TRAVEL WITH PASSION 2015

TRAVEL WITH PASSION 2015Photo: H

ans Strand

BETTER MOMENTS

Better Moments is celebrating its third year this year. So far it has been a fantastic passionate journey. Since 2011 Christian Nørgaard, the founder and CEO of Better Mo-ments has had it as his ambition to give you the best with-out compromising. Better Moments have a number of quite unique destinations. You will be trained by some of the world’s most professional photographers. Our work-shops are intensive, eye-opening and offer in-depth and hands-on instruction by award-winning photographers.

The workshops has brought travellers on adventures to explore rare parts of the world and work intensely with different genres of photography: From magnificent desti-

nations in the Arctic Circle like Greenland, Svalbard and Iceland with award-winning landscape photographers Hans Strand and Anders Geidemark to travel photog-raphy in Bhutan with National Geographic star photog-raphers Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson. Also we facilitated a workshop for professional press photogra-phers with American award-winning photojournalist and co-founder of the photo agency VII Ron Haviv.

This year we are proud to be able to introduce you to the Italian photographer Marco Di Lauro, who is represented by Reportage at Getty Images. He will be taking us to the magnificent horse race Il Palio di Siena in Italy and the

TRAVEL WITH PASSION2015

iconic American photographer Steve McCurry, who will be taking guests to unique destinations such as Ethiopia and Sct. Petersburg to capture the moment.

Finally we are thrilled about our cooperation with Na-tional Geographic Live (natgeo.dk/nglive) where you can follow some of our photographer´s stories from the field. We constantly have our eyes on the best photographers out there and this year we will introduce you to new and unique experts.

TRAVEL WITH PASSION2015

ABISKO

ITALY IL PALIO

SVALBARD

ICELANDGREENLAND

WORKSHOPS

ABISKO

THE FAROE ISLANDS

ETHIOPIA

ITALY IL PALIOINDIA

BURMA

BHUTAN

TANZANIA

GREENLAND

Photo: Hans Strand

INTO THE ICECAP MAY 15 - 22 2015

INTO THE ICE CAP

Photo: Hans Strand

INTO THE ICE CAP

MAY 15 - 22 2015

INTO THE ICE CAP MAY 15 - 22 2015

EXPLORE WITH HANS STRAND

Photo: Hans Strand


xplore Greenland with award-winning landscape pho-togrpaher Hans Strand. “The

wilderness is the mother of all living things. It is always true and never trial,” he says

The country, indeed, offers some of the most spectacular and unspoilt scenery on earth. Ilulissat, which is the Greenlandic word for iceberg is a town situated beautifully at the mouth of the Icefjord 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The Icefjord is littered with enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq. The largest icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord at depths of 225-250m, only break-ing free during high tide or when the icebergs become so eroded that their points of balance tip. Ilulissat is the land of the midnight sun. The sun does not go below the horizon from May 21 to July 24. This means it has very bright nights all of May and fan-tastic conditions for photographing stunning icy landscapes.

E


ITINERARYSince the best light is to be found during the evening and hours at night. We will chase our motives in these very hours - the late evening and in the night. Around this time the light is saturated with pink and red colors and the mighty landscapes will appear amazingly beautiful and dramatic.

Photo: Hans Strand


DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ILULISSATArrival and accommodation at the hotel and brief-ing about the coming workshop. After dinner we will start our first night with a photo shoot of Disko Bay, which is the sea between the outlet of the Ice-fjord and Disko Island. At this time of the year the bay is packed with icebergs. In the early and late hours of the night the light can vary considerably and may form the basis for capturing unique im-ages.

DAY 2: NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHYIn the early part of the day we are going to photo-graph in the Inuit town Ilulissat. The town is quite fascinating, as its appearance resembles nothing else outside the Arctic, with its wooden houses in strong colours, parked boats in the backyards and sled dogs in chains. In the evening we shoot from the top of the hill 2 km south of Ilulissat. From the hill we have a fantastic view overlooking Disko Bay and the mouth of the Icefjord. At midnight the gi-gantic icebergs, some 70 metres high, turn glowing pink and create a stunning view. Especially telepho-to lenses are put to good use here.

DAY 3: INTO THE ICEFJORDLate breakfast. Digital processing of images from the day before. Daylight shoot in and around the harbour of Ilulissat. The main source of income for Inuits is fishing and the harbour is a chaos of boats and people, which is a great opportunity for inter-esting documentary photography. Evening: 3 km walk to the inside of the Icefjord and landscape photography from the water level among icebergs and cliffs. Here we will use our wide angle lenses for shots with dramatic foregrounds of eroded cliffs and clear water ponds. We will contin-ue to shoot as long as the light allows.

DAY 4: THE BIG LANDSCAPEWe will spend the day in the mountains that beau-tifully surround Ilulissat and the Icefjord. Here we will find canyons, lakes and the first signs of spring. There is also the possibility of macro photography and magnificent panorama shots. Depending on the weather, and if we have the chance, we hike to the edge of the Icefjord where we shoot from the east side. This angle is unique since we have the mouth of the Icefjord placed in the background and

Photo: Hans Strand

if you choose to shoot in the opposite direction, the ice cap will be featured as a backdrop.

DAY 5: BOAT SAFARILate breakfast. Digital processing of images from yesterday. Image reviews and feedback on your re-cent images. We will also go through shooting stra-tegies for boat-based photography. Boat tour in Disko Bay and around the Icefjord. Photography of the icebergs from the boat. It will give us the opportunity to come closer to icebergs and make creative compositions of the Arctic sea-scape. We will use the glowing evening light to give our images an extra dimension.

DAY 6: INTO THE ICE CAPDeep and comprehensive workshop of the challeng-es in aerial and great landscape photography. Evening light and aerial photography of the Disko Bay and of the mouth of the Icefjord. We will make several landings during our flight, and from careful-ly selected locations, we will photograph the unique landscapes. The objective is to fly into the ice cap,

where subjects are saturated as abstract landscapes, shaped by deep cracks and streaks in the ice.

DAY 7: GREAT LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHYGreat landscape photography of the Disko Bay, the Icefjord and the surroundings, improvised to maxi-mize the yield of the workshop and to compensate for potential bad weather. The rest of the day you are on your own, and you may choose to visit the great local diner and enjoy the legendary Greenlandic coffee.

DAY 8: DEPARTUREFlight home.

EXPERT: HANS STRAND

Photo: Hans StrandINTO THE ICE CAP MAY 15 - 22 2015

http://better-moments.com/workshops/greenland-2015/

Hans Strand’s work has been dis-played in numerous exhibitions and published in many interna-tional photography magazines. He has received several awards for his photography, including the Hasselblad Master Award and the European Wildlife Pho-tographer of the Year. Strand has published three books on land-

scape photography. Hans has always felt himself drawn to the untamed and non-manipulated that he finds in Nature. “The wilderness is the mother of all living things. It is always true and never trivial”. Over the years Strand has had the entire world as his workplace. Photographing everything from

the vast expanses of the Arctic, to steaming rainforests and dry deserts. He was born in 1955 in Marmaverken, Sweden. After a nine year career in mechanical engineering he decided to make a dramatic change to devote his life to landscape photography. A change he never regrets.

