KASHMIR
Luxury Photo Workshop

April 5 - 16, 2027

Beautiful Kashmir is often called “Heaven on Earth.”

The lively, ancient town of Srinagar, where we will be based, is known not only for its breathtaking beauty, but also for its rich culture, exquisite handicrafts, and wonderfully welcoming people.

We’ll be staying on Sukoon, simply the most exquisite property on Srinagar’s Lake Dal: a historic, elegant houseboat with beautiful decor, top-notch service and excellent food. We will be taking daily excursions on the lake, in the old city and up into the mountains.

LET US KNOW OF YOUR INTEREST!

We will be a group of max seven guests. All levels of photographers are welcome, including i-Phone/smartphone-only users.

Along with myself, we have a wonderful producer and terrific photographer himself, Abhi Hajela, as well as our knowledgeable guide, Shaneel Wangnoo. We may also have an extra guide-translator on some days.

We will be traveling by boat and in comfortable SUVs.

Upon arrival in Delhi on April 5, guests will be provided transportation from the airport to The Imperial hotel.

(We strongly encourage guests to arrive a day or two early, to get over jet lag and rest up a bit. Early arrival nights at The Imperial can be arranged.)

Our group departure from Delhi to Srinagar is scheduled for April 6, when we will check into our historic houseboat on Lake Dal.

On April 16, guests will depart as a group from Srinagar to Delhi and check into the Novotel hotel for departure later on that evening. Most international departures will be after midnight, hence on April 17. Flights home should not be booked to leave before, safely, 10:00 pm April 16.

EXPERIENCES MAY INCLUDE

• Shooting a many-generations, ancient craft called "crewel", a Kashmir embroidery, at the home of an artisan family, with a chance to buy their gorgeous work.

• Photographing the Old City of Srinagar, filled with spice markets, ancient trades, a centuries-old mosque, beautiful old architecture, and lunch at a classic Indian restaurant that has been there since the '40s.

• An early morning shoot on Lake Dal with two brothers whose two boats are filled with flowers, as we go across the lake to their home, photographing them picking flowers, arranging their boats with flowers, and capturing their family life.

• A day at a gypsy village in the mountains, at the foot of the Himalayas, with families who live in super colorful houses, observing all sorts of countryside activities with cows, horses, and sheep, hay, corn, inside by the hearth, children, and so on. We'll have a picnic lunch on rugs (which we bring with us) by the river.

• Dawn photography at a floating vegetable market; as well as a lively street market on the lake, surrounded by the snow-covered mountains.

• A day with a papier-mâché family learning how they create their art, brought from Persia centuries ago. We’ll enjoy a magnificent "Wazwan" lunch prepared by a local chef, whose techniques we can watch as he prepares and cooks. This place is also a great place to shop! (I bought an entire duffel bag of papier-mâché boxes and items!)

• A morning at the pigeon market (a fascinating sport) and then tea with a gracious and hospitable "modern" family.

• Late afternoon at a Mughal garden, with its fountains, view of the lake, and all sorts of people enjoying the peace and flowers of the garden.

And of course, as always, there will be great photography learning on location, in group projections, and in private critiques!