Prague in Winter January 17 th 19 th 2018 Led by Robert Canis Price: 195 Group size: 6 Price includes: Tuition, guiding, tram tickets, minibus transfer to place of interest and welcome drink. Price excludes: Flights, accommodation, meals, entrance tickets into places of interest and airport transfers. Approximate pricing Flights: Currently 120 with easyjet flying from London Gatwick. Accommodation: Very comfortable 3* hotel situated just 200m from the famous Charles Bridge. Perfect location! Great price, too, at around just 50 per night! This is where we stayed since 2013.
Meals: Food and drink is reasonably inexpensive here at, around, 10-15 for 2 courses with drink. Airport transfers: Approx. 20 each way. We will be staying at a very comfortable 3* hotel situated just 200m from the famous Charles Bridge. This is the most perfect location in which to stay since it gives you the option of staying on in the city a day or two longer or exploring on your own even after the workshop concludes each day without the need for public transport. Introduction I would hazard a guess that there are few photographers (residing in the UK) more acquainted with Prague and Czech traditions than myself. Over a period of 5 years, I visited Prague on no fewer than 50 occasions photographing for my agents and my own library, as well as providing articles for magazines, one of which was featured in Outdoor Photography. Oh yes, and visiting my girlfriend, Martina, of 10 years who now lives here! :) Although Prague is not a big city, it is incredibly easy to get lost due to the myriad of cobbled, medieval lanes and alleyways. Why struggle to get your bearings and seek out that perfect vantage point at sunset when you can have someone take you straight there! The dates have been chosen to avoid the peak tourist season and weekends with the added bonus of easy sunrise/sunset times! Flights are, also, very reasonable compared to flying on a weekend. As you can see, this is a short break, so why not stay on for a further day or two? After all, once I have shown you around all the best places, you'll know where to go for the remainder of your visit! The workshop will begin mid afternoon (time tbc) on the 7 th and finish on the 9 th at, around, 15.00 hrs. Day 1. We will start by meeting in the foyer of the hotel (mid-afternoon) where we will head to a nearby pub for a drink. Afterwards we will head to a favourite vantage point of mine to capture sunset and dusk over Prague and the many bridges that cross the River Vltava. Once night has fallen we will have a meal and continue, for a short while, with some more night-time photography. Days 2 & 3. The weather will dictate an optional dawn shoot on Charles Bridge. I absolutely love it here at that time. It's such a contrast to the hustle and bustle on the bridge in the afternoon. Sunrise isn t until 07.30 hrs so there should be no excuse for not being there! On either of the days, I will take you
around the winding lanes of Mala Strana (Little Quarter) which has changed little in 200 years, to Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral. We will shoot church interiors, the historical fort of Vysehrad, Old Town Square and capture the city at night. On day 2 the workshop for the day concludes after the meal, booked for 18.00 hrs. This gives you the perfect opportunity of exploring on your own and continuing with shooting the city at night taking in, perhaps, Charles Bridge or Old Town Square. Alternatively, you may wish to simply return to the hotel and relax. Day 3. Workshop concludes at, approximately, 15.00 hrs. Price includes: Tuition and guiding Tram tickets Welcome drink Price excludes: Flights. In the region of 100 with easyjet. Insurance Accommodation. Due to it being Off-Peak, rooms at this hotel cost around 50 per night. Meals. Average cost (2-courses including drink), around 15. Refreshments including lunch. Tips. Entrance fees into places of interest.
