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Paris: City of Light

with Justin Black, Julia Keil
November 3 - 11, 2021 Creative Core
Participant Gallery
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  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Instructors
  • Gallery
  • Pricing
  • Highlights
  • Accommodations
  • Travel

Overview

Paris and photography; photography and Paris – the two have been bound together in a lyrical poetic dance since the invention of the medium nearly two centuries ago. Her romantic beauty, layers of history, and progressive culture  have long attracted many of the world’s greatest artists, among them some of the most important photographers of the last century – Atget, Kertész, Brassaï, Doisneau, Cartier-Bresson, and many more – yielding a collective body of work that informs our notions of the City of Light to this day.

Beyond the nostalgia and iconic views, however, Paris is always evolving. We find inspiration in the photographic raw material that Paris offers the creative photographer to capture new visions woven from aspects of past, present, and future. We invite you to join Justin Black and Paris-based photographic artist Julia Keil for this small-group workshop for just six passionate photographers, based at a 5-star boutique hotel on the Left Bank in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the heart of the 6th Arrondissement. We will explore our favorite vantage points along the river Seine, the city’s markets, parks, avenues, and side streets, so full of life, culture, and characters from another time. The streets of Paris have a unique ability to breathe beauty, and the city wears many faces depending on the time of day or night, the weather and the path you take through it. Through the changing light in early morning and evening, Julia and Justin will encourage you to open your mind’s eye to make the most of available opportunities, sharing creative insights and helpful instruction throughout. There is nothing like losing yourself in the Parisian arrondissements with childlike eyes, with the city’s symphony in your ears, wondering what notes may be played next.

While we are there, we’ll take advantage of Paris’s status as one of the world’s great centers of photography, to make visits to at least two of the city’s most important photography galleries, drawing inspiration from exhibitions of work by great masters and contemporary artists alike. Back at our hotel’s meeting room, we will hold at least two group image reviews during mid-day hours, to provide you with constructive feedback that you can then apply during our next photographic outing. When we have a little down time during the day, you’ll be free to explore on your own, edit your photographs, or just relax. And, of course, we invite you to join us for a celebration of Parisian gastronomic delights at group meals in some of our favorite cafés and restaurants.

If you have a spouse, partner or friend who would enjoy this exploration of Paris, we have two additional spaces available for accompanying non-photographers (limit of one accompanying non-photographer per participant). Accompanying non-photographers are welcome to join the group on all excursions and at meals, but photographic instruction in the field and classroom/critique sessions are not included in this registration option.

At the request of a few regular clients, we have designed this creative photography workshop in Paris, France. I find photographing in Paris exhilarating and immensely productive, and though I know my way around, there is no substitute for local knowledge and experience. So, I’ve invited my friend Julia Keil, an immensely talented Paris-based photographic artist, to join us as co-leader. Julia knows the city intimately, has a great deal of experience teaching photographers to make the most of Paris as a creative palette. She is warm, engaging, and an absolute joy to spend time with. Together, we will teach you how to use the characteristic and unique opportunities offered by the city to create unique creative compositions, rather than simply doing a “tick list” of iconic views (though I suppose some of that is inevitable). We look forward to welcoming you for this creative exploration of the City of Light! –Justin Black

Itinerary

NOVEMBER 3: ARRIVAL DAY

Fly into Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport, where you will be met by a driver and transferred to Hotel Bel Ami. We will meet in the mid-afternoon for an introduction and orientation session,  and go out for our first photo walk in the late afternoon. After a sunset shoot we will return to the hotel, then enjoy our first dinner together at a favorite local restaurant. (D)

NOVEMBER 4 – 10: EXPLORE THE CITY

Each morning we will meet for a quick breakfast at the hotel at around 7:00am, followed by a sunrise photo session in the streets and neighborhoods of Paris. Mid-day activities will include a visit to the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation Gallery as guests of the curator (November 4); image critique and review (November 5 and 9); a visit to the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) Gallery (November 6); among other activities. There will also be some personal time for you to enjoy the city on your own or to relax at the hotel. In the late afternoons we will gather for our late afternoon/evening photo session, including sunset and post-sunset photography, after which we will enjoy dinner in one of Paris’s many fine restaurants. (B,L,D)

NOVEMBER 11: DEPARTURE DAY

We will enjoy a final breakfast at our hotel and say our good-byes before returning to the airport for flights home.

