a very different and rewarding approach: to slow down and create personal work in an inspiring and authentic location for a whole week, covering all the steps of the photographic process, from the original message to the final print.

Our Photo-Retreats have been designed as holistic creative experiences that will combine moments of total immersion in the field with work in the studio and with round table creative discussions among the group members.

We will help you make wonderful images, edit them, process them and finally get them printed in the comfort of our exclusive lodge.

You will go home with an artist book made by you during the week. Is there anything more rewarding for a photographer than that?

 
 
 

LEARN WHY OUR PHOTO-RETREATS ARE UNIQUE

go to DETAILS ABOUT PHOTO-RETREATS
 

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 SCHEDULED PHOTO-RETREATS FOR 2027

  • Baltic Winter, Hiiumaa island, Estonia - 13th to 20th February 2027 - Places Available

  • Hartmann Valley and Serra Cafema, Namibia - 17th to 26th March 2027 - Places Available

  • The Silver Coast, Portugal - 17th to 24th April 2027 - Places Available

  • Cantabria & Basque Country, Spain - 15th to 22nd May 2027 - Places Available

  • Alpine Trio, Switzerland, Austria and Italian Tyrol - 18th to 25th September 2027 - Places Available

  • The Far Wild West of Scotland - 16th to 23rd October 2027 - Places Available

  • Lake Garda winter moods, Italy - 13th to 20th November 2027 - Places Available


SCHEDULED PHOTO-RETREATS FOR 2026

  • Land of Legends, Galicia, Spain - 22nd to 29th May 2026 - Last Places Available

  • Greek Impressions, Santorini island - 24th to 31st October 2026 - Last Places Available

  • Best Kept Secrets of Tanzania - 11th to 21st November 2026 - Last Places Available

 

BALTIC WINTER, HIIUMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA


During this unique Photo Retreat we will photograph day and night one of the most serene winter landscapes on Earth: the island of Hiiumaa, Estonia. This pristine island, home to UNESCO-recognized heritage and natural treasures, encapsulates the purest essence of Baltic winter, snow-draped forests, silent beaches, frozen reeds, historic lighthouses, and the vast, ice-fringed Baltic Sea. In February, Hiiumaa becomes a visual symphony for the photographer: subtle tones, elemental shapes, crystalline air, and a contemplative mood that invites quietness, silence, and deep introspection.

During this Photo Retreat, we will enjoy total flexibility and the feeling of having a memorable modern home away from home, our own contemporary house nestled in the heart of the island, a perfect base for exploration and creativity, a warm and welcoming sanctuary where we will spend our nights, share nourishing meals prepared by our own chef, and have dedicated space to work on the images we make, editing, printing, and creating a beautiful handmade book at the end of the Retreat. From our doorstep, we will venture to windswept beaches, evergreen forests, reed-fringed marshes, and the island’s iconic lighthouses, each a poetic beacon in the winter light.

As with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work every day with each participant to edit, post-process, and print a curated portfolio of images made during the week. At the end of the week, Anca, who is also a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for each participant, beautifully showcasing a curated selection of your printed photographs from this extraordinary winter retreat.

  • Place: Hiiumaa island, Estonia

  • Dates: 13th to 20th February 2027 (8 days)

  • Places Available

  • Price: 6’700 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Single room for all participants

  • Modern house in the middle of unspoiled nature booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 

BALTIC WINTER, ESTONIA

13th - 20th February 2027

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HARTMANN VALLEY & SERRA CAFEMA, NAMIBIA

We were among the pioneers introducing photographic trips to Namibia more than fifteen years ago. Since then, we've extensively explored every corner of the country, focusing on its wildest, most remote, and most authentic regions. Our upcoming Photographic Adventure will lead us to the remotest and most spectacular area of Namibia, and arguably the world: the Hartmann Valley.

We have already been there with a group of photographers, and it was one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had. Even before we finished our time there, we and many of our clients had already concluded that we were coming back. This time, however, we have decided to make it even better and focus exclusively on this incredible area so that we can have all the time this place deserves to be explored thoroughly with our cameras.

This exclusive fly-in journey provides us with our private plane throughout. Our base will be at one of the world's most isolated, exclusive and luxurious lodges of the world, offering exclusive access to the otherwise restricted areas of the Hartmann Valley. This unique adventure combines probably some of the most breathtaking landscapes you will ever see in your life, including incredible rock formations, towering sand dunes, dry river beds, rocky valleys, and encounters with desert elephants, lions, and even crocodiles along the mighty Kunene River, the only perennial river in Namibia along the border with Angola. To our knowledge, this is the very first photographic trip ever made to explore in depth this unique, wild and authentic place of the African continent, and probably this might be the last time such a photographic trip is ever proposed... Don't miss this one-time opportunity to explore one of the most incredible places on planet earth.