Equipment required. A more comprehensive check-list will be given upon booking but below will give you an idea. 2-3 lenses will be more than sufficient. A wide-angle zoom and medium telephoto zoom. For example (for full frame sensors) a 24-70mm and 70-300mm. For those with a cropped sensor; 17-35mm 0r 18-105, 35-105mm and a 70-300mm. Lightweight tripod. Essential for those dawn/sunset/night-time shoots. Fitness level Moderate. The best way to see and photograph Prague is on foot though we shall be using Prague's highly efficient tram system to get around to the more out-of-reach destinations. Approximate total distances. Day 1: 1km. Day 2: 5km. Day 3: 2.5km. This will be at a leisurely pace with stops for lunch. Food Prague is a very cosmopolitan city so there is something to cater to all tastes, including vegetarian. However, we shall be eating at Czech restaurants. Czech food is, typically, quite simple and hearty and what better way to wash it down than with either a glass of Czech Moravian wine or beer.
Testimonials Having been one of the lucky people to have secured a place on the trip to Prague, I can only say how much I enjoyed the tour, put together, as always, so well by Rob. With his knowledge of the city, we visited some places which were not overrun by other tourists, giving us the best chances of securing some good images. I fully recommend this tour to anyone who likes architecture, street photography and townscapes, because this tour has it all! Accommodation and food were both excellent, and the other members in the group were very pleasant to work with. So, thank you everyone, for contributing to a superb photo tour. Finally, a word to say a big thank you, to Rob, for all his hard work in the organisation and research into flights and hotels, which made booking so much easier. Christine Rothery Prague is a beautiful city - and three days is barely long enough to do more than take an overview with Bob giving us the benefit of his considerable knowledge of the city. In retrospect I should have taken an extra few days, as some other members of the group did, and stay on to enjoy the ambience of the city - but even then, that wouldn t have been enough time to really get to know the city. Bob was an excellent guide as usual - he knew the best places to take us to tickle our photographic fancies. After the dreadful Spring we had had at home, it was a delight to find everything in Prague in bloom as it should be - horse chestnuts in full spring regalia, spring flowers everywhere - a beautiful time to visit the parks and enjoy the magnificent views of the so colourful city. We spent an evening taking night shots over the Charles Bridge - you could spend a week there, day and night, and still not exhaust the possibilities. We had one good day of sunshine, and the next was raining, but Bob turned that to our advantage by popping us into a covered arcade overlooking the streets in the centre of Prague for street photography in the rain, and we stayed bone dry. Such was the pace of the trip that most of the time, and even afterwards, I was not quite sure where I was, but that was more due to advancing age than the quality of the guidance by Bob. Another enjoyable trip, excellent restaurants found by Bob, well worth the trip. I am left with an overwhelming sense of the colours of the city. Denise Leppard I have recently returned from my first photographic workshop abroad courtesy of Robert Canis. I was impressed by the professional way Robert conducts his business from booking to departure everything was planned with fine detail ensuring you make the most of your time. We had plenty of breaks for refreshments and the restaurants and cafes Robert chose were excellent.
Robert keeps the groups small and ensures everyone gets advice on camera settings and suggestions for composition. My photography has improved greatly following my trip. This is a fabulous way to meet like minded photographers and enjoy being in the right place at the right time with a professional photographer. I will certainly be booking again. Kerry Long We had an excellent photography tour in November. We arrived at our hotel to find that our room had views of Charles Bridge and the River Valtava. The trip then got better. Our photography days were superbly organised taking us straight from one amazing sight to another, always with a good vantage point; with carefully organised stops for dinner or coffee and cake. It was so good to be taken round this beautiful city by someone with such knowledge of Prague; we could not have fitted so much in if we had spent a week there on our own. Rob's guidance was of great benefit both to me, as a novice photographer, and to my husband who is a much more accomplished photographer. Fiona & Steve Harrison One of the highlights for me in 2014 was attending a great workshop in Prague with Robert. his Knowledge of the city and willingness to pass on his photography skills ensured we all walked away with a nice collection of photographs, of this lovely city. The hotel was first class as was the restaurants that Robert picked for us each night. I would like to thank you for a well organised and enjoy trip. I would recommend this workshop to anyone who enjoys their photography. Chris Moncrieff www.robertcanis.com Email: rmcanis@msn.com Mobile: 07939 117570