Wild Horses of Camargue Photo Workshop
Designed as an optional add-on to our Provence and Cote D’Azur photo workshops, the Wild Horses of Camargue extension offers a stunning insight into the lives of these beautiful horses in their natural habitat. For guests that will continue with us on this 4 day extension to our other France photography workshops, we will leave Marseilles and head west to our base at Aigues-Mortes. Located on the western edge of the Camargue National Park, this charming Medieval town is located on the junction of the Mediterranean Sea and the Rhone river. The imposing city walls are witness to remnants of the Crusaders and Knights Templar that resided here. The highlight of this 4 day extension is to experience and capture the beautiful wild horses of the Camargue. One of the oldest breeds in the world, they are herded by local horseman known as the Guardians of the Camargue. As sunset approaches, we will photograph the horses as they run through the marshes. This photogenic spectacle is truly a magical experience.
Our second day begins with a photoshoot of the bulls of Camargue. In a private enclosure, where lighting and composition can be controlled, we will photograph this breed of cattle that is known for the traditional culture of “Course Camarguaise”. Native to the Camargue marshlands of the river delta of the Rhône in southern France, these bulls are used in a type of bloodless bullfight. When the light becomes less harsh, we will enjoy some nature photography at the Park Orthologique du Pont de Gau. A natural habitat for a variety of birds, this park is a paradise for bird-watching and bird photography. The park offers excellent photography opportunities from capturing close up details with telephoto lenses, to beautiful contextual images by creating vistas with birds in flight when creating wide angle shots.
On our third day we head out early to capture the horses running through shallow water on the beach during sunrise. The dynamic pace of the horses together with beautiful light can be captured through a variety of camera settings. Freezing the action by using higher shutter speeds creates a sense of energy, while adding an artistic element when utilising slower shutter speeds creates a sense of movement when panning the camera, or by letting the horses blur through the frame. Photographing the horses as they run through the water is a great way to practice different autofocus and tracking techniques. Today we will also experience the pink coloured waters of the Aigues-Mortes saltworks. The salt production here dates back to the Roman times, and the beautiful colours in the water reflecting the old city walls at afternoon golden hour makes for great images. The wetlands of the Camargue also offers some spectacular bird photography, where flamingos among other bird species are found here.
On our last day, we head out early to capture the beautiful light in the town of Aigues-Mortes. As the sun rises, the city walls, gates and towers that surround the Medieval town become illuminated in the warm golden light. After breakfast we check out of our hotel and head back to Marseilles where we bid you farewell. The 4 Day Camargue photography workshop is an ideal extension to our Provence and Cote D’Azur workshops, and offers a glimpse into one of the most beautiful regions of France.