At the end of this photo-adventure, we will make for each participant a handmade artist book with a curated selection of their best pictures made during the trip, printed in beautiful cotton-rag fine art paper, that will become a cherished souvenir of this unforgettable experience.

  • Place: Hartmann Valley and Serra Cafema, Namibia

  • Dates: 17th to 26th March 2027 (10 days)

  • Places available

  • Price: 14’900 CHF

  • Deposit: 5’000 CHF

  • Double room

  • Single room supplement: 1’200 CHF

  • The most remote and exclusive lodge in Africa, and possibly in the planet?

  • All meals and drinks included

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 

HARTMANN VALLEY, NAMIBIA

17th - 26th March 2027

 

WAVES & TILES, SILVER COAST, PORTUGAL

Join us for a unique photographic retreat in the Silver Coast of Portugal, where cultural richness meets stunning coastal landscapes.

Throughout the week, we will explore the diverse landscapes of the Portuguese Atlantic coast, combining natural and pristine beaches and cliffs with charming and historically rich places where you will delve into the authentic spirit of Portugal. From the enchanting medieval town of Óbidos to the rugged charm of the Berlenga Islands, and from the vibrant streets of Lisbon with its iconic trams and colorful tiles to the serene beaches of Nazaré, we will find countless opportunities to enhance ourskills and capture the essence of these breathtaking locations.

During this all-inclusive Creative Retreat we will stay in a wonderful and luxurious modern house booked just for our group, offering comfort and exclusivity. Our strategically located home-away-from-home will provide easy access to our chosen photographic locations, allowing us to adapt to the light and weather conditions and the variety of subject matter available to us in the region.

As with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work every day with each participant to edit, post-process and print a curated portfolio of images made during the week. At the end of the week, Anca, who is also a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for each participant, beautifully showcasing a curated selection of your printed photographs from this extraordinary experience.

  • Place: Silver Coast and Lisbon, Portugal

  • Dates: 17th to 24th March 2027 (8 nights)

  • Places Available

  • Price: 6'700 CHF

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF

  • Wonderful modern house booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 

WAVES & TILES, SILVER COAST, PORTUGAL

17th - 24th March 2027

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CANTABRIA & BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN


In May, when the Atlantic turns luminous and the mountains breathe fresh green, we invite you to a spring Photo Retreat in Cantabria and the Basque Country, in Northern Spain, where coastline, city, and high peaks compose a vivid, elemental score. From our base in a wonderful “Casa de Indianos”, an old mansion rich with stories of return and fortune, we will explore the quiet geometry of the sea, the sculptural brilliance of Bilbao’s Guggenheim, historical villages like Santillana del Mar and the limestone drama of the Picos de Europa National Park.

Along the coast, we’ll work on headlands and beaches where flysch layers and tidal pools invite long exposures and minimalist studies. In Bilbao, the Guggenheim’s titanium curves become an endless playground of abstraction, with planes, edges, and reflections. Inland, the Picos de Europa open to grand vistas and intimate details: high passes, hidden gorges, waterfalls, and moss-bright forests where spring reveals both scale and quiet.

A traditional “Casa de Indianos”, those old mansions that people returning from the Americas built in the North of Spain, will be our sanctuary and studio, a welcoming home with generous rooms and garden air, where we share nourishing meals, review work, and shape a cohesive series throughout the week. Rafael will mentor each participant daily, from field craft to post-processing and printing, helping you build a curated portfolio that spans seascape, architecture, and mountain landscape. At week’s end, Anca will craft a handmade artist book for every participant, beautifully presenting a selection of your prints, a tangible and intimate record of your time in this wonderful area of Northern Spain.

  • Place: Cantabria and Basque Country, Spain

  • Dates: 15th to 22nd May 2027 (8 nights)

  • Places Available

  • Price: 6’700 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Single room for all participants

  • Manor house booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 

CANTABRIA & BASQUE COUNTRY

15th - 22nd May 2027

 

ALPINE TRIO - SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA AND ITALY

Join us for an extraordinary photographic retreat in three Alpine countries at once: Switzerland, Austria and Italian Tyrol.

