Lanzarote is a small, Spanish, volcanic island off the coast of North West Africa. With its black landscape dotted with gleaming white villages, rugged coast, volcanos, and wine growing region it's a photographer's paradise. Check out the images and video below and you'll see what I mean. The picturesque town of Teguise (not to be confused with the tourist resort of Costa Teguise) was once capitol of the island and today is home to what is in my opinion, the best bakery in the world - JonnieBakes. Previous students often ask if we can shoot Teguise again!
If you love a unique landscape, you'll love photographing Lanzarote.
All levels of photographer from beginner to experienced wanting to have a photographic adventure in one of the world's most interesting locations. Tuition and advice will be given on location so you'll learn loads, dedicate time to photography with like minded people and come home with hundreds of exciting images.
We're based in the old port area of Puerto Del Carmen which is only fifteen minutes by taxi from the airport. Lanzarote is about 25 kilometres wide so all locations are in easy reach in our minibus.
Departing early each day to shoot sunrise, we'll be moving from location to location across the island according to light and weather conditions. Midday when the light is harsh, we review images and do feedback sessions, before returning to shoot landscapes and villages as the light improves in the afternoon. There's a sunset shoot each day before returning to Puerto Del Carmen in the evenings.
Itinerary has to be flexible so we can make the most of changing light and weather. Nothing on Lanzarote is more than 40 mins drive in our minibus.
Day 1:
7.00am, Casa Juanita - The Blue House (which is mostly red) is usually our first sunrise location. Breakfast at a cafe across the street, before driving up to the highest point on the island to shoot panoramics of the nearby island of La Graciosa. Continuing along the cliffs to the small non touristy town of Haria. This is the most fertile region and has many photo opportunities along the way. Lunch, feedback session and photo walk in Haria before heading up into the hills for spectacular views of volcanoes to the west. Perfect for sunset.
Day 2:
Sunrise in the wine region which is covered in shallow pits in which the vines are grown to protect them from the hot wind. Breakfast at a nearby cafe before continuing to photograph this beautiful region. A photo walk up a pretty little track with various abandoned houses and more vine plantations. Lunch followed by daily feedback session at an excellent little restaurant in Tinajo. Afternoon shooting nearby farms, fields and a spectacularly quirky small village on the coast. Sunset shoot along the rocks and Atlantic breakers.
Day 3:
Volcano day starting with a short hike up a gently sloping volcano which has wonderful views across the lava fields in the centre of the island. Abundant Aloes catch the light beautifully for some foreground interest. After breakfast we'll take a photo walk around the red volcano. Lunch in Teguise (at the best bakery in the world) followed by photo walk around this historic town. Sunset shoot on the hills overlooking volcanoes to the west. This is often a perfect place for some 'misty mountain' shots.
Day 4:
Sunrise at the shipwreck near Arricife. After breakfast we'll head back to the villages in eastern end of the wine region. After lunch (and feedback) we can explore the rugged black lava fields and shattered cone of Caldera de Los Cuervos. (It's the second image in the gallery below...) We'll shoot sunset nearby over a pretty little white house surrounded by the ubiquitous volcanoes.
Day 5:
Sunrise shoot at an abandoned hotel sitting alone on a clifftop with many rock pools and views along the coast close by. Breakfast in Playa Blanca or Uga. Heading up into the higher areas of the wine region we'll shoot views overlooking the lower vineyards and Timanfaya national park. Lunch and feedback at the lookout in Femes. Afternoon shoot at Los Hervideros where waves crash into huge caves with views of red volcanoes above. Sunset shoot above the salt pans of Salinas de Janubio.
Besides creativity and use of light, you'll learn how to use exposure as a creative tool. It's your image and how bright / dark it is can change the mood and feeling. It's not a definite thing. It's creative choice. I will always be available to address individual needs as well. If you want to know something, ask and I'll be happy to help you.
We'll be working with available light in the landscape and planning locations for times when it's most appropriate for the scene.
Planning and learning the thought process of photography is vital for any genre, but particularly so with landscapes and low light work. I call these the 7 Building Blocks of Photography and they are common to all cameras and photographic situations.
Arrecife airport (ACE) is served by many major airlines making daily flights from all over Europe.
Accommodation is not included because everyone has their own needs so it's better and more cost effective for you to choose whatever works best for you. Some bring their family for a holiday whist they do photography with me, so they might want an appartment. You might prefer a nice hotel, or somewhere simple, clean and quiet to shower and sleep.
Here's a list of Places to Stay - all within walking distance of our daily meeting place.
The Workshop Prep page has a few specially chosen videos for you to watch to ensure we go straight to work and everyone gets the most out of our location and the training. If we all have a basic understanding of camera controls it helps everyone get the most out of the photo training because we won't waste time on things that could have been looked into beforehand.
For example. If someone doesn't know what is meant by 'aperture' or 'ISO' and they don't know where to find it, I either have to spend time explaining and searching for it in their menus and settings whilst other participants stand around and wait, or I have to leave that person not knowing what we're talking about and consequently they miss out.
You don't need to be an expert - just a basic understanding.
I love this video - it captures the spirit of Lanzarote perfectly. I wish I could claim it as one of mine...
The Lanzarote Effect from Lea et Nicolas Features.
I'm flattered to have been called the UK's friendliest Photography Expert (Thanks 500px!). I'm proud to have made hundreds of videos and spent thousands of hours teaching people like you to see more beauty in the world every day (and to capture that beauty), by thinking like a photographer.
My YouTube channel has served more than 26 Million views and has more than 260,000 subscribers. I've appeared on TV shows and been asked to speak at some of the best photography events on earth, such as:
I've enjoyed a wonderful career as a photographer, presenter and teacher. I even trained as a teacher so that I could reach my full potential and enable others to reach theirs.
As a photographer, I'm proud to have won multiple awards:
And I've been lucky to have had exhibitions at prestigious venues such as:
When not teaching photography I also have a role as a brand ambassador for ClickAsnap.com and I have written for publications such as:
Trumping all of this, my proudest achievement to date is the huge number of wonderful 5* reviews on Trustpilot and Google - written by people like you after completing my courses. This is what inspires me to continue creating courses to help more people fall in love with photography.
The Photography Show - Birmingham, UK
Xposure International Photography Festival - Sharjah, UAE
Iceland photo-workshop group