HANS STRAND

TRAVEL WITH THE BEST

http://better-moments.com/workshops/

ITALY IL PALIO

Photo: Marco Di Lauro

ITALY IL PALIO JUNE 28 - JULY 4 2015

PASSION AND HORSE RACE


PASSION AND HORSE RACE

JUN

E 28 - JULY 4 2015

ITALY THE PALIO JUNE 28 - JULY 4 2015

EXPLORE WITH MARCO DI LAURO


EXPLORE WITH MARCO DI LAURO

orld Press award-win-ning photographer working for amongst

others Newsweek, Time Magazine, New York Times Magazine and Der Spiegel Marco Di Lauro will take you on a journey to a sensational destination.

ll Palio in Siena is the world’s most spectacular horse race dating back to 1283. Siena is situated in the south-ern part of Tuscany. During the race Siena’s big, famous medieval square Piazza del Campo is covered with lots of soil, and the city center is transformed into a breathtak-ing racecourse. All the contestants ride bareback and in a colorful out-fit - showing the contrade, the rider stands for. It is an experience unlike any other. You will get a rather unique chance to make a photographic story about an authentic moment in time - which feels like you are suddenly part of a medieval spectacle.

W


ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO SIENAArrival - a private bus will transfer you to the hotel in Siena. At the hotel we will have a briefing on the coming workshop. Time to explore Siena, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with architectural treasures such as the Siena Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo.

DAY 2: PRE TRIALSWe are going to photograph the trials (tratta). It is a process by which the horses are matched to the ten Contrade that will participate in the Palio. The hors-es, after having been examined by veterenarians and considered to be in ideal condition, are divided into

groups of 5-7 horses for “batterie” or trials and then allowed to run around the dirt (tufo) track three times to determine if they are suitable to run on this type of track. At the end of the trials, the Captains of the Contrade, in the presence of the Mayor, get together to choose the 10 most suitable horses.

DAY 3: THE TRIALSWe spend the day experiencing and photograph-ing the second and third trail run: The Jockeys ride their horses during one of the six trials. The city’s 17 separate Contrade or neighborhoods compete in the prestigious Palio race. There is also time to explore how the festival evolves around Siena.

Il Palio is more than a simple horse race. It is the culmination of ongoing rivalry and competition be-tween the contrade (districts). Ten of the 17 contrade (districts) compete, and the winner gains the high honor of being Palio champion. Siena’s entire year revolves around these races. Young drummers prepare and practice their rhythms, flag bearers rehearse all around the city, and the leaders of each contrada bar-ter throughout the year to get the best jockeys and, more importantly, the best horses.

The main race is held on July 2 and is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Proven-zano, who has a church in Siena. We will photograph a reportage about one of the worlds most spectacu-lar races. In order to get a full story we will photograph all the events leading to the main event on July 2.


DAY 4: GENERAL TRIALThis day offers a lot of adventure and great scenes. We will explore the the final rehearsal and final re-hearsal dinner with our camera. The grand dinner depending on the size of the contrada, have seats anywhere from 900 to 3500 people, who all eat, sing and drink lots of wine, with the favourite topic of conversation being the contrada’s chances in the race the following day.

DAY 5: PALIOWe will get early up in the morning at the day of the main event to photograph exciting moments and the spectacular race Il Palio. 7:45 am – In the Chapel adjacent the City Hall, the Archbishop celebrates the “Jockey Mass.”

3:00 pm – Blessing of the horse and the jockey in each Contrada’s parish church. The priest ends the mystical rite with a wish that sounds like an order: “Go and come back victorious!”

Also around 3 p.m. each Contrada performs a ben-ediction ceremony of its horse and afterwards joins in the large parade in historical costume with over 600 participants, that winds through the city. The parade arrives around 5 p.m. at the Piazza del Campo, and ends by around 6.30-7 p.m. The Piazza del Campo is completely packed with local specta-tors and tourists. The event is scheduled to begin around 7 pm, but the actual start can be delayed by the preparations. The race takes only 75 seconds - it is fast and dangerous for the jockeys and the horses. At the end, the winning Contrada is presented with the Palio banner which represents a great honor. The winning Contrada then marches through town with the banner.

DAY 6: EDITING AND REVIEWExpert review and constructive criticism of the im-ages taken during the workshop.

DAY 7: DEPARTURE

EXPERT: MARCO DI LAURO


Photo: Marco D

i Lauro

http://better-moments.com/workshops/italy-2015/

Marco Di Lauro is a World Press award-winning photographer working for amongst others Newsweek, Time Magazine, New York Times Magazine and Der Spiegel. He has worked under an exclusive contract for Getty Im-ages Reportage since 2002 cov-ering the Middle Eastern con-flict in the Gaza Strip and spent

almost all of 2003 and 2004 in Iraq, documenting the Ameri-can invasion and the drama of the Iraqi people. Along with his wartime coverage, Di Lauro also cover events such as the Palio of Siena horse race and the battle of the oranges that breaks out every year in the city of Ivrea in Italy at Carnival time, Easter processions

in Sicily, Easter procession in Se-ville, and the religious life in Italy and the Vatican City. In all the stories he photograph, whether large or small, in Italy or abroad he always attempts to capture the sacred side of life and its deeper meaning.

MARCO DI LAURO



ICELAND

Photo: Hans Strand

TRAVEL ON VOLCANOES JUNE 28 - JULY 5 2015

TRAVEL ON VOLCANOES

Photo: Hans Strand

TRAVEL ON VOLCANOES

JUN

E 28 - JULY 5 2015



Photo: Hans Strand


ward-winning and European Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hans Strand will take

you to a miraculous destination: Ice-land. The land of fire and ice. A land of spurting geysers, glaciers, boiling mud pools and waterfalls. Its mys-terious landscapes is an inspiration for many artists and photographers, who have a great passion for land-scape photography.

The land is densely populated, pure, unpolluted and hold truly magical stories and is an adventurous play-ground for curious travellers and passionate photographer.

A


ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ICELANDWe meet at our Hotel in Reykjavik. Before dinner, Better Moments will present a detailed briefing on the coming week and workshop.

DAY 2: THE DOOR HOLEPhoto shoots by the mighty waterfalls of the south coast, Skogafoss and Seljalandfoss. We will spend the afternoon exploring the basalt cliffs of Rey-nisfjara and do an evening shoot off the vast cliff Dyrholaey. This is one of our favorite spots in Ice-land - and the view is stunning: The impressive gla-cier Myrdalsjokull is visible to the north. To the east, you can see the black lava columns of the Reynis-drangar peak out of the sea, and finally to the west the whole coastline stretches out before your eyes. In front of the peninsula, there is a gigantic black arch of lava towering in the sea, which gives the peninsula its name (meaning: the hill-island with the door-hole).

