"I have never met anyone so dedicated to providing guests with such seamless and utterly enriching experiences. Her workshops consistently deliver expert guest speakers/top of the line guides, exceptional cuisine, accommodations, and insightful photography lessons. Thanks to her passion and meticulous attention to detail, every element is fine-tuned to perfection, which makes her workshops fun, engaging, and worry-free." - Guest, 2024 Vietnam + Cambodia Workshop
"Catherine experiences everything with sensitivity and compassion; through her, our experiences are precious and meaningful. Nobody feels Vietnam as much as she does. No one has the access or insight that Catherine does." - Guest, 2023 Vietnam + Cambodia Workshop
INTRODUCTION
I am excited to invite you to my Vietnam + Cambodia Photo Workshop!
Vietnam is a country I have been photographing for over 30 years, and it is dear to my heart. I discovered Vietnam through my father, Stanley Karnow, whose book and TV series, Vietnam A History, is still considered the "bible" on Vietnam.
My connection to Vietnam seems destined - and there is a beautiful mystery to my sense of belonging. On assignment for National Geographic, I fell in love with a new Cambodia and discovered a country with so much more than just temples.
Let me share with you the inspirational people, places, and hidden gems that I know and love, experiences one would never have traveling alone or on another tour.
I have carefully and passionately planned every last detail of this workshop, and it is all about how I love to travel - beautiful places, fascinating people, deep learning, luxury hotels, delicious food. This trip is extremely well-planned, smart, sophisticated, honest, fun, and comfortable.
This is not a sight-seeing tour, but an immersive experience of heart and soul. Guests will receive personalized, attentive support, from photography coaching to thoughtful care throughout the journey.
In this workshop, we will be in Hanoi, Hué, Hoi An, and Siem Reap in Cambodia - with artists, monks, fishermen, landmine survivors, the family of the country's hero, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and others. We also have an extraordinary day learning about the history of Vietnam through art, with leading art experts, one of whom is my gallerist.
We'll be photographing Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter, a bustling fishing village in Hoi An, enjoying a home-cooked lunch with a local family, traveling down the emerald Central Coast, shooting a fun fashion show, spending a day at a remote pagoda, and riding on the back of motorbikes in Hué along charming country roads.
In Cambodia, we spend one day at the iconic temples, visiting them at carefully chosen times, avoiding throngs of tourists as much as possible. We will also spend time with extraordinary Cambodians in their homes and work-spaces; their life stories are deeply moving.
All photography experiences are designed to allow guests to spread out and photograph with space and freedom.
We stay several nights in each hotel, so we are not always packing up and moving to the next place.
All levels of photographers are welcome. Spouses/partners who have no strong interest in photography are welcome!
This will be a small workshop of maximum 8 guests.
We’ll have class group projections, private one-on-one critiques and close guidance on location.
This is so much more than just a photography workshop. If you have ever wanted to experience Vietnam and Cambodia in a truly special and unique way, join me in these countries I love and know so well.
The workshop officially starts the afternoon of October 20 and departures can be anytime November 6. Guests are highly encouraged to arrive a day or two early to get adjusted. This is a 18-day workshop, including arrival and departure days.
