An exploration and adventure shaped by our photographic interests, this workshop delves deep into the Amazon jungle of Peru with two of our favorite leaders – Oliver and Florian. Oliver has an extensive 12-year reservoir of knowledge, instincts and friendships within the Amazon and Manu forests while Florian is a naturalist at heart with his own base of photographic history, wildlife tricks and visual poetry to accompany us on this fantastic trip. We begin in Cusco at Panza del Artista, Adam’s Bed and Breakfast for a day of walking through Cusco, preparing our bags and gear for our flight into Puerto Maldonado (PM). A slideshow of work and a few basics will be covered by Florian to help us organize our bags and stimulate our minds for what’s to come.
Our 25 minute flight to Puerto Maldonado and a three-hour comfortable canoe trip to our first lodge…a jungle night walk and a cheery Good Morning offered by our resident Howler Monkeys. Screaming through the canopy, our jungle vision glasses are on and the jungle atmosphere is breathing our breaths for us. Our surroundings are a blanket of greens – deep, rich, dark and subtle with brilliant, bold and bright highlights. Punctuated by primate calls, hawkish screams and bright colors of flowers, birds and sunrises.
The innate challenge of wildlife photography is presented here, as in any natural setting: the unpredictability of knowing for certain what we will find. We hope that the knowledge and experience of PhotoExperience’s guides - and with the magic of the jungle before us – the elusive mammals become less important and the natural setting and tremendous energy of the Amazon dominate our visions. From little insects to mammalian giants; forest flora and exotic birds nestled in branches overhead, we’re surrounded with limitless opportunities and exciting flexibility unlike Savannah or Mountain field work. Of course, with some luck, we’ll hope to see a little more.
In a place where so little light reaches the jungle floor, long exposures and tri-pods offer us creative flexibility with our visions within the relaxed atmosphere of this giant complex ecosystem. We will give ourselves mini assignments to look at different aspects of the forest – the dark understory; the heights of the canopy; the river’s edge and the clay-licks of the macaws and parrots. We’ll work on setting up a camera trap and making macro photography sessions of insects as we attempt to capture different chapters of the forest’s story.
And if that weren’t good enough, we’ll come back through Cusco after a remarkable 6-day jungle expedition and spend two nights in Cusco, getting to understand a bit of the history and layers from pre-Inca to Spanish colonialism. With Adam as a quasi-resident expert, we’ll show you things most locals don’t know exist…
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu may then be the frosting on the cake. This optional 2-day excursion to Machu Picchu and The Sacred Valley will be roundtrip transport on VistaDome class train service on the Orient Express; our own guide and regional expert will accompany us during our time in Machu Picchu with thorough historical and architectural knowledge of the site. We will stop for an overnight in the preserved Incan town of Ollantaytambo on the way back to Cusco, where, sadly, we will have to let you go.