DAY 3: JÖKULSÁRLÓNThe extraordinary glacier lagoon Jokulsarlon is the largest glacial lake in Iceland. It is situated at the south end of the glacier Vatnajokull between the Skaftafell preservation area in Vatnajokull National Park and the town of Hofn. We will spend the day along the coast and experience the mighty and pho-togenic icebergs that makes the water in the fjord foaming white. We will organize our photo shoot according to the light in order to optimize the shoot - if it is gritty or if the weather is overcast with dra-matic skies. After dinner - evening and long expo-sure shooting of the shimmering icebergs floating in the lagoon and along the coastline.

DAY 4: FJALLABAK , SVARTIFOSS AND LANDMANNALAUGARIn the morning we will drive back along the south coast and turn north at the winding mountain road to the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. This will be a very scenic drive through a spectacular volcanic land-scape. The land is mountainous and sculptured by vol-canoes and geothermal activity, covered by lava, sands, rivers and lakes. During the drive we will make frequent stops for shooting, before arriving at our hotel. In the evening, we will run a slideshow workshop on how to optimize your skills in landscape pho-tography.

DAY 5: LANDMANNALAUGARLandmannalaugar is a true gem in the middle of an amazing landscape situated in the highland of Ice-land at the edge of the rhyolite lava field Laugah-raun. The banks of the brook are boggy and lush. The sur-roundings are colourful and magnificently encased in clouds of steam from the many hot springs. This area is one of the most distinctive locations in the world. The mountains are split with gullies and gorges, one of which, the Jokulgil, is about 13 km long. We will spend the day in the area, where we will explore the most scenic locations for our shooting, including hot springs and viewpoints overlooking the stunning volcanic landscape. After lunch, we will make an easy hike through the dramatic land-scape to one of the hot springs and into the wild.

Photo: Hans Strand


In the evening, as a preparation for the aerial pho-tography of the next days, we will offer you a work-shop on how to shoot great aerials.

DAY 6: HIGHLANDS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHYAerial photography over the highlands near Land-mannalaugar. We will take off by helicopter from a landing spot near Landmannalaugar and shoot this fantastic landscape from above. A truly unique op-portunity to get images you have only dreamt of - and it will be a moment you will remember as long as you live.In the evening we will look through our images from the aerial shoot and give you feedback on your photography.

DAY 7: GJÁIN – HÁIFOSS – REYKJAVIKIn the morning, we will drive through the scenic landscape of the Hrauneyjar center on our way to Haifoss. We start off in the Highland, but we will quickly move on to dirt roads and eventually barely discernable tracks across the pitted lava and ash plains in the shadow of Hekla, one of Iceland’s more active volcanoes. We will enjoy our picnic lunch around the Haifoss area. Haifoss is one of the most impressive water-falls of Iceland, which plunges 122 meters into a deep gorge. After lunch and shooting, we will drive through the scenic landscape to Gjain, a pictur-esque canyon in Tjorsardalur. Farewell dinner with the best view at the world famous opera and culture house.

DAY 8: DEPARTURETransport to Keflavik International Airport for re-turn flights.

EXPERT: HANS STRAND

Photo: Hans Strand

http://better-moments.com/workshops/iceland-2015/


THE FAROE ISLANDS

Photo: Christian Nørgaard

THE FAROE ISLANDS

WONDERS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AUGUST 9 - 16 2015

WONDERS OF THE ATLATIC OCEAN


WONDERS OF THE ATLATIC OCEAN

AUG

UST 9 - 16 2015

THE ROCKS AUGUST 9 - 16 2015

EXPLORE WITH CHRISTIAN NØRGAARD



hristian Nørgaard is the founder and CEO of Bet-ter Moments. For years he

has photographed and travelled ex-tensively and has received wide ac-claim for his unique photographic talent. He will take you to one of his favorite destinations, the Faroe Is-lands, which has a limited number of spaces (8) available.

Far out in the radiant ocean glinting like quicksilver there lies a solitary little lead-coloured land”. (The famous Faroese writer William Heinesen)

The faroe Islands is indeed a dramatic senery galore with ever-changing shades of green situated in the heart of the Gulf Stream. The stunning 18 islands with volcanic origin are rugged and rocky and was voted to be the best island destination in the world in a survey of 111 island communities made by National Geographic Traveller. The faroe island will deeply enchant you as a traveller and photographer.

C


ITINERARY DAY 1: ARRIVAL

Arrival at the Faroe Islands. We will pick you up at the airport and drive you to our hotel at Eysturoy (East Island). We spend the evening in the beauti-ful and intimate fjord that surrounds our cosy hotel. After dinner we meet for a briefing on our work-shop with one of most professional photographers in landscape photography.

DAY 2: EYSTUROYWe will cross the only bridge over the North Atlan-tic – from Eysturoy to the Streymoy. Because the channel is so narrow, spectacular eddies form at the base of the bridge when the current is running strong with the tide. This spectacular introduction to the island quickly pales out as we explore all the unique nature and vistas of Eysturoy. We start the day from the tallest mountain in the Faroe Islands: The towering Slættara tindur soars 882 metres, yet the summit is easily reached along the eastern ridge. The view is absolutely breath-taking, because you can see all the Faroe Islands from the north of Viðoy to the fringes of Suðuroy in the south – a tru-ly panorama shot. The rest of the day we will spend around Eystury.After dinner we open a discussion about the images of the day and the genre of landscape photography.

DAY 3: STREYMOYFrom the top of Vestmanna Bird Cliffs some 600 metres above sea level we will start shooting dur-ing the early morning light, which illuminates the islands of Vagar and Mykines. After lunch we will spend the rest of the day exploring Streymoy scen-eries between the rugged sea stacks and the many grottoes along the coast, with their rich textures. Your imagination and the spirit will be filled with amazement at the wonderland that nature has cre-ated in this country. In the evening the workshop is open for discus-sion about the images of the day and techniques around composition.

DAY 3& 6: NORðUROYGGJAR, THE NORTHERN ISLANDS The northern islands consist of six islands. We will explore the six islands over the next three days. We will focus on photographing the overwhelming landscapes during sunrise and sunset. The scener-ies consist of a great variation of rock formations, forest (there is a (very) small forest), breath-taking mountains and waterfalls. We will continue the workshop with facts about night workshop, ideas and advice on how to create your own photo exhibition and a look into the work of the greatest wildlife photographers.


Bird and landscape land - MykinesMykines is a perfect haven for great and unique photography. We will arrive by boat in the morning and spend a day on the cliffs of Mykinesholmur that is overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the drama-tic rocks in the massive ocean. We will work with photographing the intimate landscape in the stone forest in the valley of Korkadalur, where also the summit of the 560 metre Knúkur awaits.

