Tour Dates
5th - 8th January 2023
Duration
3 Nights | 4 Days
Group Size
Min 4 pax | Max 8 pax
Tour Price
Rs. 24,000/-
(Dual Occupancy)
Varanasi is considered as a spiritual capital of India, which attracts devotees from all around the world. It is an epicentre for holymen who majorly reside in their dedicated ashrams or on the Ghats of Ganga river. “The Holymen of Varanasi” Photography Tour is designed to highlight the life style of holymen/sadhus and Life on Ghats. The complete series of portrait shoot will be exclusively designed for the participants to get the best possible shot. This tour is one of a kind as the main highlight of this workshop is working close with Aghori sadhus of Varanasi.
Special Note: There might be change in the schedule depending upon the weather conditions and the availability of holymen.
01
Photographing artistic portraits of sadhus (holymen)
02.
Photographing real Aghori sadhus
03.
Exploring life on Ghats
04.
Complete editing workflow
This tour covers sadhus portraits and life on ghats street photography. If you want to build a strong portfolio of Varanasi and portraits of sadhus this tour is the right choice for you. We will also photograph real Aghori sadhus which are very rare to find. Even if you are a beginner you can join this tour as we have ‘Person Pre Tour Support’ which clears all level of difficulties before we begin the tour.
Ashish Kamble is professional photographer and educator working in photography industry since 2009 (13 years). He has trained more than 900 students (B.M.M & B.A.F.T.N.M.P) in his teaching career as a visiting faculty in colleges affiliated under Mumbai University and in his own Institution ‘LotusBeam School of Photography’. His teaching experience helps every tour participant to clear their doubts from basic to advance level. To add further support we have specially designed a Personal Pre Tour Support policy at no additional cost.
Our maximum group size is max 8 participants for this tour, which allows us to give personal individual attention. You will get proper technical guidance throughout the tour. Our mentor Ashish Kamble is working close with holymen of Varanasi since 2014, he is familiar with the locals and locations which will help us to get the perfect shot. We also cover post processing session which is an essential part of photography as it helps the participants to bring their visuals into reality. We make sure that you go back with a satisfying powerful portfolio.
Pre-Tour
If you are new to off camera flash photography an online lecture will be conducted before the the tour begins to clear all doubts without any extra charges. If any additional basic or advance query about the gear or technique they will be cleared via phone call to make sure you are technically prepared for the tour.
Post-Tour
After the tour finishes if you have any further doubts related to post processing we provide 3 hours 1-1 personal online support to clear all your doubts on prior appointment basis to every individual participant. Once a part of Ashish Kamble Photography and Tours you get a life time support to clear your general doubts related to photography on prior appointment basis.
Day 1:
Jan 5th
Meet Up and Ganga Arti
By afternoon, you have to directly reach at the hotel. After lunch, we will start with our presentation on the opportunities and photography techniques which needs to be followed for this tour. In evening we will explore the ghats and experience Ganga Arti.
Day 2:
Jan 6th
The Ghats of Varanasi and Portrait of Sadhus
Leave early in the morning to explore and photograph the life on the Ghats. Return to hotel and after breakfast review session on the images clicked. Later after resting we will leave again to shoot the beautiful lanes or Varanasi Ghats and portraits of sadhus.
Day 3:
Jan 7th
Boat Rides and Photographing the Aghori Sadhus
Today we will take an early boat ride on the ghats. On this day we will photograph real Aghori Sadhus. Availability of real Aghori sadhus totally depends upon our luck, if they are not available we will photograph other sadhus. We will finish our post processing session at night.
Day 4:
Jan 8th
Tour Ends Here
Early morning we will leave to explore the ghats which is optional. After breakfast we end our tour with beautiful memories and photos. Check out time will be at 10am.
Min 4 pax and Max 8 pax
Rs. 24,000/-
(Dual Occupancy)
* Single occupancy can be arranged at additional cost if required.
- Boat ride fare
- All meals, starting from Day 1 lunch to Day 4 Breakfast.
- All local transportation required during the tour
- Photography mentorship and on field assistance fees, Tour guide Fees, Sadhus Fees
- Photo review and Post Processing
- Additional beverages, snacks etc.
- Travel from your location to Varanasi.
- Anything that is not mentioned in the Inclusion list.
TOOLS/GEAR REQUIRED BY PARTICIPANTS:
DSLR or Mirror less camera
Wide, standard, short telephoto lens.
THINGS TO CARRY:
Personal hygiene and care products, Medicine etc.
14,000 needs to be paid to book your seat
10,000 needs to be paid 15 days prior to the tour date
CANCELLATION POLICY:
75% refund of full fees if cancellation is made 45 days prior to the date of the tour.
50% refund of full fees if cancellation is made 30 days prior to the date of the tour.
25% refund of full fees if cancellation is made 20 days prior to the date of the tour.
NO refund if cancellation is made 15 days prior to the date of the tour.
1) Does one needs to be fit to join your tour?
We suggest you to follow basic exercise/waking routine at least one month prior to the tour date as it involves a lot of walking while carrying your gear.
Decent hotels near the ghats with all basic amenities. Luxurious hotels can be arranged at an additional cost, but they will be far from our main spots, so the participant has to manage to reach on time.
We offer Veg and Non-Veg food on our tour, but at times due to non availability of non veg food on some location we might serve only veg food.
It involves a lot of walking as we are going to cover life on ghats and lanes of Varanasi. So be prepared to walk for longer duration.
They are full of life just like normal humans. There is no reason for you to be scared of them.
Hindi, English and Marathi.
- Participant(s)/Guardians should understand the risks involved in any long journey activities before enrolling.
- In case of any injury, sickness, accident, death or any other casualty or loss or damage of valuables or luggage or any equipment; organisers, volunteers or experts or any other person involved wholly or partially, either individually or jointly with Ashish Kamble Photography and Tours shall not be responsible in any manner for the same and no claims of participants, parents, guardians, relatives or friends of participants will be entertained.
- Any expenses for all medical treatment and arrangements made by the organisers for the participants will be solely borne by the participant.
- During the Workshop, the decision of authorised representative of Ashish Kamble Photography and Tour shall be final and binding on all participants.
- Please be courteous to your mentor and other participants for smooth stress free Tour experience. Any discomfort please share with the organiser, we will try our level best to solve it in our capacity.
- The participant should make the payment only once he has gone through all terms and condition and is willing to abide by them.
- Smoking and moderate consumption of alcohol during leisure time is allowed during the tour. We request you not to smoke when all participants are shooting on field or are in a common meeting room.
- Possession of illegal drugs, weapons and other illegal substances is strictly prohibited during the tour. If found breaking this Rule, participant will be expelled from the Workshop/Tour and NO REFUND will be provided.