To make the most of our time in Cuba, you’ll have the beautiful morning light to visually explore the village. As the sun starts to get hot, we will critique your top photos from the previous day and discuss visual storytelling techniques.
Most of our photo shoots are scheduled for later-afternoon. Remember that the sun sets at 6 PM, so this gives us time to scope out our preferred locations before the “golden hour.”
You’ll have time to pick and edit your top images that you would like feedback on. There will be group critique sessions scheduled and we’ll create individual slideshows of our top images for our final evening in Cuba.
Day 1
We’ll arrive at the Santiago de Cuba Airport and make our way by air-conditioned bus along the gorgeous coast to the Los Galeones hotel in Chivirico.
After lunch, you can spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or make the journey down to the beach. May we suggest a delicious piña colada or refreshing mojito at the beach bar?! Later, meet your workshop instructors for an orientation session and group dinner at the hotel as the sun sets over the spectacular Sierra Maestra mountain range.
Day 2
After breakfast, we’ll join German for a discussion about life in the village of Chivirico. Next, we will discuss photo composition and storytelling techniques that you can use throughout the week.
We’ll grab lunch at the hotel, and then we’ll meet up with our local Cuban guides and interpreters to explore the village with our cameras and meet the residents for coffee in their homes.
Day 3
We spend the morning in small groups visiting a farm and doing bird and nature photography. After lunch, you’ll have some free time to edit your photos or just lounge by the pool. Then, before dinner, we’ll have a group photo critique and learn from each other’s work.
Day 4
After breakfast, we’ll travel to downtown Santiago and spend the day with professional exploring the vibrant and historic city of music. The Lonely Planet described Santiago as “the New Orleans of the Caribbean”. Treat yourself to Cuba’s best Mojito’s on the Casa Grande Hotel veranda in the central square. There is an option for an overnight stay at an authentic Casa Particular, dinner at a Paladares and a night out of live Cuban music and dancing.
Day 5
Sunday is a free day to relax or explore on your own. We’ll also offer one-on-one critiques with your photo instructors in the late afternoon.
Day 6
We’ll spend the morning again in small groups visiting a farm, or alternatively, doing bird and nature photography.
In the afternoon, we have a group critique of our top images from Santiago before heading to Casa Hola for Cuba music, Mojitos and a dance class.
Day 7
This morning we’ll learn how to create a slideshow with music and our best photos from the week. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to build your final slideshow under the guidance of your photo instructors. The workshop will wrap with a group dinner, celebrating with your guides and new found friends!
Day 8
Sad to say, the workshop is over. Time to fly back to Toronto or continue on with your own travel plans…!