DAY 5: SUðUROYWe will take off early in the morning for Suðuroy, which is the southernmost island in the Faroe Is-lands. Here we will find magnificent and staggering dramatic landscapes. We will shoot from the Atlan-tic coastline and search for large and small waterfalls and from cliffs that rise into the sky. We are going to photograph the huge rocks coming out of the sea.

It will be truly a day filled with adventure and great opportunities to photograph the stunning sceneries at the Faroe Islands.

In the evening we will have a hands-on photogra-phyworkshops with focus on today´s images fol-lowed by a nice farewell dinner in Torshavn.

DAY 6: DEPARTURE

EXPERT: CHRISTIAN NØRGAARD



http://better-moments.com/workshops/faroeislands-2015/

Christian Nørgaard is the found-er and CEO of Better Moments. For years he has photographed and travelled extensively and has received wide acclaim for his unique photographic talent. In recent years he has also collabo-rated with Steve McCurry and other of National Geographic’s

leading photographers for exhi-bitions and events. His workshop in Burma and India is a unique opportunity for any photogra-pher to combine adventure, trav-el and report photography and work with one of the best in the field.

CHRISTIAN NØRGAARD



SVALBARD

Photo: Anders Geidemark

LAND OF THE POLAR BEARS 3 - 12 SEPTEMBER 2015

LAND OF THE POLAR BEARS


LAND OF THE POLAR BEARS

SEPTEMBER 3 - 12 2015


EXPLORE WITH ANDERS GEIDEMARK


ward-winning photogra-pher Anders Geidemark has been a judge in several

international nature photo compet-witions, such as Wildlife Photog-rapher of The Year, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He will take you on an Arctic adven-ture.

Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, snow-capped mountains, massive sheets of ice, and magnificent polar bears. It is a Norwegian archipelago situated in the Arctic Ocean between the North Pole and Norway. Travel under the midnight sun on board M/S Origo and experience nature in its purest form. Polar bears thrive here. Roughly half the estimated 3,000 bears in the Barents Sea popu-lation raise their young on the archi-pelago’s isolated islands. Humans are warned not to venture beyond town without a rifle as pro-tection against Ursus maritimus. Seabirds migrate to Svalbard in the millions. Five species of seals and 12 kinds of whales feed in the waters off the coast. Atlantic walruses prosper on the rich clam beds along the shal-low shelf of the Barents Sea. On the open tundra of Svalbard’s plateaus and valleys, reindeer forage and arc-tic fox hunt free from predators.

A

EXPLORE WITH ANDERS GEIDEMARK


ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LONGYEARBYENBetter Moments will pick you up at the airport and accommodate you on M/S Origo - your base for ad-venture the next 9 days. We sail through the spec-tacular Icefjord. After welcome drinks and dinner, we review security and safety information and fin-ish the day with a beautiful slideshow about Sval-bard by Anders Geidemark.

DAY 2–9: AT SEAWe are in a part of the world where we are totally dependent on ice and weather conditions. Our ex-act itinerary depends these factors, and on the wild-life we encounter. The places mentioned below are therefore examples of some of the many exceptional sites Svalbard has to offer.

Northwest Svalbard We will pass the islands of Danskøya, Amster-damøya and Ytre Norskøya with remnants from the bustling activity during the 17th century whal-ing period. During our journey we also explore, Liefdefjorden, Mona- co Glacier, Krossfjorden and Raudfjorden. All fjords have unique sceneries with beautiful glaciers, a rich wildlife of whales, seals, bird and polar bears.

North Spitsbergen and HinlopenNorth of Spitsbergen we will meet the pack ice. Only a few expedition ships can sail here. The chance of seeing polar bears increases as we sail along the ice by ship and Zodiac. We will also make excursions onto the ice, to make most of the opportunity to photograph the unique icy landscape. It is on the pack ice we have our biggest chances to photograph polar bears during their seal hunt.

DAY 9: LONGYEARBYEN AND DEPARTUREEarly morning we reach Longyearbyen and after shopping in Longyearbyen, we begin our journey home. Please note: Our exact route will depend on the ice, weather conditions and wildlife.

EXPERT: ANDERS GEIDEMARK


Photo: Anders G

eidemark

Photo: Anders G

eidemark

http://better-moments.com/workshops/svalbard-2015/

Award-winning photographer Anders Geidemark has worked as a wildlife photographer and writer since 1988. He has been a judge in several international nature photo competitions, such as Wildlife Photographer of The Year, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Nordic Nature Photo Contest. He

has had about 50 exhibitions, and produced and contributed to nu-merous photography books, in-cluding, “Risen from sea – shad-owed by wings”.

Geidemark is deeply inspired by nature and has been it since he was a child.

“The forest became my play-ground, and I had plenty time to philosophize. My father was an enthusiastic hunter and I listened to his great stories. He didn’t read fairy tales to make me fall asleep, he read hunting novels.”

ANDERS GEIDEMARK



ABISKO, SWEDEN

Photo: Hans Strand

INDIAN SUMMER AT THE POLAR CIRCLE SEPTEMBER 21 - 24 2015

INDIAN SUMMER AT THE POLAR CIRCLE

Photo: Hans Strand

INDIAN SUMMER AT THE POLAR CIRCLE

SEPTEMBER 21 - 24 2015



Photo: Hans Strand

ward-winning and Europe-an Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hans Strand take

you to the breathtaking destination Abisko.

Majestic, picturesque and serene are all words that describe the moun-tains, valleys, plains, forests, rivers, flora and fauna of Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland. The 77 km2 paradise is located 195 km in-side the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its stunning beauty, Nordic wild-life and one of the best spots in the world for photographing Aurora Bo-realis (Northern Lights).

To get a true sense of this unique and incomparable location you have to visit Abisko and inhale a breath of fresh mountain air and view the scenery.

A



ITINERARY Better Moments and Hans Strand invite you

to participate in a unique photography workshop, which will take you to the very best and most beau-tiful locations by van, trekking and helicopter. This workshop is a unique opportunity to combine an adventurous journey into the wild with the oppor-tunity to work with, and learn from, award-win-ning landscape photographer Hans Strand. Many of Hans’ pictures for his books and calendars have been photographed in Abisko National Park. “This is my backyard”, says Hans Strand about Abisko.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO ABISKOHans Strand and Better Moments staff will pick you up at the airport. Lunch in Kiruna and transport to Abisko Mountain Hotel for check-in. Slideshow and presentation on Lapland, followed by a mouth-watering welcome dinner prepared by our private chef. After dinner we look out for aurora borealis, the Northern Light.

DAY 2: ABISKOWe leave after breakfast to explore the canyons and to shoot the limestone formations and river rapids in the upper section of Abisko Canyon. We have an

open-air lunch prepared by our chef, followed by hikes into the birch forest. We will do evening shots of the mountain range, before dinner at the Moun-tain Hotel. After dinner we look out for aurora bo-realis, the Northern Light.

DAY 3: MOUNT NJULLABreakfast at the Mountain Hotel. Cable car lift to the top of Mount Njulla. Hike down through the birch forest and open-air lunch. After lunch we will do aerial photography from helicopter, with per-sonal in-air instruction by Hans strand. For the rest of the afternoon we will shoot in the lower section of Abisko Canyon. A three-course farewell dinner, followed by an evening seminar in the conference room.