Based in the charming valley of Scuol, in Easter Switzerland, nestled in a traditional, heritage-rich house, we will experience the stunning beauty of the Alps as we explore not only the captivating landscapes of Eastern Switzerland but also the neighbouring regions of Austria and the Italian Tyrol, which will be virtually at our doorstep.

Throughout the week, we will immerse in the diverse and breathtaking Alpine scenery, where picturesque villages meet expansive valleys and dramatic mountain peaks.

As we have made for many of our Photo Retreats, this event will also ensure a comfortable and exclusive stay in a beautifully preserved heritage house, which will become a highlight of the trip: A luxurious and wonderfully renovated traditional house of this part of Switzerland, offering all comfort and creating a very special creative bubble for us all! Strategically located, it will provide easy access to our photographic locations across three different countries, and even provide photographic opportunities indoors.

As with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work closely with each participant, providing guidance in editing, post-processing, and printing a curated portfolio of images created during the week. At the conclusion of our retreat, Anca, a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for each participant, elegantly showcasing a selection of your printed photographs from this unforgettable experience.

  • Place: Eastern Switzerland, Austrian and Italian Tyrol

  • Dates: 18th to 25th September 2027 (8 nights)

  • Places Available

  • Price: 6'700 CHF

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF

  • Traditional house booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 

AUTUMN ALPINE TRIO

18th - 25th September 2027

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THE FAR WILD WEST OF SCOTLAND

Join us for an unforgettable Photo Retreat amid the wild, off-the-beaten-track landscapes of Ardnamurchan and Moidart in autumn, one of the least visited areas of Scotland. This remote corner of the West Highlands blends the ocean drama of the Hebrides with the rugged majesty of the Highlands, carrying a powerful sense of being at the edge of the world. Here, Atlantic vistas meet ancient rock, sea lochs carve deeply into the land, and lonely moors roll toward sentinel mountains, an untamed stage where nature performs in sweeping light and shadow. The scenery is nothing short of sublime: raw, elemental, and endlessly expressive, offering photographers a rare wealth of compositions that range from grand, cinematic vistas to intimate studies of texture, color, and form.

Autumn brings atmosphere in abundance: fast-changing weather, low sun angles, long blue hours, and moody skies that drape the coast and hills in dramatic light. We’ll roam hidden gems across Ardnamurchan and Moidart, craggy headlands and lighthouse viewpoints, tidal estuaries and white-sand beaches, serene lochs mirroring cloud and color, ancient castles and ruins whispering history, native woodlands jeweled with moss and rain, and rugged mountain silhouettes rising above ocean. In this quiet, unfrequented region, the land will be our studio and the elements our collaborators.

Our base is a wonderful modern and luxurious house reserved exclusively for the group, set in one of the area’s most beautiful outlook. Each evening we’ll gather to review and print the day’s work, sharing insights over locally sourced, seasonal dishes prepared with care by Anca, celebrating the flavors of Scotland after days immersed in the wild.

As with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work closely with each participant throughout the week to edit, post-process, and print a curated portfolio of images created on location. At the end of the retreat, Anca, also a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for every participant, beautifully presenting a selection of your printed photographs from this extraordinary, seldom-trodden corner of Scotland.

  • Place: The Far West of Scotland

  • Dates: 16th to 23rd October 2027 (8 days)

  • Places Available

  • Price: 6'700 CHF

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF

  • Single room for all participants

  • Lodge booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 
 

THE FAR WILD WEST OF SCOTLAND

16th - 23rd October 2027

 

LAKE GARDA, ITALIAN PHOTO RETREAT

Join us on a winter Photo Retreat along the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, where we’ll craft minimalist images shaped by water, wind, and quiet light. In winter, Garda’s moods fades to pastel skies, misted mornings, empty promenades, and the silver plane of the lake against alpine silhouettes. We’ll explore serene towns, seeking elemental compositions in piers, breakwaters, chapel facades, winter vineyards, and boats at rest. Soft tones, long blue hours, and the poetry of emptiness invite calm, attentive seeing.

Short, purposeful excursions into nearby Verona and probably Emilia-Romagna will extend our palette, with fog-bound rivers, Romanesque facades, quiet bridges, and muted industrial edges, chosen for mood and graphic clarity. We’ll embrace the quietest season: dawn for veiled horizons and gentle gradients; day for misty abstractions, crisp contrasts, rain-slick reflections, and wind-drawn lines; twilight and night for subdued color and elegant solitude.

