SOUTH INDIA
PHOTO WORKSHOP

Jan 18 - Feb 2, 2025

"The South India Photo Workshop was an amazing experience in so many ways. We had access to photograph people not accessible on a regular tour or other photo trips. I loved that we met and photographed people with ancient trades: silk weavers, Kalamkari painters, basket-weaving women. This workshop also had so many spiritual experiences: the temple in Madurai, the death rituals temple and the Matrimandir in Auroville. Every day was a new photo adventure."

INTRODUCTION

Join us on an adventure-filled journey through quiet Tamil Nadu, the south-eastern most state of India, unique in its devotional population. This state has retained a purity of spirit and loyalty to ancient traditions – beautiful ritual is everywhere.

I am so enthusiastic about this workshop! Over several trips, I have personally designed every element of this workshop. South India is very photogenic – the colors, spices, temples, street-life and special places we visit will bedazzle and delight you. The people are full of joy and love. They welcome travelers and value the collaborative experience and beauty of photography.

Our trip is designed for maximum comfort and rich experiences. We stay in luxury hotels and charming guesthouses. Learn all about culture, art and history from local experts and sample some of the best Indian cuisine you will ever eat.

In this workshop, we will be in Chennai, Chettinad, Kumbakonam, Pondicherry, and Auroville. We spend real time with artisans, gurus, visionaries, silk weavers, and all sorts of interesting people.

LET US KNOW OF YOUR INTEREST!

Guests always know what is going on with a clear schedule. We stay several nights in each hotel, so we are not always packing up and moving to the next place. Our coach is comfortable, with plenty of room to spread out, and we take only one internal flight.

As with all my workshops, you can expect a seamlessly run, highly professional trip, with great attention to detail.

There will also be great learning with on-location guidance, educational classes, group projections, and private critiques.

All photography experiences are designed to allow guests to photograph with space and time.

All levels of photographers are welcome. Spouses/partners who have no strong interest in photography are welcome!

This will be a small workshop with a maximum of 8 guests.

"The experiences are unforgettable. Catherine is extraordinary for her 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."

EXPERIENCES MAY INCLUDE

Visiting the colorful and important Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, with a sensational guide who knows so much about religion, ritual, and symbolism
Photographing the "lost palaces" of Chettinad, learning about their history and architecture, and spending time with the people who live in these palaces.
Immersing ourselves with the women of a basket-weaving community in a charming village. You can see their gorgeous baskets here.
Visiting a fascinating death rituals temple at dawn, a very moving (and photo-friendly) outdoor temple on the Kaveri River.
Photographing the ancient way of painting natural-dye Kalamkari fabrics in a quiet village of artisans
An insider's visit to the Utopian community of Auroville, where we may have the opportunity to meditate in the futuristic Matrimandir, meet Auroville's progressive "makers", learn about the intriguing architecture, visit a beautiful paper factory, and chat with Aurovillians about what it means to live in "Utopia".

OUR HOTELS

The comfy Taj Club House in Chennai

Famous for its delicious food and splendid charm, The Bangala in Chettinad

In Kumbakonam the peaceful countryside hotel Mantra

In the heart of the historic French Quarter, a colonial retreat with character, Palais de Mahe in Pondicherry

"For me immersion is the way I learn best and fastest. This was pure immersion in the most efficient and fun way imaginable. From having only a basic understanding of my camera and a very limited understanding of what makes a photograph good, I have moved surprisingly quickly to having capability with my camera and knowing how to execute photos that can be impactful and powerful both intellectually and emotionally, and tell a story. For me, as a beginner, this has been record-breaking learning and growth. Catherine's teaching is fabulous and truly memorable."