DAY 4: SUNRISE SHOOTING AND DEPARTUREWe are up early to capture the sunrise in the amaz-ing landscapes. After a morning with intense shoot-ing we leave for the airport to catch our flights home.

EXPERT: HANS STRAND

Photo: Hans Strand

http://better-moments.com/workshops/abisko-2015/


Photo: Hans Strand

BHUTAN

Photo: Sisse Brimberg & Cotton Coulson

LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON OCTOBER 11 - 19 2015

LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON


LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON O

CTO

BER 11 - 19 2015


EXPLORE WITH SISSE BRIMBERG & COTTON COULSON


isse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson are award-winning photographers have collec-

tively photographed more than 60 stories for National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler maga-zines.

They will travel with you to Bhutan - the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Tucked away in the Eastern Hima-layas, which represent nothing less than the crowning apex of nature’s grandeur. It is a country filled with myths and legends.

Buddhism permeates every aspect of daily life, hidden valleys shelter exquisite age-old temples and mon-asteries, and the king decrees “Gross National Happiness” as the standard by which to measure the country’s wealth.

This workshop is an unique oppor-tunity to travel with two of National Geographic’s star photographers, Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson.

S

EXPLORE WITH SISSE BRIMBERG & COTTON COULSON


ITINERARY DAY 1: BANGKOK– PARO

(ALTITUDE 2,250 M)We meet at Bangkok International Airport and fly to the beautiful Paro valley in Bhutan and check-in at the hotel. We take a relaxed day walk around Paro town, watching and photographing the city’s impressive Dzong.

DAY 2: PARO (ALTITUDE 2,250 M)General introduction to Bhutan and short trips around town and surrounding areas to find inter-esting photo subjects. There will be plenty of time to photograph on your own. Group dinner in the evening and seminar with Sisse and Cotton: “A life with National Geographic”.

DAY 3: PARO – THIMPHU (ALTITUDE 2,350 M)We drive to the capital Thimphu - welcome to the modern Bhutan. Here you can clearly see how tradi-tion meets modernity. Thimphu is a fascinating and different capital. There are only low-rise buildings, little traffic and no traffic lights. We check-in at our hotel and spend the rest of the day in Thimphu. Af-ter dinner we spend a few hours talking about today’s photography.

DAY 4: THIMPHU – PUNAKHA (ALTITUDE 1,350 M)We go by 4X4 bus through the lush valley, from which you can see the over 7,000 metres Himala-yas with several stops along the way to photograph. In Punakha, we visit one of the country’s most im-pressive monasteries, the Punakha Dzong, from the 16th century. Then we cross Bhutan’s longest sus-pension bridge by foot (100 m). In the evening we meet up for Sisse and Cottons entertaining lectures and mini-workshop on photographing for National Geographic.

DAY 5: PUNAKHA – TRONGSA (ALTITUDE 2,100 M)We leave early towards central Bhutan through breathtaking landscapes with several stops along the way to photograph. Among other things, we vis-

it the impressive monastery Trongsa Dzong, which is glued to the mountain wall. It was once a royal residence and is considered the most beautiful and important monastery in Bhutan.

DAY 6: TRONGSA Trongsa - The name means “new village” in Dzong- kha. The first temple was built in 1543 by the Druk-pa Kagyu lama, who was the great-grandfather of Shab- drung Ngawang Namgyel, the person who unified Bhutan. We will spend a whole day at the temple and in the city.

DAY 7: TRONGSA – PARO (ALTITUDE 2,250 M) A travel day with several stops along the way to pho-tograph and private lessons with Sisse and Cotton. We arrive in Paro in the afternoon.

DAY 8: PARO (ALTITUDE 2,250 M) After breakfast we drive to Ramthangkha (10 km from Paro). From here, we (slowly) climb 3,100 me-tres to the famous monastery Taktsang. The mon-astery is situated on a ledge overlooking the Paro Valley. We return in Paro in the afternoon. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

DAY 9: DEPARTUREWe leave Bhutan and fly back to Bangkok.

EXPERTS: SISSE BRIMBERG and COTTON COULSON

http://better-moments.com/workshops/bhutan-2015/


Photo: Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson

Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coul-son are award-winning photog-raphers have collectively pho-tographed more than 60 stories for National Geographic and Na-tional Geographic Traveler mag-azines. Brimberg’s reportage of migrant workers earned her the

Picture Story of the Year award for the National Press Photographers Association. They have also been awarded prizes from the White House Press Photographers As-sociation and Communication Arts. Most of their careers are spent all over the world from the

Arctic to southern Europe. Their work is centered around real people, lifestyle, and contempo-rary environmental issues telling compelling stories through HD video and photography.

SISSE BRIMBERG & COTTON COULSON



INDIA


FROM GANGES TO HEAVEN 17 - 26 OCTOBER 2014

FROM GANGES TO HEAVEN


FROM GANGES TO HEAVEN

OC

TOBER 21 - 29 2015

FROM GANGES TO HEAVEN OCTOBER 21 - 29 2015



hristian Nørgaard is the founder and CEO of Better Moments. He has received

wide acclaim for his unique photo-graphic talent. and has for years pho-tographed and travelled extensively. He will travel with you to the dra-matic India.

India is one of the most breathtaking places on earth. Get swept of your feet by stunning landscapes, unique sceneries and the diversity of life. Experience the authentic India and capture unforgettable moments with your camera. Amazing photo op-portunities at the Taj Mahal, Jodpur, ‘The Blue City’ or along the banks of Ganges.

C



ITINERARY DAY 1: “THE BLUE CITY” JODHPUR

We will meet in Delhi at the Indira Gandhi Inter-national Airport, where we will depart together by plane for the ”Blue City”, Jodhpur. After arriving we will spend the rest of the day around the historical part of the city and during the twilight we will shoot photos across the city from one of the old houses in the centre of Jodhpur. After dinner we will meet for the first workshop: Street photography. The work-shop will focus on how to approach the genre of portraiture in a non intrusive manner, so images will become as natural as possible.

DAY 2: THE LARGEST FORT IN ALL OF RAJASTHANWe set out early to visit Mandore, which was the ancient capital of Marwar before Jodhpur was built. The lower part of the city consists of small temples, garden areas and a small river. The upper part holds the ruins of the old fort, which offers a magnificent view and unique photo opportunities. After lunch we will visit the Mehrangarh Fort that dominates the city and is the largest fort in all Rajasthan. It oc-

cupies the entire top of a 150 m hill with command-ing views, with approx. three kilometres massive ramparts built around the edges. In the night – if we have the spirit and time - we will visit Jaswant Thada, a Royal cenotaph built in marble and is an example of architectural brilliance. It is situated in a picturesque location next to a little lake.