Our base for this Photo Retreat will be a highlight in itself. For the whole week, we have booked a magnificent palace residence, designed and built by the renowned Italian architect Andrea Palladio in the 16th century, warm, luminous, and ideally located in the heart of Valpolicella and its famous vineyards. Here we’ll share meals wonderfully prepared by Anca and, as with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work every day with each participant to edit, post-process, and print a curated portfolio of images made during the week. At the end of the week, Anca, who is also a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for each participant, beautifully showcasing a curated selection of your printed photographs from this extraordinary photo retreat.

  • Place: Lake Garda and Emilia Romagna, Italy

  • Dates: 13th to 20th November 2027 (8 nights)

  • Places Available

  • Price: 6’700 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Single room for all participants

  • Wonderful Palladian palace residence booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 

LAKE GARDA & EMILIA ROMAGNA, ITALY

13th - 20th November 2027

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LAND OF LEGENDS, GALICIA

Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, is a photographer's dream come true. With its raw beauty, rich history, and diverse landscapes, it offers a wealth of opportunities for capturing the essence of this unique region. From the dramatic cliffs and iconic lighthouses of the granitic "Coast of Death" to the rolling hills, meadows, and forests, Galicia's natural landscape is breathtaking. On top of that, Galicia’s Atlantic weather is a synonym for incredible light, making it a truly special place for photography.

Galicia is a land of Celtic traditions, but also bears the marks of civilizations that came before. Santiago de Compostela, with its historic streets and architecture, is a hub of cultural heritage, while the romantic ruins of abbeys, ancient dolmens, and land of legends are steeped in mystery.

During the whole Photo Retreat, we will be based in a wonderful and big contemporary house near Santiago de Compostela, from where we will be able to explore many different areas of Galicia, inland and on the coast, easily.

As with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work every day with each participant to edit, post-process and print a curated portfolio of images made during the week. At the end of the week, Anca, who is also a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for each participant, beautifully showcasing a curated selection of your printed photographs from this extraordinary experience.

  • Place: Galicia, Spain

  • Dates: 22nd to 29th May 2026 (7 nights)

  • Few Places Available

  • Price: 6'400 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Single room for all participants

  • House booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals and all drinks included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 
 

GALICIA, SPAIN

22nd - 29th May 2026

 

GREEK IMPRESSIONS, SANTORINI

When contemplating Greece, Santorini immediately captures our imagination. In many ways, Santorini is to Greece what Venice is to Italy! Indeed, it is the quintessential embodiment of Greek architecture and design set against one of the world's most spectacular landscapes. Perched precariously on the rim of a stunning volcanic caldera, its villages provide myriad subjects against the pristine blue backdrop of sea and sky, offering a vast visual tapestry for honing our compositional and observational skills—from intricate details to expansive vistas. For this exclusive Photo-Retreat, we have secured two splendid Greek villas secluded in the heart of the island, that will serve as our base for exploring and capturing the essence of the whole island of Santorini, and putting together a curated portfolio of images made during the Retreat. Anticipate also delectable cuisine, harmoniously prepared by Anca to complement the rich Greek flavors, alongside exquisite wines.

As with all our Photo Retreats, Rafael will work every day with each participant to edit, post-process and print a curated portfolio of images made during the week. At the end of the week, Anca, who is also a professional bookmaker, will craft a handmade artist book for each participant, beautifully showcasing a curated selection of your printed photographs from this extraordinary experience.

  • Place: Santorini island, Greece

  • Dates: 24th to 31st October 2026

  • Few Places Available

  • Price: 6'400 CHF (7 nights)

  • Deposit: 2’000 CHF

  • Single room

  • House booked exclusively for our group

  • All meals included - our own private chef

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of prints included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 
 

GREEK IMPRESSIONS, SANTORINI

24th - 31st October 2026

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BEST KEPT SECRETS OF TANZANIA, FLY-IN SAFARI

On this unique 10-night fly-in expedition, we will visit one of the best-kept secrets of the entire African continent: Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park. These two authentic experiences will set this trip apart from any other journey to Tanzania and much of Africa, and we will experience them in the best way possible.

First, we will fly to Ruaha National Park, one of the last great unspoilt wildlife meccas of Africa and a true photographer’s paradise, where we will spend 4 days. Here, thousands of baobabs rise from the plains, overlooking herds of elephants, creating a magical scene that’s perfect for wildlife and landscape photography. Nearly 50% bigger than the Serengeti, yet with a tenth of the number of visitors, the breathtaking views and tranquil atmosphere are sure to provide an immersive experience far from the crowds and in a beautifully preserved piece of the natural world.

