SICILY PHOTOGRAPHY RETREAT (27 APRIL - 4 MAY 2024)

WITH OPTIONAL CALABRIA ADD-ON (4-8 MAY 2024)

What and where

In addition to our photography tours, every year we put together a photography retreat, in a new location, which combines travel photography with more in-depth and focused photography talks and 1-2-1s aimed at providing tailored feedback, advice and support to photographers of all interests and at all levels. The first one was in Catalonia, and in 2024 we are going to Sicily.

We have secured a beautiful villa with ensuite rooms and a swimming pool in the west region of Sicily in Marsala, in a hilly area a few km from the sea and the city centre of Marsala, a short distance from the airport of Trapani-Birgi and about 90 km (45 minutes) from Palermo. Benefiting from a huge garden with olive trees and citrus fruits, beautiful panoramic views including sunsets over the Egadi Islands, we will be able to enjoy our photography retreat but also have a relaxing time swimming in the pool, going for quiet walks or sampling delicious local products.

We will arrange day trips to include, of course, Marsala, famous for the wine that takes its name but also home of beautiful old buildings, traditions and history. We will also visit Trapani, with its old watchtower, fishing harbour and fish market, the famous salt pans and windmills.

Last but not least, we will spend time in Palermo, where in addition to visiting and photographing its many picturesque sites, we will also make a guided stop at the Centre for International Photography Letizia Battaglia, the famous L’Ora photographer most renowned for documenting the life of Sicily people and its dark past dominated by the Mafia.

On our day trips we will include plenty of photographic opportunities for landscape and street photography and we will provide support and advice to anyone in the group who might need a bit of guidance, technically or creatively, to ensure everyone makes the best of the day trips.

At the villa, there will be planned photographic talks and practical workshops from our two tutors Andreea Elle Vas and Matt Arnold, as well as a local guest speaker (name to be confirmed) covering a variety of topics from how to approach a photographic project to landscape photography, how to look beyond the surface, and documenting place and people. Each participant will also be offered two 30-min 1-2-1 slots, with Andreea and Matt respectively, to be used for anything that the participants may want help with: creative or technical support, portfolio review of images, support with current or future photographic projects.

Indicative schedule for the week

Day 1

Arrivals at Villa Marsala after 4pm, check-in to rooms

Introductions and dinner

Days 2-7

Villa Marsala Photography retreat including:

Day trip to Marsala

Day trip to Trapani

Day trip to Palermo

On location: long exposure practice, street photography

Photography talks:

Andreea Elle Vas on working on a photographic project including: researching, choosing medium, approach to photographing, sequencing, sharing

Matt Arnold on landscape photography including: how we look at landscape, beyond the surface, parallels with painting and contemporary photography approaches

Guest speaker name to be confirmed – we will invite a local photographer to share their work and experience of photographing Sicily

1-2-1 coaching and portfolio review sessions: each participant will get two 30-min sessions, one with Andreea one with Matt.

Day 8

Check-out and departures after breakfast

OR transfers to Calabria for those doing the add-on (read on for more details)

What’s included - Retreat week

7 nights in en-suite accommodation at Villa Marsala in the hills of Marsala in west Sicily

All meals starting with dinner on 27 April and ending with breakfast on 4 May (most meals will be at the villa, a couple of lunches will be on day trips)

Exclusive use for our group of the Villa Marsala facilities including a private pool

All photography talks, demonstrations and practical photography sessions as well as 1-2-1s as specified in the schedule

All transport during the week and the day trips as indicated in the schedule

What’s excluded - Retreat week

International travel to / from Italy

Airport transfers (we will help you organise)

Travel Visas (if required)

Meals and beverages other than specified in inclusions

Travel and medical insurance (proof required)

Extra nights accommodation for early arrivals or extended departures

Price per person: £2900 no single supplements

A Calabria add-on trip of 4 nights (4-8 May) is available to add to this retreat, for anyone who might want to extend their Italian photographic adventures! Please see details after the contact form.

CALABRIA add-on 4-8 May 2024

available to book with priority for participants to the Sicily Retreat

Calabria is possibly, still, one of Italy’s best kept secrets, but it surely won’t stay that for long. Its amazing coastal scenery and old authentic Italian living can easily rival the Amalfi Coast but without the masses of tourists (yet!). On this 4-night stop, we will be basing ourselves in Tropea and will also include the locations of: Pizzo, Capo Vaticano, Scilla.

On the 4th May we will be traveling from Marsala all the way to Tropea, transferring from the villa to Palermo and then taking a train from there. The scenery along the coast is spectacular and we can also use the long train journey to review images from the previous week.

Days 5-7 in addition to capturing the life in our host town Tropea, we will be doing day trips to Pizzo, Capo Vaticano, Scilla. Italian living, stunning scenery, old buildings, markets (in search of the hottest nduja and the best picture of an Ape - a three wheel vehicle typical to this region), churches and shrines, we will be spoiled for choice in our photographic opportunities. Wherever possible we will be travelling by train to soak up the local vibe and as an added opportunity to capture local images. We will suggest some optional themes or projects to be working on during this trip - see the recommendations under ‘what’s included, but these are subject to the preference of the group.

What’s included:

Internal transport from Marsala villa to Tropea and inside Calabria region during the extension. This will be mostly by public transport (train).

4 nights accommodation with breakfast in Tropea. No single supplements, small discount or a superior room for couples sharing.

On-demand photography advice from Matt and Andreea, as well as planned tasks / mini-projects to be decided with the group at the beginning including: documenting local life, portraiture Italian neo-realism style from conception to editing, landscape photography. 1-2-1 support and reviews as requested.

What’s not included:

Lunch, dinner or any meals or beverages other than breakfast

Transfers to airport (we will recommend best options and help you book)

Price per person (when booked in conjunction with Sicily Retreat): £1750

For couples sharing, a small accommodation discount or a superior room will be offered. Non-photographer participants are welcome to join at a reduced fee, contact us for information.