DAY 3: STUNNING LANDSCAPEOn this day we will drive through the beautiful and dramatic semi-desert land around Jaipur. En route we will make occasional stops at local villages and from key scenic locations we will photograph the barren, but stunning landscape. After dinner Chris-tian Nørgaard is going to offer detailed and con-structive criticism on the day’s photos, as well as give a presentation on photo composition.

DAY 4: JAIPUR AND AMBER FORTJaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century. We will spend most of the day around the impressive and photogenic Amber Fort. This massive fort-palace complex is built in hybrid Hindu-Muslim style and dates back to Raja Man Singh and was the royal palace of the Kachwa-has. The main sights within the fort include the Sheesh Mahal, adorned with thousands upon thou-sands of mirror tiles covering the walls and ceiling. From the town, we travel by elephant to Amber Fort – a nice way to explore and take photos on our way up to the fort. On our way back during the after-noon or evening, we will pay Jal Mahal, the Water Palace, a visit. Jal Mahal is situated beautifully in the centre of the lake Man Sagar. We will take photos of the palace, the reflections in the lake, as well as capture the impressive rose-coloured light.

DAY 5: FROM MOGHULBY FATHEPUR SIKHRI TO AGRAWe will travel through the beautiful landscape and visit the abandoned sandstone fort Moghulby Fath-epur. En route we will enjoy dinner at a local restau-rant and in the evening we will arrive in Agra. To launch the evening’s workshop, we will go through the photos taken during the day. The workshop is based on the challenges of travel photography, how to shoot while travelling and what to prioritise in this context.


FROM GANGES TO HEAVEN OCTOBER 21 - 29 2015 Photo: Christian Nørgaard



DAY 6: TAJ MAHAL – THE CROWN PALACEAs dawn breaks, we will arrive at the Taj Mahal, which is an immense mausoleum of white marble. For our shots, we will focus on the gentle morn-ing light, where the Taj Mahal is at its most beau-tiful and picturesque. Taj Mahal, which means the Crown Palace, is one the best preserved and archi-tecturally beautiful tombs in the world and for this reason, it is important that we arrive early before it gets too crowded. We will go by rickshaw to Agra Fort, which is anoth-er unique masterpiece. The fort was built between 1565 and 1571 and has a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal. At the fort, there are plenty of opportuni-ties for portrait photography featuring soldiers and other locals. At the end of the day we depart on the old night train for the most holy of the world’s cities: Varanasi.

DAY 7: VARANASI – THE HOLY CITY ON THE BANKS OF GANGESWe will arrive early in the morning and after break-fast at our hotel we will spend the rest of the day along the shores of Ganges, where many photo op-portunities await. Here we will experience funeral

pyres, bathing Hindus, oxen at the water’s edge and holy men in lotus position – a true mecca for pho-tographers. When the twilight comes, we will travel by private boats along the bank and from the water we can experience the many amazing ceremonies that are taking place along ashore, as well as photograph the many pyres blazing in the night.

DAY 8. MORNING BATH IN THE GANGESAt dawn we will travel along the river in our own boats, where many locals bath in the river. This is in every way a unique experience with many great photo opportunities. After a late breakfast the group will break up in order to allow time for private projects. Evening flight to Delhi followed by group dinner and hotel accommodation for the night.


http://better-moments.com/workshops/india2015/

FROM GANGES TO HEAVEN OCTOBER 21 - 29 2015 Photo: Christian Nørgaard

TANZANIA

Photo: Steve Bloom

INTO THE WILD OCTOBER 18 - 25 2015

INTO THE WILD

Photo: Steve Bloom

INTO THE WILD

OC

TOBER 18 - 25 2015


EXPLORE WITH STEVE BLOOM

Photo: Steve Bloom

teve Bloom is one of the most acclaimed wildlife photog-raphers in the world. He has

won several international awards for his work, including The Power of Photography Award, The Golden Eye of Russia, and Lucie Awards. Explore a magnificent part of Africa with him.

Tanzania is sheer wilderness, stun-ning landscapes and the land of sa-faris where the wildebeets migrate along the infinite savannah. Hun-dres of hippos, massive elephant herds, snoozing crocodiles and red-shawled Maasai warriors.

There is probably nowhere else in the world like the Serengeti or the historic Ngorongoro Crater for an intense wildlife experience on a vast scale.

S

EXPLORE WITH STEVE BLOOM


ITINERARY

DAY 1: MOSHIUpon arrival at the Kilimanjaro Airport you will be met by staff from Better Moments. We will take you to a cozy hotel in the town of Moshi, which offers views of Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Af-rica. We will spend the day exploring the town, visit-ing the local market, which can be something of a cauldron/boiling pot. There will be plenty of great photo opportunities. After dinner we will enjoy an entertaining lecture by Steve Bloom.

DAY 2+3: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARKFrom Moshi we will drive towards the land of the Maasai and Tarangire National Park. We will make frequent stops on our way for photography. The area consists primarily of acacia with thorn bushes and baobab trees the epitome of the African bush. It also features dense forest, a lush paradise for all living things.The wildlife is impressive year-round.

The avifauna/bird life is most spectacular from Oc-tober to May. Ostriches strut around amongst the game and the forests contain various species of hornbills, the endemic yellow-collared lovebird, and sunbirds. Along the river, quite distinct and equal-ly enormous Hamerkop nests can be seen. After Tarangire we drive to the Highlands area of Karatu.

DAY 4: NGORONGORO SAFARI We start the day with a game drive in one of the world’s most renowned wildlife sanctuaries, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and we travel into the Ngorongoro Crater. The 260 square kilo-metre base of the crater is a vast, flat circular area of grassy savannah, forest, and the beautiful lake Makat, which is home to thousands of flamingos. Approximately 20,000 mammals live within the caldera. We expect to see buffalos, zebras, klip-springers, gazelles and various species of antelopes. Furthermore, there’s a good chance we will see elephants, rhinoceros, the rare spotted hyena, jack-

Photo: Steve Bloom


Photo: Steve Bloom

Photo: Steve Bloom

als, lions, warthogs, and wildebeest. If we are lucky we may spot a leopard or two. We won’t see giraffes down here, as their long legs cannot traverse the steep slopes of the crater. During the morning Steve Bloom will guide us to the best locations for wild life photography. Our 4x4 vehicles are configured so we have superb con-ditions for picture shooting, enabling us to get as close to the animals as reasonable. From here we continue on to one of the world’s best Safari areas. We drive up the steep western slope to the green, lush, and very beautiful Mbulu plateau. Early evening we reach the majestic savan-nah of the Serengeti where the Better Moments Wild Camp is situated. We will stay in a classic safari camp (tents of 14m2 with bed, bath and

toilet) and enjoy the ultimate safari experience in the heart of the savannah. After dinner, we focus on landscape photography with slow shutter speeds and animal photography.