We will then fly to Nyerere National Park, the largest park in all of Africa, one of the most revered strongholds of animals on earth and the largest game reserve in Africa. In this wild and untamed land full of rivers, lakes, hippos, and crocodiles, we will spend another 4 days in a wonderful lodge by the shores of the Rujifi river. The variety of photo and safari opportunities is simply incredible, not only during exciting 4x4 drives but also during boat trips on rivers and lakes brimming with wildlife. It’s hard to explain, but it's as if we've squeezed through a creaking, old gate to gain the freedom of Nature’s secret garden.

Two nights at a luxurious hotel in Dar-es-Salaam, at the beginning and end of the trip, complete this unforgettable experience.

Our handpicked lodges, some of the best in Tanzania, are authentic, exclusive, and maintain their stance of being off the beaten track. These lodges in secluded locations offer unparalleled access to these spectacular scenes, ensuring an authentic, genuine and intimate experience.

At the end of this photo-adventure, we will make for each participant a handmade artist book with a curated selection of their best pictures made during the trip, printed in beautiful cotton-rag fine art paper, that will become a cherished souvenir of this unforgettable experience.

  • Place: Ruaha and Nyerere National Parks, Southern Tanzania

  • Dates: 11th to 21st November 2026 (10 nights)

  • Few Places Available

  • Price: 13'900 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Deposit: 5’000 CHF (Swiss Francs)

  • Double room occupancy

  • Two very exclusive lodges, wonderful viewing conditions

  • Fly-in Safari: Three domestic flights included

  • Private vehicles and boats - direct access to window

  • All meals and all drinks included

  • Handmade artist book of a curated selection of images included

  • Exertion Level: Easy 

  • Photo level: All

book your place
more information
 
 
 

BEST KEPT SECRETS OF TANZANIA

11th - 21st November 2026

 

PHOTO RETREATS

Holistic Creative Experiences


1. PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE FIELD

All our Photo-Retreats take place in the most magnetic, authentic and inspiring places we have discovered all over the world. In our Photo-Retreats, you will spend plenty of time exploring and immersing yourself in inspiring “photographic playgrounds”, carefully chosen by us, having the chance to work with different subject matter and under different conditions. Unrushed, you will be able to slow down, connecting more with the place and allowing your inner landscape to blend with the outer one. Our Photo-Retreats are optimized so that we limit the amount of time traveling around so that more time is available in the selected locales. We slow down and run less, having more time available for meaningful photography. Our Photo-Retreats are not based on jumping from one viewpoint to another, chasing iconic vistas or clichés, but mostly on spending quality time in each location, connecting with them, and being able to produce personal and creative work.


2. REVIEWING AND POST-PROCESSING

Post-processing should not be considered a separate step in photography but rather as the continuation, or culmination, of a whole photographic process that started the moment we had an idea in our mind that we wanted to capture in a photograph. During our Photo-Retreats, we will study the most important and difficult task for the digital photographer today: knowing what is the intent and final vision we want for the image and what are the adjustments that need to be done in order to get there. All this is independent of the software we use and will give us the most important foundations of knowledge in order to post-process our images using any kind of software or tools.

In the comfort of our lodge, we will spend time reviewing the work you have made in the field, analysing the message and the coherence of your images, finding patterns and traits that reveal your personal vision and finding ways to make your images more expressive. We will help you post-process your images based on your original intent.


3. PRINTING & ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Every day, we will make fine prints of a curated selection of images made by each participant, by using an Epson photographic printer and fine art cotton rag paper. This is when we will turn your images into something real and tangible, a creative token that becomes a materialization of your creative efforts.

These prints will also serve as a base of discussion and open the door to enriching feedback from other members of the group. The prints will become the perfect excuse to engage in enlightening round table discussions about our photographs, sharing and learning from each other how each of us sees and photographs the world in a unique way. Do not worry if you are not an experienced photographer. Everyone has something to say and we will help you with the technicalities.


4. EDITING AND BOOK-BINDING

Rafael Rojas will help you edit the selection of prints made during the week, attending to flow, resonance, and relationships of form and meaning. The idea will be to compose a body of work where the whole is more than the sum of the parts. You will also learn thanks to the enriching feedback from other members of the group. There is nothing like the sight of prints all over the place to engage in enlightening round table discussions about our photographs!

Finally, you will learn how to bind the prints and make your own artist book, the culmination of the whole photographic process, and the reflection of your personal vision of the place we have photographed during the week. For this, you will benefit from the help and insight of Anca. Not only she is our chef, but she is also an expert book-binder who creates all the artist books published by Platinum Press Editions, our sister company devoted to publishing fine art photography artist books.

