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©2019 by Dan Burkholder
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Rural traditions, medieval towns and a rich cultural heritage
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May 9 - 18, 2024
with Dan Burkholder Uncover the hidden face of Romania — the bucolic Maramures region, mostly untouched by the modern world. This is Europe from the past. Time moves at its own pace and local people preserve an old way of life with honored traditions, handcrafted goods and a strong village community. You'll find yourself enjoying personal contact with the Romanian people in their homes, the village workshops and the working farms. Our visit in Transylvania will include medieval castles, picturesque landscapes and the complex heritage mix of Romanian, German, Gypsy and Hungarian cultures. And, of course, no visit to Romania would be complete without a visit to Bran Castle with its connection to the mythical Dracula.
Accommodations will be in family guesthouses and smaller villages when possible, offering a more traditional experience and easy access to exceptional photographic settings. While traveling throughout the countryside, our group will enjoy a roomy, air conditioned private bus. Every day and evening will be filled with photo opportunities, both planned and unexpected as unique travel experiences present themselves. All types of digital photography are embraced: DSLRs, iPhones and mirrorless cameras are all welcome. Dan Burkholder, master photographer, artist and photographic innovator, promotes a lightweight approach to image making where you can shoot with any digital camera that allows you to transfer images to your iPhones and iPads. You’ll discover the joy of editing on your iPhone during lunch or on your iPad in the middle of the night — a dream for the travel photographer! Joining Dan will be Jill Skupin Burkholder and Daniel Rosca, a Romanian photographer and guide, whose expertise will keep the expedition flowing smoothly. Daniel coordinates all aspects of the trip, ensuring that the days are packed with local experiences that show the full character of the country. All three group leaders will be at your side providing photographic know-how, experience and a light-hearted approach to sharing friendship and making memories during this photographic adventure. |
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What will you learn in this workshop? Click here to read more about Dan's "all day-every day" approach to photo instruction. Trip OverviewThe photo tour will begin in the north Romania city of Cluj-Napoca on Thu. evening, May 9th. We'll gather for the first dinner with our group. The next morning we begin our travel to the Maramures with its authentic, agrarian customs. We'll witness authentic village life with farmers working in the fields, potters and woodcrafters making their wares.
Three nights will be at the family-run, rural guesthouse in Vadu Izei while we fill our days visiting a variety of locations including small villages; the "Merry Cemetery" of Sapanta (unique for its crosses with lively colors and comical poems of the deceased); the nearby town, Sighet, known for its large Jewish community in the past and a former communist prison, now an interesting museum. The charming town of Sibiu is our next location for two nights as we explore Transylvania, Romania's region heavy with medieval architecture, imposing fortresses and history. Moving on to our next guesthouse, we take advantage of two sunrises in Viscri, capturing villagers wandering the streets with small milk carts or gathering cows being led to the pastures. The traditional, colorful, historic buildings are bathed in the morning's early light. The final travel day takes us to Bran Castle, famous for its association with Dracula, and an outside shoot of the imposing castle with the distant mountains. An afternoon in Bucharest's Old Town ends our stay as we prepare to head home on Saturday, May 18th. The itinerary is subject to change but will always be planned for the best photographic opportunities. For a friendly relaxed atmosphere and to provide lots of individual attention, the group is limited to 10 participants. The photo tour cost is $4950. YOUR FLIGHTS TO ROMANIA Be sure you are looking for flights from Bucharest, Romania, and not Budapest, Hungary. It's an easy mistake to make! This tour begins in Cluj and ends in Bucharest. If you decide to get a round trip from your home to Bucharest, there are lots of reasonably priced, daily flights on the Romanian airline, Tarom, from Bucharest to Cluj. You can buy a one way ticket from Bucharest to Cluj-Napoca at a time that works for you. If you begin your trip by flying directly to Cluj, be sure your return trip departs from Bucharest. If you are traveling through multiple airports, be sure your schedule has plenty of time between connections. Try to allow 2 hours between flights so you have some time to adjust to any travel delays. |
Included: • Nine nights lodging and 10 days of photographic instruction • Various entrance fees and shooting opportunities • Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned bus • All Breakfasts • 3 Lunches and 7 Dinners (listed in the itinerary) • Bottled water • Fluent, English-speaking local guide • Transfers to and from the airport Not included: • Passport • Airfares and related taxes or fees to and from Romania • Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages • Personal expenses, services, or purchases • Transportation after the workshop ends • Travel/cancellation Insurance which includes Overseas Medical Care and Evacuation (available from your travel agent) 
Hidden Romania May. 9 -18, 2024 - DEPOSITMay 9-18, 2024 — Photo workshop to rural Romania and Transylvania with Dan Burkholder. Explore the charming villages of the Maramures region with its traditional way of life. The full cost of the trip is $4950. Balance is due March 10, 2024. Trip is limited to 10 participants. Send your deposit today to hold a spot or email for more information.
