“Puglia was such a special experience! All the elements came together…kind people, a beautiful place, good food and wine, learning, and great photo opportunities!" - Carol Thomas
"I admire Catherine's attention to detail in this workshop - finding amazing people and locations to photograph. She knocked this one out of the park!" - Kathy Ozanich
INTRODUCTION
I am excited to announce my luxury Photo Workshop in magical Puglia, a sunny paradise of ancient olive trees, white-washed hill villages, quaint fishing towns with winding streets and limestone cliffs, and the endless turquoise Adriatic and Ionian seas. Puglia is simple, relaxed, rugged and real. This is the authentic Italy.
We have designed for you a highly curated twelve-day photo workshop with hand-picked experiences designed to give you exclusive access to some very special places and people, such as the passionate owner of an ancient olive tree estate, a master artisanal burrata-maker on his tiny farm, and expert artisans of a centuries-old religious statuary craft. We spend real time with warm and welcoming locals and experience a Puglia that you’d never be able to have on your own. This is an immersive journey that will take you deep into the heart of Puglia. Interestingly, Puglia is a place of not only very old traditions, but also dynamic new creations in food, farming and art.
We'll be there in May, one of the most beautiful times of year in Puglia, when the days are warm and pleasant, and when we aren't shooting the day's late light, we'll be dining al fresco on a perfect early summer evening.
“…the Masseria was an incredible place …one could live the rest of one’s life looking out to the sea and seeing fields of everything one could eat growing abundantly in their fields… The love Catherine generated from her long-time guests, who have been on other trips, was intoxicating… we felt the privilege of being in the company of smart people led by an enthusiastic leader not afraid to make fun of herself and always giving her all. Catherine attracts smart and conscientious guests who really want to learn more and also share her world of social charm… she brought out our best selves. The workshop is like a jewel in our memory box." - Deedy Ogden
We will start our journey in Lecce, in the Province of Salento, where we will be staying right in town at the luxury hotel of Palazzo Maresgallo.
After three days in Lecce, we will travel to the lush green Itria Valley, with its signature ancient trulli. There we will stay in our own private villa, the utterly gorgeous Masseria Petrarolo, complete with swimming pool, staff, and our own private chef, whose food is simply scrumptious. This is luxury at its finest.
Food is always an important part of travel and cuisine is an intrinsic part of the Puglia experience. There is an openness and rustic charm in Puglia that is reflected not only in the personality of the locals, but also in the sharing of food, whether a grandma’s pasta from a thousand-year-old recipe, to local vegetables, fresh fish caught daily by local fishermen and burrata cheese, one of the region’s most famous products. In this workshop, as in all my workshops, we will be eating healthy and very well!
You can expect a seamlessly-run, highly professional trip, with great attention to detail. We are based in only two accommodations, so we are not packing up and moving all the time. Our time is spent shooting and enjoying, not traveling long distances.
Our wonderful producer, Antine Meinardi, is jolly, professional, and delightful, and has an unbridled passion for Puglia. The personal connections we have fostered give our guests deep-rooted local access, which enables us to get uniquely intimate photographs.
Every day will be a photo adventure. As always, there will be real photo learning both on location and in class. You will come home with a set of terrific images and a renewed sense of adventure.
"The experiences are unforgettable. Catherine is extraordinary for her technical and teaching abilities as well as her care for each of us. The hotels and places we visited and photographed are so memorable that they have a place in my sweetest dreams, and the in-depth exposure to this magical region and its beautiful, fascinating people from a broad range of economic and social levels makes this workshop experience richer than I ever could have imagined."
"Thank you for a great workshop, something I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life. " - David Clardy
EXPERIENCES MAY INCLUDE
Photographing 3000-year old olive trees, among the oldest in the world, on a private estate, and tasting olive oil made from these trees
Riding in, and shooting, vintage Fiats on country roads through “trulli” country
Strolling the white-washed hill village of Locorotondo, and photographing local characters
Observing how burrata cheese is made and enjoying a tasting with a master cheese maker
Spending time with fishermen in the sun-bleached fishing town of Gallipoli
Learning about Baroque architecture in Lecce and shooting the splendid honey-colored churches in the best light of the day, and at dusk
Photographing local artisans in their super-photogenic ateliers, in Lecce
COST
$11,875 per person
(prices subject to change)
To join us in 2026, please click on the link below:
WHAT IS INCLUDED
An eleven-day workshop with National Geographic photographer Catherine Karnow
Plenty of on-location teaching as well as in-class group projections and private critiques A small group of maximum 8 guests only Comfortable private transportation for arrival & departure transfers and all workshop activities Unique workshop experiences carefully curated by Catherine Karnow, and expert-led activities, exclusively developed to give guests the best possible photo opportunities Special access to locations and private estates Wonderful producer, Antine Meinardi - passionate and knowledgeable about PugliaWHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Some meals
Alcoholic beverages outside of pre-arranged menus during organized meals
Travel Insurance
Optional tips & gratuities
Airport transfers outside of organized times
"Great combination of photographing the fisherman with their boats and nets, then at the private fishermen's club."
"Corrado, the olive-maker, was wonderful to meet, to hear his story and taste his olive oil. I loved wandering among those ancient trees and capturing the mood."
"The group projections allowed us to have great discussions and critiques of our photos - a good way to see how others photographed similar situations. There was excellent teaching in the field - giving suggestions, helping set up shots, then reviewing our photos on the classroom's big screen to see the composition … all the hard work put into this workshop is greatly appreciated."
"Puglia has such a charm/beauty that I was never aware of. Thank you for introducing me to Puglia."
"One cannot pigeon-hole a Catherine Karnow Photo Workshop into a single genre. Be prepared to photograph artisans, architecture, food photography, street photography, photo journalism, unique dusk locations. Catherine has an enthusiasm and desire to teach that I deeply appreciate. I came away with experiences that I never could had found on my own."
*COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Your health and safety are of utmost importance. We will be practicing Covid-19 precautions and following CDC guidelines.
Catherine Karnow, as well as all guests, are required to be fully vaccinated. The local team in Puglia will all have the Italian Green Pass, (if required by Italian rules) a domestic COVID-19 passport that indicates if someone is fully vaccinated or has tested negative for the virus in the last 72 hours, and they are following all precautions prescribed by national legislation. Transportation and experiences are provided privately for the group and all national COVID-19 protocols, in terms of hygiene and safety, will be maintained throughout the trip.