At the end of the Photo-Retreat, you will proudly leave with an artist book made by you from A to Z. This will become the materialization of a week devoted to creative and expressive work. It will also become an indelible souvenir of a meaningful experience, a stepstone to become a better artist and an inspiring proof you have a unique and powerful voice. Based on the experience with our clients on Photo-Retreats, there is no way back after you will have concluded one of our events!

BRING HOME AN ARTIST BOOK LIKE THESE !

At the end of the Photo-Retreat, you will proudly leave with an artist book made by you from A to Z. This will become the materialization of a week devoted to creative and expressive work. It will also become an indelible souvenir of a meaningful experience, a stepstone to become a better artist and an inspiring proof you have a unique and powerful voice. Based on the experience with our clients on Photo-Retreats, there is no way back after you will have concluded one of our events! You can see here below videos of the books made on some of our Photo-Retreats.

 
 
 

 

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UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHIC PLAYGROUNDS

Explore authentic, inspiring & magnetic locations

 
  • All our Photo-Retreats are held in the most inspiring and authentic places on this planet.

  • We carefully select locations off the beaten track that have maintained their genuine nature, quiet places where to slow down and fully engage in the creative process of expressive photography.

  • We favor “photographic playgrounds”, rather than “viewpoints” or iconic vistas. We look for places that allow us a full immersion, where to connect with the landscape and produce personal work.

  • Even when we visit iconic places, we do it differently. We go under the surface, trying to capture the spirit of the place, focusing on those aspects and areas that most other photographers oversee.

 

PRIVATE, EXCLUSIVE, AND PERSONAL

Unique places to stay, eat, work and exchange

 

The planning of all our Photo-Retreats starts with finding a magical and unforgettable home-away-from-home where to stay during the week. All our Photo-Retreats include single occupancy accommodation in unique properties full of charm and character, that encapsulate the tradition, culture, and spirit of the place we visit. Depending on the location, it could be a luxurious Andalusian “cortijo”, a Swiss historical house from the XIV century listed as a monument, a secluded house by the ocean in Iceland, a top-class wooden loghouse in the Finnish Lapland, a floating boat, a Scottish Manoir full of character… These unique properties are rented as a whole for our group, granting us space to gather, eat the wonderful gastronomic meals that Anca will prepare, work on our images, print and create our books, and drink a glass of wine while we talk about photography and life. These places are not just “accommodation”, but truly cozy creative bubbles, a home-away-from-home, and very often a piece of history and tradition of the places we visit.

 

A CULINARY EXPERIENCE

A creative mind demands a full stomach

 

Gorgeous food from our own Private Chef

It is always easier to be creative and inspired when your stomach is happy! This is why our Photo-Retreats are also culinary feasts.

Anca, besides being a great architect and bookbinder, has trained for many years as a chef. She has specialized in the creation of surprising, sophisticated, balanced, and healthy dishes that will become a highlight of our trip. She takes inspiration in Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Middle East, and Eastern European cuisines among others. She will use local products and try to surprise you all with the most traditional ingredients of the area we will visit. In terms of quality, we choose the best: Lobsters, iberian pig, kobe wagyu beef and king crab among others have met our dishes during our Creative Photo-Retreats. By the way, as we have total flexibility, we can also cater to vegetarians, just let us know!

Not only will we eat well, but we will also have total flexibility when it comes to planning our days to our photographic activity, light, weather, etc.

 
 

MEET YOUR TUTOR

Rafael Rojas (Master Hasselblad 2014, MA Photography), is a Swiss and Spanish full-time artist-photographer, lecturer, author, and creativity mentor.

Rafael has been involved in teaching since he was in his teens, and well before he took a camera for the first time. First helping out young students, then teaching undergrads, and later on as a University lecturer.

Nowadays, his teaching activities focus on helping photographers see the world with different eyes and use photography as a tool of personal and creative expression.

Rafael is also co-founder of “Platinum Press Editions”, an independent finer art photography publishing company devoted to the creation of photography books of the highest quality.