Instructors

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    • Justin Black

    • JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer (www.justinblackphoto.com), writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow ...
    • Julia Keil

    • Born in Germany, raised internationally and currently based in Paris, France, Julia’s love for photography started with her curiosity and desire to connect to people, cultures and environments ...

Gallery

Pricing

Single Occupancy $9,795 (Limited)

Full $9,795
Register

Double Occupancy $8,795 (Limited)

Full $8,795
Register

In addition to the six spaces for photographer participants, we can offer two spaces for accompanying non-photographers at a discounted rate of $4400 (limit of one accompanying non-photographer per participant). Accompanying non-photographers are welcome to join our group on all outings and at meals throughout the itinerary, but photography instruction in the field and participation in classroom/critique sessions are not included in this rate.  This registration option is only for double occupancy, sharing with the participant the non-photographer is accompanying. Contact us if you are interested in registering an accompanying non-photographer.

PRICING AND OCCUPANCY

All prices are per person.

Please note that the hotel rooms have only one queen-sized bed. Double occupancy for this workshop is available for couples traveling together and sharing one bed. If you are an individual traveler or if you are traveling with a companion and require two beds, please book at the single occupancy rate. It is not possible to pair individual travelers in accommodations with two beds.

PAYMENTS, CANCELLATIONS, AND REFUNDS 

  • 30% deposit due to confirm registration
  • 30% deposit due February 6, 2021
  • 40% final payment due July 6, 2021

Standard terms and conditions, including cancellation and refund policies apply.
Please review our terms and conditions even if you have participated in previous Visionary Wild trips so that you are aware of current policies.

INCLUDED: 

  • Accommodation for eight nights
  • All meals and beverages (including wine or beer with dinners), from dinner on November 3 to breakfast on November 11
  • All in-tour photographic instruction, including at least 15 field sessions and two days of classroom/critique sessions (not included for companions at the non-photographer rate)
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure days and all ground transportation throughout the workshop
  • All museum and gallery entrance, and VIP tour fees

EXCLUDED: 

  • All international air travel and domestic transportation within your home country, any other travel services required to arrive at the tour commencement location along with all associated taxes, levies and insurances
  • Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees where applicable
  • Personal items including gifts or other purchases, any paid communications, hotel room service or minibar charges, etc
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities not explicitly listed as included in the itinerary

Highlights

  • The City of Lights in the relative quiet and comfortably cool temperatures of autumn
  • Generous photographic instruction throughout by Justin Black and Julia Keil, focused on advancing participants’ photography, and making the most of the city’s photographic raw material, connecting the nostalgic history of photography with the present day.
  • Fifteen morning and afternoon-evening photo excursions to Parisian locations specifically selected with excellent photographic opportunities in mind. Great opportunities for night photography will be available as well.
  • We’ll explore on foot at an easy pace once on location, but use private vehicles to move longer distances.
  • Privately guided tours of major photography exhibitions at two of the city’s institutions of fine art
  • Emphasis on composition, creative vision, and capturing the decisive moment
  • Learn to work the scene through changing conditions and light
  • Essentials of digital image development
  • Two projected group critique sessions
  • Limited to only six guests, for maximum camaraderie and an easily manageable group size
  • Excellent accommodations and logistical support at Hotel Bel Ami
  • Paris’s amazing French and international cuisine, from classic to modern. All meals included, at our favorite restaurants and cafés.
  • Executive chauffeur airport greeting and transfers, Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) – Hotel Bel Ami – CDG

Accommodations

Our group will stay eight nights in Superior rooms at Hotel Bel Ami, a modern 5-Star boutique hotel located in the Left Bank’s Saint-Germain-des-Prés  district, within close walking distance of the river Seine, the Louvre, Île de la Cité, Luxembourg Gardens, the Musée de Orsay, and many other city center locations. The hotel’s spacious and well-appointed meeting room will host our two image review and critique sessions.

Travel

airplane icon
Fly into Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport
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Airport pick-up, hotel transfer, as well as ground transportation during group excursions are included
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Our daily photo excursions will involve a fair amount of walking on location, though we will use vehicles to access locations throughout Paris beyond an easy walking distance from our hotel
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Temperatures typically range from 53ºF to 41ºF (12ºC to 5ºC) at this time of year, with a mix of sun, cloud, and rain, for a variety of moods

Paris: City of Light

with Justin Black, Julia Keil
November 3 - 11, 2021 Creative Core
Participant Gallery
Login
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