You don’t have to look hard to see volcanic heritage of the Azores islands. They may be lush and green, but scattered across all the islands are volcanic craters and peaks and black sand beaches making them some of the most unique landscape in Europe. I’ve long been in love with the AZORES, they are lesser known jewels of Portugal and I’m delighted to be finally running a workshop here, SO JOIN MYSELF AND HOUGAARD MALAN EXPLORING THESE BEAUTIFUL REMOTE ATLANTIC ISLANDS
While there are actually nine islands, we’ll be focused on just three of them, Pico, Faial and Flores, which take in a wide variety of the best of what these islands have to offer. Faial is a tiny island full of big contrasts. From the lush trees of the eastern side to the blackened western tip, devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 1960s, Faial has incredible views out across the neighbouring islands, especially Pico. Pico itself is dominated by a massive conical volcano peak, technically the highest island in Portugal (because even though we’re hundred of miles from the mainland, we’re still in Portugal). Pico has it’s own distinct feel from the crater lakes to the trees that frame the volcano. And finally Flores, probably my favourite place in Portugal. Flores is so far west it sits on the north American tectonic plate, and is an island of waterfalls and dramatic views. Home to just 3500 people, Flores really does feel like an escape from bustle and stress.
Additionally, the Azores are a great place for drone photography, so if you have a drone we recommend you bring it along with you.
We’ve chosen to visit in October to miss the tourist season and have these islands as much to ourselves as possible allowing us to be as spontaneous as possible in choosing our locations. And of course, all our workshops are designed to ensure that you can focus on photography while we take care of everything else. Small groups, hotel transfers, ideally located and comfortable accommodation as well as all meals are all part of the package, and of course the tour is structured to maximize your opportunities to get great images whilst improving your skills as a photographer. We use all our experience and knowledge to get you to some of the Azores most beautiful locations in the best light, and in the field we’re on hand to provide as much support, advice or guidance as you want. Having two professional photography guides helps us to ensure that each participant gets plenty of one-to-one tuition and allows us to better tailor each session to your needs.
PRICE
€6450
(price includes single occupancy in private room with bathroom)
GROUP SIZE
8-10
EXPERIENCE
Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers.
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY
EASY - Azores is a gentle landscape and almost all of the locations are accessible by car, although access to a couple of the beaches may requires some scrambling over rocks
WORKSHOP INCLUDES
Landscape photography and shooting in beautiful island locations
Two professional photographers & guides
Post-processing workshops in Lightroom and Photoshop, with screen recordings which the participants can keep.
All accommodation in local hotels
All meals, snacks and beverages (excluding premium wines and liquors)
Local transportation to and from the locations
Ferry crossing from Faial to Pico
Pick up/drop off from Faial airport
NOT INCLUDED
Flights to/from Horta Airport on Faial
Domestic flights from Faial to Flores
Travel Insurance
Premium beverages
ITINERARY
We’ve chosen three islands to use as bases in the Azores, each with its own unique character and photographic opportunities. We’ll spend the first 2 nights on Faial, the next two nights on neighbouring Pico, and the final four days in the remote, westerly Flores.
On each island we’ll check the conditions and choose our shooting locations accordingly each day. The islands are all small so we’ll be able to choose pretty much any location on the island for our sessions. Sunrise is a little after 8h and the sun sets around 19h15, so we’ll have plenty of time in the middle of the day for critique and post processing sessions on the days when we’re not changing accommodation base.
OCT 16 | ARRIVAL DAY
You’ll be met at Horta airport in Faial and transported to our first hotel located in the main town of Horta. After we’ve settled in, we’ll head out for our first shoot on the coast.
OCT 16 - 18 | FAIAL ISLAND
Faial is separated from Pico by a small expanse of water, and the views of the conical mountain that dominates Pico are stunning from the eastern coast of Faial. We’ll head out there for our sunrises, the beach at Almoxarife with its black volcanic sand, round boulders and views across Pico is wonderful at sunrise. Also, the caldera at the top of Faial offers fantastic views of Pico and can be spectacular with low clouds creating inversions where Pico seems to be an island floating in the sky.
For sunsets we’ll head to the western side of the island to Capalinhos, site of a 1957 volcanic eruption which has left this corner of the island blackened and generated new coastline there. We’ll spend time exploring the place and shoot sunset there.
We’ll also spend time exploring the local forests and woods of the island, which can be incredibly evocative in morning mist.
OCT 18 - 20 | PICO ISLAND
On the morning of the 18 October we’ll head to the ferry station in Horta to make the short ferry journey over to Madalena on Pico. After checking into our hotel there we’ll head up to Lagoa do Capitao, a beautiful lake that overlooks the conical peak of Pico framed by trees. During our stay in Pico we’ll also head to Lajes, where we can capture the mountain while shooting along the coast, and we’ll explore the craters and green fields of the eastern side of the Island.
