Spring Madeira 2024

I warmly invite you to explore the photographer's paradise that is Portuguese Madeira. Our photo expedition is designed to capture Madeira's most enchanting scenes while empowering participants with the essential skills to take both day and night photographs, focusing on panoramic photos as well as single shots, tailored to their preferences.

Madeira stands as a haven for photographers and enthusiasts of the natural world, rightfully earning its moniker as "the island of eternal spring." The island bursts into a kaleidoscope of colors in spring, adorned with a myriad of blossoming flowers. Its unique mountainous terrain creates stunning tiered landscapes, reminiscent of Asia's rice terraces. The picturesque villages nestled among the peaks offer a distinctive charm. Moreover, Madeira captivates photographers with its rugged coastlines and geological wonders, providing ample opportunities for both daytime and nocturnal photography.

The night skies over Madeira are amongst the clearest, presenting a prime setting for astrophotography. In spring, conditions are perfect for capturing the magnificent arc of the Milky Way, with minimal interference from artificial light. The island's southerly position affords exceptionally lengthy astronomical twilights, allowing for extended sessions of night sky photography well before dawn. Madeira's propensity for nocturnal temperature inversions at elevations up to 1500 meters, alongside the accessibility of peaks up to 1800 meters, facilitates remarkable night photography not only from coastal areas but also atop its prominent mountain ranges, particularly Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, Madeira's tallest summit.

Location: Madeira (Portugal)
Date: 24th May - 1st June 2024
Number of participants: min. 5, max. 8 photographers
Number of lecturers: 3 (!)
Air transport
Price per person: 34 990,- CZK

For whom the course is intended

The photographic expedition is intended for photographers interested in landscape photography. It does not matter if you are an advanced landscape photographer or a beginner. The photo expedition will introduce you to new techniques and approaches to landscape photography, with a focus on creating multi-row panoramic photographs and nights capes with stars (static and dynamic stars). All this is complemented by the exposure bracketing method, you will learn advanced exposure metrics and focusing rules for panoramic photographs.

Advantages of Photography Expedition

Participants will gain the know-how of landscape and star photography. There are no "production secrets" or secret procedures for taking photos.
Getting to know the most interesting locations of Madeira.
We shoot at well-known places, but primarily focus on locations where other photographers rarely or never visit... experience shooting with us at familiar, but also at undiscovered locations.
Photo locations for everyone. Are you physically fit and want to shoot mainly from the peaks of the mountains? Or, on the contrary, do you have health issues or simply running out of stamina? No problem. Thanks to the high number of instructors and cars, we tailor the program individually for each expedition participant according to their physical capabilities. On our expeditions, no one is ever "the last one lagging behind."
Variable photographic spots in a good and also bad weather.
Friendly atmosphere and small number of participants.
Above-standard number of lecturers (3!), thanks to which a very individual approach to each participant is guaranteed.
The possibility to relax both by the pool within the accommodation and on the beach by the ocean.

Recommended Equipment

Ideally a Digital SLR or mirrorless camera with one or more lenses and tripod. Do you only shoot with a mobile phone? That doesn't have to be an obstacle, and you can confidently join us. In a limited number and under certain conditions, we are able to arrange photographic equipment for those of you who may still be deciding which brand of cameras and lenses to purchase. Detailed information about the recommended equipment will be provided to each participant after a binding registration.

Are you thinking about new photography equipment or maybe just want to optimize your lenses, need advice on purchasing suitable clothing, or are unsure about choosing a new tripod etc.? No problem. As part of the pre-expedition preparation, we offer and routinely conduct a wide range of consultation services, which are included in the price of the expedition.

Price includes

Lecturers guidance throughout the expedition.
Dealing with the individual requirements of each participant, lectures and moderated discussions.
Complete know-how for photographic work, shooting single shots and panoramic photos, shooting night landscapes and stars (Aurora Borealis), compositional rules, focusing, knowledge of exposure bracketing, antireflective shots, focus bracketing, exposure averaging, complete post process.
Approximately 200 pages of study materials for each participant.
Complete transportation during the expedition, day and night.
Assistance with group flight tickets purchases.

Our lodging is a luxurious villa reserved exclusively for our group, featuring a stunning sea view and overlooking Funchal. The villa's prime location and Madeira's compact geography mean that all photographic sites are conveniently accessible.

The villa boasts a well-appointed kitchen, allowing you the option to bring and prepare your meals on-site. Yet, considering the affordability of Madeira's delightful local cuisine even by Czech standards, you can indulge in the island's gastronomic offerings without concern for your budget. The villa comes fully equipped with all amenities, including a washing machine and dryer.

Price does not include

Meals, possible entrances/tickets, airfare (the price of a return ticket is about 10 000,- CZK).

Detailed itinerary of the photo expedition

Are you interested in the detailed itinerary of the photo expedition? Do you want to know where we will be shooting on the third day, what we will have for dinner on the fourth day, where we will be shooting on the fifth day, or what time we will have breakfast on the seventh day? Then you won't find that with us.

We fundamentally reject this type of sightseeing tours! We adapt our program to current weather forecast models. Based on the knowledge and experience of the lecturers, we select for shooting those locations where there are currently the greatest chances of successfully taking photos. From an organizational standpoint, this type of photo expedition is significantly more demanding than a preset "prefabricated" model of travel agencies, regardless of weather and photographers' needs. However, we organize a real photo expedition. Our goal is for each participant to take as many photos as they expect and envision.