DAY 5: SERENGETI SAFARIThe Serengeti National Reserve is known among the Maasai as the endless plains – and is possibly the best place in the world to find big game. This enor-mous reserve consists of 14,763 square kilometers of savanna, and continues north into the equally fa-mous Masai Mara in Kenya. It is the habitat of giant herds of wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, hartebeest and topis. Every year, over two million herbivores consisting mainly of wildebeest migrate in search of greener pastures – a hazardous journey of approxi-

Photo: Steve Bloom

mately 800 kilometers per year. For bird lovers, an extra bonus is the 535 bird species living here. Be-fore dinner at our Better Moments Wild Camp, we hike into the wild, for evening photography.

DAY 6: SERENGETI SAFARIWe have another full day on the savannah and at the plains of Serengeti.The diversity and density of wildlife ensures that you constantly experience something new. No two game drives are the same in this, Africa’s most renowned safari area. During a day of shooting we will follow the wild animals, such as lions and elephants, in our vehicles, as well as hiking with local wildlife guides and Steve Bloom.

After dinner we will attend a workshop and enjoy the sunset from our Better Moments Wild Camp.

DAY 7: SERENGETI, KARATU AND MAASAI VILLAGEWe slowly leave Serengeti in the most spectacu-lar way – with a game drive through the beautiful Serengeti the Ndutu areas. From here we drive up from the Ngorongoro crater to Karatu and High-view, where we have time to photograph. Along the way we will visit a Maasai village, where we will learn how the proud people preserve their culture and customs, whilst also adapting to the de-veloping world around them. An exciting look into a very different traditional way of life. Here you will be able to make authentic portrait photography in a genuine Maasai village. We will enjoy a great farewell dinner, celebrating the end of our tour in this part of East Africa.

DAY 8: EARLY MORNING PHOTOGRAPHYAfter an early start from Karatu we move out into the bush with our cameras. Under cover of darkness we will try to get the best shots of wild animals and birds that are getting ready for the day’s hunt for food and water. From Karatu we drive to Kiliman-jaro Airport and begin our journey homeward.

EXPERT: STEVE BLOOM


http://better-moments.com/workshops/tanzania-2015/

Steve Bloom has won several in-ternational awards for his work, including The Power of Photog-raphy Award, The Golden Eye of Russia, and Lucie Awards. Numerous magazine publishes such as Life, Time, National Geo-graphic etc. His own books have been published internationally in over seventy editions

In the early nineties, during a safari holiday, Steve Bloom be-gan photographing animals, and within a short time he had swapped his established city ca-reer for the precarious life of an international travelling photog-rapher. Steve Bloom’s concern for the environment is strongly evident in his wildlife images.

He strives to capture the ani-mal’s spirit, and blur the lines separating different species. His photographs of people reveal a compassionate understanding of his subjects, evident in his books Living Africa and Trading Places: The Merchants of Nairobi.

STEVE BLOOM



ETHIOPIA

Photo: Steve McCurry

A WORLD APART 9 -19 NOVEMBER 2014

THE TRIBES OF OMO VALLEY


THE TRIBES OF OMO VALLEY

NO

VEM

BER 6 - 14 2015

THE TRIBES OF THE OMO WALLEY NOVEMBER 7 - 15 2015

EXPLORE WITH STEVE MCCURRY


EXPLORE WITH STEVE MCCURRY

teve McCurry is the most iconic voice in contemporary photography. He has been

recognized with the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Award, and four first prize awards from the World Press Photo.

Only 6 spaces will be available on this exceptional workshop.

Ethiopia’s landscapes are dramatic. The mountainous country in eastern Africa hold a vibrancy that capti-vates and enchants. It has more UN-ESCO-listed sights than any other country on the continent. The lush mountains with its jagged spiers and magnificent views hide animals and birds seen nowhere else on earth and the lowlands are home to some of Africa’s most fascinating tribes. It is the only country on the African con-tinent that has not been a colony. It is authentic, intoxicating and truly a photographer’s dream.

S

THE TRIBES OF THE OMO WALLEY NOVEMBER 7 - 15 2015

ITINERARY DAY 1:

We meet in Addis Ababa where we will pick you up at the airport. After diner a Better Moments photo guide will make an introducing about the upcoming days. Ste-ve McCurry will show his great images from Ethio-pia, follow up with a workshop on how to capture great portraits and how to approach people along our way.

DAY 2: Together we will spend most of morning at the Na-tional Museum of Ethiopia. Here we will enjoy the historical treasures as well as some of the most im-portant early human fossils. Afternom. Fly south to Arba Minch, set amid thick jungle at the junction of Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo. Night photography overlooking Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo. Doing the day there will be hands on workshops by Steve McCurry and criticism and personal help to optimize your photography.

DAY 3: ARBA MINCH/JINKAWe start the day with a cruise on Lake Chamo. Here you will find a great variety of birdlife, hippos and crocodiles . Drive south and west by 4x4 through landscapes of banana plantations, and high moun-tains. We will stop along pur way where we stop in a village for ”steet photography. Workshop – criticism of todays photos.

DAY 4: JINKA/OMO VALLEYThis is the home of tribes such as the Kara, the Hamer, and the Mursi, who decorate themselves with beads, feathers, and elaborate body paint and pride themselves around ancient traditions. From everyday village scenes to portraits of women with lip plates to intriguing initiation rites, our photo-graphic opportunities abound. We meet the Mursi, a community that inhabit Mago National Park , who are known for the lip plates worn by the women.Doing the day there will be hands on workshops by Steve McCurry and criticism and personal help to optimize your photography.

DAY 5: JINKA/TURMIWe start the day with a cruise on Lake Chamo. Here you will find a great variety of birdlife, hippos and crocodiles . Drive south and west by 4x4 through landscapes of banana plantations, and high moun-tains. We will stop along pur way where we stop in a village for ”steet photography. Workshop – criticism of todays photos.

DAY 6 & 7: TURMIBy canoes, 4X4 , and easy hike we will reach the di-verse communities around Turmi, like the Daasa-nach, Kara peoples, known for their face and body painting. Visit the local markets with your camera and photograph local people and tribes. During the day there will be hands on workshops by Steve McCurry and criticism and personal help to optimize your photography. In the night we work on our images and criticism by Steve McCurry.

DAY 8: TURMI/KONSOOur last Omo Valley encounter is with the Ar-bore people, who live in tall, rounded huts. 4X4 to the terraced hills of the Konso region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for its rich culture. The day is a truly adventure with our camera – from great landscape photography to the genre of por-traits. Farewell dinner and a and a thorough review of your photos from the workshop.

DAY 9: ARBA MINCH/ADDIS ABABAReturn to Addis Ababa and enjoy time to explore the city. Visit Mercado, the largest market in Africa, which is an interesting chaos of people and goods.Transfer for the airport for those who is flying home late.