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Prerequisites
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We require Travel/Cancellation Insurance that includes Overseas Medical Care and Evacuation (available from your travel agent or agencies like Travelguard.com and TravelInsure.com). Many policies offered by credit cards do not include these options so be sure that you are medically covered for your trip. We strongly encourage that you be up-to-date with any recommended vaccinations including for COVID.
Bring lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes good for exploring both urban and rural settings. Any camera is welcome — from DSLR to Mirrorless to iPhone. iPhones and iPads should be newer models that can run iOS version 16.x or 17.x (coming in September, 2023) because these models make it much easier for us to share images during classroom critiques and lessons. A month before departure, you will receive additional detailed information to help you prepare for your adventure. From camera gear advice to packing suggestions, you’ll get lots of guidance to ensure your trip is one of learning and image making instead of headaches and hassles. |
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Payment and Cancellation Policy
Hold your spot with a $1200 deposit with the balance due March 10. If you need to cancel before March 10, $600 will be refunded. Because of advanced planning, if the cancellation is within 60 days of the workshop start date, we will not be able to refund any of the workshop fee.
On the unlikely chance that we need to cancel the workshop for any reason, you will be refunded the entire workshop price.
Rooms are based on double occupancy and all have private baths. If you prefer a single room, there is one fee of $450. We will make every effort to connect you with a roommate should you like to share a room. However, if we’re unable to make a match, the single supplement fee will apply. Let us know early if you have difficulty with stairs or have other special needs.
On the unlikely chance that we need to cancel the workshop for any reason, you will be refunded the entire workshop price.
Rooms are based on double occupancy and all have private baths. If you prefer a single room, there is one fee of $450. We will make every effort to connect you with a roommate should you like to share a room. However, if we’re unable to make a match, the single supplement fee will apply. Let us know early if you have difficulty with stairs or have other special needs.
The learning never stops in this workshop. When shooting in the field, I can help you with camera questions and offer invaluable suggestions on lens selection and composition. I think you’ll appreciate help with the “whys” of photography in addition to the more common “hows.” We also have a number of class/image review sessions planned during our trip. In these sessions we’ll review your images (both praising great photos and making valuable suggestions for capturing even better images the next time) and cover powerful — yet easy — image editing techniques on our iPhones and iPads. From simple, $1.99 apps to Lightroom Mobile, you'll learn the best ways to organize and edit your Romanian photos. Yes, you can shoot with any camera (from iPhone to Compact, to Mirrorless, to DSLR) as long as you can transfer your images to your iOS device (iPhone or iPad) for editing, stylizing and sharing. I’ve taught this Modern Workflow approach during many trips abroad and students have found it a refreshing, lightweight approach that lets them leave their heavy laptop at home. You’ll be delighted with how easy you can review and edit your images during our bus rides to and from locations. You’ll smile when you wake up at 3 am with fresh ideas on how to improve a photo...all done while laying flat on your back! And you’ll be amazed at how easily we can share images for review and for our final (and always amazing) Slide Shows at the journey’s end. If you’ve ever taken one of my workshops, you know I am passionate and generous about sharing both techniques and philosophies for image making. You can always seek me out for any kind of photo assistance, whether in the field or back in our hotels; we really are going to bask in photography for these 10 days. Once you’re registered for the workshop, you’ll receive information-filled pdfs that will help you prepare for the adventure. From camera/lens selection tips to electrical plug adaptors to GPS app suggestions (that will work in Romania with no expensive data plan required), you’ll find answers to all your questions. And if you still have questions, we’ll find the answer so that your trip is one of happy discoveries and not worrisome uncertainties. Jill and I want to make this a photo-and-memory making experience that will bring a smile to your face in years to come as you cherish your photos and the new friends you made in Romania. As always, please email me with any questions about this thrilling photo excursion to Romania. It’s going to be an epically creative time for us all! |
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