OCT 20-24 | FLORES ISLAND
We’ll head back across to Faial and catch a flight to Flores, the most westerly island of the Azores. Flores is a magical place, a remote jewel of waterfalls and cliffs that really feels as though you’re right on the edge of Europe. We’ve selected lovely accommodation in Faja Grande looking out over the ocean to the west, and we’ll spend 4 days here to ensure we have plenty of time to explore this lovely island and spend the middle of the days in our accommodation in critique or processing sessions. This allows us to completely fill out the photography experience from shooting to image selection to processing.
While Flores is a tiny island, there’s plenty here to see, from the waterfalls and lagoons of Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro to the rock stacks of Baía da Alagoa which are wonderful at sunrise. We’ll explore the island, finding waterfalls and crater lakes, and if time and weather permits we might plan a trip over to the neighbouring Corvo, the smallest island in the Azores, and home of one of the largest volcanic calderas in the islands.
OCT 24 | DEPARTURE DAY
On the morning of our last day we’ll head back to Flores airport for a flight to Faial, and then on to Lisbon, arriving some time in the evening.
GETTING TO THE AZORES & AROUND THE DIFFERENT ISLANDS
Its impossible to get the best out of the Azores by visiting just one islands, so for this tour we’ve chosen our favourite three islands; Faial, Pico and Flores, each of which has it’s own unique flavour and landscapes. Because of this we’ll have to travel between islands throughout the tour.
Our tour starts on 16 October and ends on the 24th, both at Horta Airport on Faial Island. If you are coming via Europe, there are several daily flights from Lisbon to Faial (some direct, some indirect via Ponte Delgado) with SATA/Azores Airlines. If you are coming from the States, you can go via Lisbon via airlines like TAP and DELTA, but SATA/Azores Airlines also run regular flights from Boston to Ponta Delgada (the main island) from where you can fly onwards to Horta
You will be collected at Horta Airport and we’ll spend the next two nights on Faial. On 18 October we’ll make the 30 minutes ferry journey to Pico (included in the price), returning to Faial on the 20th.
On 20 October we’ll fly to Flores Island together and then return from Flores to Horta airport on Faial together on the final day (24 October), from where we’ll catch our return flights back home. We recommend that you buy all the flights together via the “multi-city” option on the SATA/Azores Airlines website. Flights aren’t included in the price, but when SATA release their schedule for the dates we’ll communicate it to participants so you can get the flights and ensure we all travel together, and have smooth connections between all, and of course we’re on hand to give you any advice you need about which flights to get.
TRAVELING VIA LISBON
1. Lisbon to Faial Return (16,24 October)
2. Faial to Flores Return (20,24 October)
TRAVELING FROM BOSTON
1. Boston to Ponta Delgada Return (16, 24 October)
2. Ponta Delgada to Faial Return (16,24 October)
3. Faial to Flores Return (20,24 October)
DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY
A highlight of the Azores is that they are a paradise for drone photography and one of the few places where we encourage participants to bring a drone. In these locations you never feel like you're bothering anyone or like you need it fly and land as quickly as possible.
You don’t need to be an expert, we can show you how to fly and get the shots, and nor do you need an expensive drone, a DJI Air 2S or Mini 4 will be fine most of the time.
OUR ACCOMMODATION
We’ll have three bases of accommodation during the trip, one on each island, and we’ve ensured we’ve picked hotels that are among the most comfortable on the islands, as well as being located to ensure we don’t have to go far for our shooting locations
And on the third island, Flores, we’ll spend 4 days in comfortable modern cottages overlooking the ocean. It’s a wonderful place on the very edge of Europe where we can relax and recharge between our time out shooting, as well as have our theory and processing sessions.
WHAT WE DO (AND WHAT WE WANT YOU TO GET FROM OUR WORKSHOPS)
Our aim is to take you to beautiful locations and give you every opportunity to get great images while improving your technique over the course of the workshop. We tailor the sessions to your precise needs and provide each participant with plenty of one-to-one tuition both in the field and in the post processing sessions.
We believe that having two shooting sessions a day means that participants get into a shooting rhythm and can quickly put into practice new skills as they are learned, and our timetable is highly flexible and having a number of fantastic locations all very close to each other means we can adapt to the weather and go where the conditions are best for shooting. This adaptability also extends to the post processing sessions. We believe that editing is an integral part of getting the absolute best out of an image but we understand that the range of participant’s skill levels and familiarity with post processing techniques varies greatly. Because of this we once again make the most of having two tutors to provide critique and editing sessions that can potentially range from the basics of editing a RAW file in programs like Lightroom to more complex techniques like using layers and luminosity masks in Photoshop. We also do screen recordings of our editing sessions, which are then shared with all the group so you go home with a record of all the post processing techniques we used.
Finally, we want to share with you our passion for nature and landscape photography in this incredible place. Travelling in such small groups means we can quickly build a great learning environment where people feel comfortable together and at ease with asking questions and making the absolute most of the trip. We want to bring you the very best of the place, not only in taking you to stunning locations for photography, but also in introducing you to some of the best food and drink the islands have to offer because after all, travel isn’t only about photography. Food is a vital part of any trip to the Azores, and eating with friends, sharing stories and a bottle of wine is an essential part of our workshops. We aim to make your experience here in the beautiful landscape of these islands a memorable one and a trip from which, as well as getting some great images from amazing locations, you’ll also enjoy great food and great company in a very special place.
SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES COVERED IN THIS WORKSHOP
IN THE FIELD:
Understanding the light and choosing the best exposure
Composition. Balance and harmony, leading lines and creating depth.
Lens choice. From the wide-angle vista to shooting landscape abstracts with a telephoto lens
Drone photography and composition
Long exposures for water
Shooting multiple image panoramas
Controlling light in scenes with a wide dynamic range using graduated filters and/or multiple exposures
PROCESSING:
Deciding which direction to take post processing according to the mood of an image
Using Lightroom to apply contrast locally
“Shaping” the light using contrast tools in Photoshop and Lightroom
Creating depth in an image
Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image
Stitching multiple panoramas together
Finishing touches for processing to give images dramatic punch
Sharpening images
WHAT TO BRING
A dSLR or mirrorless camera
The criteria for the kind of work we’ll be doing is a camera that can be operated completely manually to ensure we get the best exposure with interchangeable lenses allowing us to cover a range of focal lengths
A wide angle lens
For some of the locations a wide angle lens really is essential if you want to get those epic waterscapes with rock stacks, mountains and the sky in the background. 16mm or 17mm on a full frame camera (10mm or 12mm on an APS-C sensor camera) is ideal, but anything below 24mm (16mm on a crop frame sensor) should be OK
A telephoto lens
The Azores have plenty of opportunities to shoot with a telephoto lens, from waterfall abstracts to mountain peaks. A telephoto zoom that covers 70-200mm (55-135mm on a crop sensor) is perfect.
A mid-range zoom lens
While these lenses are often the least useful for shooting landscapes, for the kind of locations we’ll be encountering in the Azores there may be a couple of occasions when the zooms listed above are too wide or too long, and a mid-range zoom in the 24-70mm (18-55mm on a crop sensor) is perfect.
Tripod
We’ll often be shooting in low light or doing long exposures so a tripod is an absolutely essential piece of equipment.
A Drone
Many of the locations we visit have an extra dimension when seen from the air, so we strongly recommend people bring a drone. Anything from a Mini 4 Pro to a Mavic will be great.
Comfortable waterproof walking boots
While we won’t be doing any long hikes we’ll certainly be doing some walking over uneven ground, and in the sunrise sessions we’ll often find ourselves standing in long grass which is wet from overnight dew. The fields can also get very muddy if it rains.
A Lightweight Down Jacket or Fleece
It can actually get quite chilly early in the mornings or after the sun has gone down so it’s best to be prepared with some kind of insulated layer to wear on top.
Water and windproof jacket
We'll be on islands in the middle of the Atlantic, so there’s a very good chance of rain during the workshop, so a waterproof outer shell will help keep you comfortable.
Camera Backpack
When moving your camera gear for any length of time a backpack can really save your back. A good backpack, one with sturdy hip straps, can safely distribute the weight of your gear and really save you from aches, pains and potential injury.
Laptop with Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW and Photoshop
We’ll be shooting RAW, and as part of each day will be dedicated to post processing images a good RAW converter like Adobe Lightroom or Camera RAW is essential. Other converters like Capture One are also fine. Adobe Photoshop is great for more advanced processing as it allows us to be much more subtle and creative in it’s use of layers.
If you have any questions about what to bring, don’t hesitate to contact us.
The Guides
ANDY MUMFORD is a Lisbon based professional landscape and travel photographer. Andy grew up in the UK loving nature and travel and took up landscape photography over fifteen years ago. Since then he has travelled extensively photographing all over the world and his photography and articles have featured in publications and books worldwide. He is a passionate photographer teacher and has been leading both group and one-to-one workshops for over five years.
He is a Fuji X Photographer and a brand ambassador for Fujifilm in Portugal, although he also has extensive experience with Nikon and Canon cameras.
Hougaard Malan is an award winning South African photographer who has been guiding and organising photo tours to Nambia for a decade. He has taken people from every corner of the planet to every corner of Namibia. His own photos of Namibia have won him awards like the 2016 International Landscape Photograph of the Year and his clients have also won numerous awards with the photos captured on his tours. All the images on this page were captured by Hougaard.
Hougaard believes the essence of a landscape photograph is allowing the viewer to experience that place without ever being there. When the light, clouds and land combine to produce scenes so beautiful that they etch a profound place in viewers’ memories, and witnessing such moments unfold over earth’s most beautiful landscapes is, for me, one of the highlights of living.
Hougaard’s work has been published in countless media all over the world, from books and magazines to calendars and coffee table books by the likes of National Geographic. Licensing and commission clients include global and local corporates like Samsung, Toyota, SAB Inbev, FNB, Standard Bank and Europcar.
REGISTRATION
To register for the workshop we require a deposit of of €1000. Please complete the form below for more information.