DAY OF THE DEAD IN OAXACA

Oaxaca Day of the Dead Raul Touzon


DAY OF THE DEAD IN OAXACA

OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 4, 2024

OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 4, 2025

PACKAGE PRICE: $ 4450 WITH 5 – 8 PEOPLE

PACKAGE PRICE: $ 5450 WITH 3 – 4 PEOPLE

PACKAGE PRICE: $ 7425 WITH 2 PEOPLE

Capture the rich traditions of Day of the Dead, one of Mexico’s most time-honored holidays. Get immersed in the “comparsas,” parades of costumed children dancing through the streets of this historic city. Visit iconic graveyards where you will be able to live the experience first-hand with families and photograph seas of flickering candles and exquisitely marigold-laden graves.

Photograph the stunning street dances of the Etla Valley, the expressively painted faces of young and old, and timeless rituals against the evocative backdrops of graveyards, village homes, and ancient ruins.

Day of the Dead is the most stunning and eclectic celebrations of its kind in the world, and is deeply rooted in family tradition. We will visit three families, one dedicated to weaving, the other to candle making and the third to traditional dancing. Over the years, I have built a strong bond with these families and they have granted us access to photograph not only their altars, but also their family members.

This is not a tour, this is an intense photography workshop with over 15 shoots and daily lectures, edits and critiques designed not only to make you a better photographer but to also enable you to produce stunning imagery and beautiful memories to take home.

Highly visual lectures and demonstrations cover digital camera settings, accurate metering and exposure, low light shooting, creative use of movement and basic flash operation. You learn how to make pictures in the camera, not using Photoshop. The most important part of this learning experience is the critique sessions, where everyone’s photos are reviewed, analyzed and placed within each one’s individual story. The last night, a class slide show features each student’s vision of the week.

DATES

OCTOBER 28 TO NOVEMBER 4, 2023

GROUP SIZE

MAXIMUM 8

ACTIVITY LEVEL

LIGHT

What's Included

Hotel Accommodations

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR
7 NIGHTS AT BEAUTIFUL
HOSTAL DE LA NORIA.


Meals

ALL BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES,
AND 3 GROUP DINNERS.


Transportation

ALL TRANSPORTATION FOR
THE EXCURSIONS.

TUITION.


*Price is per person, single occupancy.

Airfare from/to your home cities, airport transfers, meals not listed above, alcohol, personal expenses, visas if required are not included.

A deposit of $ 500 is required to reserve your space.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Welcome to Oaxaca! Registration takes place at our campus, Hostal de La Noria, in Oaxaca City. You will have time to get settled into your room before we gather for cocktails, dinner and orientation.

Day 2

We have our first Lecture – Camera Settings and Composition in the morning. After lunch, we continue with our second Lecture – Managing Light and Flash. Late afternoon, we depart for our first shoot around the town and Santo Domingo Square, where kids from local schools will be parading and dancing as part of the famous comparsas.

Day 3

We start our day with our first critique followed by lunch. In the afternoon, we have our third Lecture – Visual Storytelling. From there, we will have amazing photographic opportunities at the Santo Domingo Museum & Church where locals congregate for more comparsas.

Day 4

Right after breakfast, we depart and photograph at the Day of the Dead Market in Mitla, followed by a remote flash practice at a local family’s altar. On your return to Oaxaca, you will select your images and get ready for your second photo critique. That night, we will be shooting in the Old Xoxocotlan Graveyard.

Day 5

We welcome a brand new day at the Atzompa, where a sea of candles illuminates the graveyard. Upon your return to the hotel, you will have the opportunity to rest and select your images for the afternoon photo critique. That night, we photograph the famous Etla comparsas where hundreds of locals dance in the streets in a myriad of bizarre costumes.

Day 6

You start your day with editing your images and preparing for the class critique. Right after lunch, you depart for Teotitlan del Valle, where we will photograph two artisanal families – one of weavers and another of candle makers. We will end the day shooting the town’s graveyard.

Day 7

This will be your last photo critique. After lunch, you will depart for San Antonio to photograph the town’s cemetery, where hundreds of graves have been carefully decorated with flowers for the annual competition. On your return, you will get ready for the class closing dinner and show.

Day 8

Airport departure