 
I want to help you create images that express the unique way you see, feel and understand the world around you.
— Rafael Rojas
 
 
 
 

LEARN FROM AN EXPERT

Participants can expect to find in our Photo-Retreat the teachings of an expert, backed by:

  • Solid photographic expertise, with more than 40 international awards, including the prestigious Master Hasselblad award in 2014

  • Recognised professional activity as a published & exhibited photographic artist

  • Large teaching experience, with more than 10 years of experience organising workshops all over the world

  • Strong pedagogical background, based on many years of experience as a University lecturer

  • Deep academic background, provided by a MA in Photography

  • Extensive writing experience, as a regular columnist and contributor to several international photographic magazines

  • Creator of the online mentoring program: MasterCOURSE “Photography with Intent”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS

Have you got questions? We have answers!

 

Are Creative Photo-Retreats only for advanced photographers?

Not at all! Our Creative Photo-Retreats cater to photographers of ALL LEVELS.

Do not worry if you are not very experienced in making photographs, processing your work, or printing images. We will help you all along, and you will learn by doing, with our support. You just need some knowledge about how to use your camera in manual mode.

How is that, you might wonder? Our Photo-Retreats deal with the expressive and creative potential of photography, covering all aspects involved in the photographic process, from A to Z.

Thanks to our Photo-Retreats, beginners and intermediate photographers will literally see their level sky-rocket and build some solid self-confidence. Advanced photographers, in turn, might very well experience an inflection point in their philosophy and practice of photography. If you are an advanced photographer who is able to produce at will aesthetically pleasing images but who feels that something is lacking, then our Photo-Retreats are made for you. They will expand your views, push you to abandon old ruts, leave your comfort zone, and experience a radical change of mindset when it comes to your photographic practice.


How big are the groups in the Photo-Retreats?

Due to the very personal approach and the amount of teaching involved, we work with very small groups, ranging from 3 to 5 people. Only on occasions, we might have as many as 6 participants, when the logistics recommend it.


Do you outsource the leading of your retreats to other photographers?

No. All our Creative Photo-Retreats are planned, defined, organized, and led personally by Rafael and Anca, as a team. We, Rafael and Anca, the only owners of Essential Seeing, both traded successful careers in order to devote ourselves to a passion. The passion of teaching and inspiring others to grow as artists, the passion of taking care of others and providing unforgettable experiences that become highlights in their lives. We are not perfect, but we try and do our best, and we have a blast doing it! Why outsource all this pleasure to others while we manage the “business” from our office? We want to be with you and we want to make sure all is made according to our values and uncompromising attention to detail.

Besides all this, we honestly doubt we could find anybody out there able to cover all the things we do in our Photo-Retreats… Without realizing, we have become a perfect team able to master a very wide range of skills. Anca has trained as a chef and a bookbinder for many years, Rafael has many decades of teaching experience under his belt. We both have been actively making artist books with our company Platinum Press Editions, and both of us have been travelling and organizing trips for as long as we remember.


Will we sacrifice time spent outdoors in order to work and print our photos?

No, in fact, the contrary will be true!

Our indoor sessions are not something we do in exchange of work out in the field, but in addition to it, or even in order to! You are likely to experience that the working sessions in the studio become the fuel of inspiration for you to go out there again and produce better work.

Every day we will devote a couple of hours to help you all choose some of the most expressive and personal images you have created the day before. We will work them together on the computer and print them. Then, you will be able to see what the other participants have created, and how each one of you has seen the same place in a very different, and personal, way. All this proves extremely inspiring and motivating to all our participants and put them in the perfect mindset to go out again and create new meaningful work. They also provide ideas and insight about new possibilities of creation.

Our indoor sessions give purpose to the outdoor sessions, and make them richer, deeper and more meaningful.


How are the itineraries planned?

We do not stick to a pre-defined plan, but adapt it to the weather, light, moods and group dynamics. This is where the intuition of Rafael typically makes wonders, allowing the Photo-Retreat to fold organically, and making every place the “right place”, and every moment the “right moment”. We will also reveal a place by carefully orchestrating not only the locales we visit, but also in which order we visit them, how we combine them, how long we spend in each.

Our Photo-Retreats are optimized so that we limit the amount of time spent in the car. We slow down and run less, having more time available for meaningful photography. Our Photo-Retreats are not based on jumping from one viewpoint to another, chasing iconic vistas or clichés, but mostly on spending quality time in each location, connecting with them, and being able to produce personal and creative work.

One of our tasks during the Photo-Retreats is to plan our time and our itineraries so that you are always inspired, challenged, and motivated while in the field. Creativity and inspiration follow cycles and it is important to plan a photographic trip accordingly. Photography as an artistic outlet of expression is not something you can be doing nonstop for 12 hours a day. That is production, not creation.


What do I get at the end of the Creative Photo-Retreat?