EXPERT: STEVE MCCURRY

better-moments.com/workshops/ethiopia-2015/

THE TRIBES OF THE OMO WALLEY NOVEMBER 7 - 15 2015Photo: Steve McCurry

Steve McCurry is one of the most iconic voices in contemporary pho-tography. He has been recognized with the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Award, and an un-precedented four first prize awards from the World Press Photo. He is best known for his evocative colour photography in the finest documen-tary tradition that captures the es-

sence of human struggle and joy. His work has been featured in eve-ry major magazine in the world and frequently appears in National Geographic magazine with recent articles on Tibet, Af-ghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and the temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia. McCurry is driven by an innate cu-riosity and sense of wonder about the world and everyone in it. He has extraordinary ability to cross

boundaries of language and culture to capture stories of human experi-ence. “Most of my images are grounded in people. I look for the unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person’s face. I try to convey what it is like to be that person, a person caught in a broader landscape, that you could call the human condition.”

STEVE MCCURRY



BURMA


A WORLD APART NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 11 2015

A WORLD APART


A WORLD APART

OC

TOBER 7- 6 2015

A WORLD APART OCTOBER 7- 6 2015



hristian Nørgaard is the founder and CEO of Better Moments. For years he has

photographed and travelled exten-sively and has received wide acclaim for his unique photographic talent. He will take you to one of his favorite destinations.

Burma is one of the last countries in Asia that has preserved its deep reli-gious and historical roots. Today, the country has just started opening up for foreign visitors.

Drift down the Ayeyarwady in an old river steamer, stake out a slice of beach on the blissful Bay of Bengal, or trek through pine forests to mi-nority villages scat tered across the Shan Hills.

Dig into the myriad dishes of the local cuisine, from a hearty bowl of mo hinga noodles for breakfast to the fermented tea-leaf mixture that’s a popular finish to a Burmese meal. Swap cocktails and cana pés for snacks and tea sweetened with con-densed milk at teahouses where you can shoot the breeze with locals.

C



ITINERARY DAY 1 – DAY 1: BANGKOK – YANGON

You can choose to meet us in either Yangon Airport or Bangkok Airport. After check-in at our hotel in Yangon we will go for a photo tour to the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda with a 70-meter reclining Buddha, continuing the walk through the colorful streets of Yangon, and we will end the tour at sunset at the unique Shwedagon Pa-goda. We will perpetuate this historic pagoda with the sky saturated in pink red light, followed by a de-lightful welcome dinner.

DAY 2: YANGONAfter breakfast we walk to the main train station, where we embark on the local circular train. During the day we ride around the outer part of Yangon with a speed of approx. 10 km per hour watching the locals get on and off in a constant stream along the route with their goods, traveling from one local market to another. It is a ride that offers one of the most genuine and exciting cultural encounters, one can experience. We get off and on along the way to visit markets with plenty of portrait photo opportunities of inter-esting local people. We spend the rest of the day in the “Golden Val-ley” area, which is famous for its many artists. We will visit an art gallery founded by the renowned Burmese artist Min Wai Aung.

DAY 3: YANGON – MANDALAYWe leave Yangon and fly to Mandalay, the second-largest city in Burma, and the former royal capital.Then we visit the “Golden Palace Monastery” - Shwe Kyaung and Kuthodaw Pagoda with the engraved 729 stone slabs that make up the Tripitaka, which is the Buddhist canon.

DAY 4: MANDALAYWe spend the day in Amarapura, a former royal cap-ital and an important religious and spiritual center with many monasteries and thousands of monks. We will visit the beautiful U Bein’s Bridge, a 1.2 km long walkway across the Taungthaman Lake built in teak more than 200 years ago. The bridge is used

daily by the many monks and other locals, and is one of the most photographed structures in Burma. Amarapura is also famous for their exclusive Man-dalay silk and the more reasonably priced cotton fabric, which Burmese use for their characteristic longys worn by both women and men.

DAY 5: MANDALAY – BAGANIn the morning we go by boat to Bagan, and upon arrival we drive to the impressive temple area. Here we visit Thagyar Pone temple and get an introduc-tion to Bagan history. We focus our lenses on the historical buildings and local monks. In the afternoon we visit Ananda, one of the ho-liest sites in Bagan, as well as a few other temples normally not open to foreign tourists with cameras. We watch and shoot the impressive sunset over the horizon with the many stupas.

DAY 6: BAGANWe start the day with a visit to the colorful and pop-ular Nyaung Oo Market. You can easily spend hours just by watching and shooting the bustling activity.Then we leave town to go to a local farm where they grow crops. Sugar palms are a particularly impor-tant source of income, and we capture the farmers who climb up the tall palm trees to tap the syrup.

DAY 7: BAGAN AND AYEYARWADYLater in the morning we board our boat to sail up the famous Ayeyarwady River to Kyauk U Min, which is located about two hours upriver. Here we visit a small village and a couple of small temples. During the boat trip we learn about life on the river, the wildlife and the small villages on the riverbed. From the boat there will be unique opportunities to photograph the local fishermen in their small fish-ing boats. In the afternoon we drive in a carriage through the temple area and stop at a number of temples, including the famous Dhammayangyi temple.

DAY 8: BAGAN – HAN HO-INLE LAKEWe fly to Han Ho in Shanstaten, and continue by 4x4 vehicle to Inle Lake. We stay near the lake and spend the morning experiencing this beautiful area

with the one-legged cane, the many small pagodas, and the life around the lake. This area is most beau-tiful in the evening light, with great opportunities for great landscape pictures and portraits of the lo-cal fishermen.

DAY 9: INLE LAKEWe start the day with a visit to the local market where ethnic tribesmen gather and sell their goods. The ethnic groups are characterized by their local costumes and at the market we meet people from the Pa Oh, Inthar and Shan tribes. After visiting the market, we go to Inpawkhone, a village famous for its silk weaving. In the afternoon our boat will take us to a Pa Oh village at the south side of the lake. We will walk around grasping and shooting the atmos-phere.

DAY 10: INLE LAKE – HAN HO-YANGOWe leave Inle Lake and fly back to Yangon. In the afternoon we go for a walk in Yangon, where the theme is Buddhism and spirituality. Although Bur-ma is predominantly Buddhist there are many other religions represented in Yangon due to the mixed population. We begin in China Town, where we visit a Chinese temple, and continue to the western part of the city where we see mosques, Christian churches, Hindu temples and synagogues.

During the tour we will of course also have the op-portunity to experience the colorful street scene and to make stops at the small tea rooms, which Yangon is famous for. We finish the day by watching the sunset in Sule Pagoda.

DAY 11: YANGON – BANGKOKWe begin the day with a morning stroll through the city’s colonial architecture to the Beach Hotel, which is one of the few remaining historic hotels in Asia. Then we visit the gold gilded Shwedagon Pa-goda, one of Buddhism’s most outstanding symbols. Here we walk on the lower terraces in the com-pany of the friendly and devout Burmese, who often comes with their families, to pay their respects and pray for success for an upcoming exam or planned business. Early evening we leave for the airport and fly to Bangkok.




http://better-moments.com/workshops/burma-2015/

Photo: Hans Strand

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

Documents

TRAVEL WITH PASSION 2015