Not only will you have a memorable souvenir and lots of great photographs on your memory card.

You will also go back home with a handmade artist book made with fine art prints of your work during the week. Something you will be able to show your friends and family, as soon as you arrive home, truly a physical outcome of your creative week.

You are also likely to go back home with a few recipes “stolen” to Anca, who will put together menus difficult to forget!


How is the food organized?

Anca, besides being a great architect and bookbinder, has trained for many years as a chef. She has specialized in the creation of surprising, sophisticated, balanced, and healthy dishes that will become a highlight of our trip. She takes inspiration in Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Middle East, and Eastern European cuisines among others. She will use local products and try to surprise you all with the most traditional ingredients of the area we will visit. In terms of quality, we choose the best: Lobsters, iberian pig, kobe wagyu beef and king crab among others have met our dishes during our Creative Photo-Retreats. By the way, as we have total flexibility, we can also cater to vegetarians, just let us know!


How is lodging planned for Photo-Retreats?

The places we select as our home-away-from-home need to be a contribution to the dream experience of our Photo-Retreats. They are not just functional places to sleep and eat, but magical bubbles where to get inspired, work and discuss, enjoy wonderful meals, and spend quality time together.

For this reason, we run our Photo-Retreats from manor houses, palazzos, cortijos, traditional farms, luxurious alpine chalets, historical buildings, castles, lighthouses, and African tented camps, among others.

We are extremely picky when it comes to the choice of lodging during our Creative Retreats. We only book places that we can have entirely for us. They need to have a special character, ideal locations, and the highest standards in terms of comfort and equipment available in the area. All our rooms are for a single occupation.


What do I need to bring for the Photo-Retreats?

Once you enroll on any of our Photo-Retreats, you will receive detailed information about what to bring and how to prepare for the event.

On top of the photographic material, clothing and outdoor equipment, you will also need to bring your own laptop, with a copy of Adobe Lightroom or Capture One installed in it. If you do not have that software, you can always download a trial version for free from the Adobe site. Bring also your own mouse! The cheese will be provided by us :-)


Can I have some feedback from other participants?

Yes, if you would like to have some feedback from other participants who have already attended our Photo-Retreats, we could put you in contact with them so that you can know first-hand what to expect.

All of our Creative Retreat participants repeat with us every single year… that is the best testimonial!


I see little information about the particular scheduled Retreats on this website... How can I know more?

Our Photo-Retreats are personal and tailor-made creative experiences and the booking process needs to be personal, too. After all, you are about to enroll in a memorable and enlightening experience, not buy a pair of shoes!

For this reason, if you are interested in any of our Photo-Retreats, we would love to personally meet you online in order to give you details and answer your questions about the specific location, the logistics, the way our Photo-Retreats in general work, etc. By meeting online, we can also discuss and make sure we are ideal for you, and you are ready for us. Putting together groups of similarly oriented people who are on the same “wave-of-length” is also our responsibility and part of the value we offer to our clients.

If you are potentially interested in any of our Photo-Retreats and not ready to book straight, just contact us by using the button “More info”, and we will gladly plan an online meeting with you!


How can I book a Photo-Retreat?

If you are ready to enroll on any of our Photo-Retreats and there are still places available, please use the “Book” button and send us the booking application.

Once we receive it, we will send you the invoices for the payment of the deposit and then for the balance, in due time.

Payments will be made via wire transfer (transfer into our bank account), and a confirmation of payment will be sent to you by email, acting as proof of booking.


Are these Photo-Retreats safe in terms of Covid?

Our Creative Retreats are the safest option nowadays for those who want to travel and practice photography. During the whole week, we are totally autonomous and independent, having our own lodge and our private chef. You will barely have any contact (if any at all) with other people other than the rest of the participants. Our Creative Retreats are a bubble of creative inspiration where to feel safe and forget about the troubles of the world for a while.


In which languages are Photo-Retreats run?

The official language for our Photo-Retreats is English, and this is the language that will be used when talking to the group as a whole. However, bear in mind that personal explanations to each participant can be done also in French or Spanish, as we are bilingual in these other languages. Also, during the indoor sessions, we work with each of the participants individually, and therefore English, French or Spanish can be used.

A certain international composition of the group should be expected, with all the fun and wonderful implications that brings!

 
 
 

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US

 
For those looking for a warm, friendly, fun, inspiring and photographically stimulating trip with exceptional people and one of the best landscape photographers anywhere, one need look no further.
— David Driman, Canada
Go to testimonials
 
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US?

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