BANDOLERO COUNTRY ON HORSEBACK
A wonderful opportunity to experience and photograph the spectacular and rugged mountains of the Serrania de Ronda, home to some of Spain’s most notorious bandoleros. You will enjoy expansive views from the mountains down to the sea and across to Africa; ancient forests and mountain streams; white villages; a variety of scenery whilst the horses take the strain of the historic paths and tracks that we shall follow.
There will be no more boring travel slide shows that your friends will shy away from. The skills that we teach you will allow you to develop the art of creating compelling photographic narratives of your travels.
Sue Callister – an exhibiting international fine art photographer, will beguile you with her creative knowledge and passion for the medium. She is an accomplished horsewoman in her own right.
Karen Considine – owner/operator of Ride Andalucia (Gaucin) our guide and expert horsewoman for the week, has been involved with horses all her life and is highly knowledgeable about the area. She will regale you with information and stories of the places we visit.
Alberto Saro – photographer and accomplished chef, will help with technical issues. He will guide you to better understand your cameras and how to to use them to their full potential. Additionally, he will delight your taste buds by creating delectable dishes using local produce.
For those partners not interested in riding we are able to arrange wonderful half day walks along some very interesting and scenic routes with photographic tuition in the afternoons.
During the course of the 4 days of riding we will be stopping to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by these varied and beautiful landscapes; from wide panoramas of mountains to the sea and valley vistas of cork and chestnut forests. You may take intimate portraits of trees and streams and studies of ruins and water mills.
Our objective will be to learn how to document and create a story of our trip/adventure.
It is not the quantity of photographs that we take but the quality. We enjoy the places we encounter through seeing and feeling, so using that seeing and feeling we will create lasting imagery in our photographs.
Included In Workshop: 6 nights accommodation, transfers to/from Malaga airport at stated times, all meals were stated (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner at stated places), all transport to scheduled events, horses, guidance and tuition.
Accommodation: Single occupancy with en suite bathroom in a countryside villa. Beautiful views and peaceful gardens create a wonderful environment in which to gather your thoughts and prepare for each days adventure.
Not included: Travel to and from Malaga airport, meals and drinks were not stated, travel insurance
Arrival (DAY 1, D)
Transfer from Malaga.
You will enjoy Introductory drinks and a welcome dinner with your guides/tutors/hosts Sue, Alberto and Karen.
Smugglers Trail (DAY 2, BLD)
After breakfast we take a short drive to our horses where we will start the first leg of
our adventure from the Cortijo La Almuña at the base of Gaucin. We will ride through ancient forests and along the smugglers’ trail, a narrow path that leads us to the famous white village of Gaucin, the balcony of the Sierras, looking south to the Mediterranean and Africa. We will stop at a fascinating ruined farm with wonderful photographic opportunities.
We ride into the village to enjoy a lunch of tapas in a friendly local bar.
Introduction to camera controls and photo editing software.
Alberto will prepare dinner, guests are invited to attend and learn to cook some spanish dishes.
Road to Cortes (DAY 3, BLD)
Today we leave the expansive vistas behind and travel down into the cork forest towards the valley of the Guadiaro river. The “old road to Cortes”, once stained with the blood of many civil war ambushes, is now a hidden path winding steeply down. Interesting light and shadows filtering through the ancient trees provide us with challenging photographic opportunities. Alberto meets us with a picnic lunch.
After a rest we will review the photographs that we took and discuss the different light situations and how to cope with them. We will also look at how we start to create a compelling photographic narrative. Further review of camera controls.
Dinner
Genal River (DAY 4, BL)
Our ride today takes down the to the Genal river to a beautiful old mill house where woollen blankets and garments are woven and loomed in the old fashioned way. A wonderful opportunity to explore the photographic possibilities offered by the old machinery and processes. Lunch prepared by Alberto will be back at the house.
After lunch we will polish up on our techniques for camera work.
For dinner tonight we leave you to your own devices. We will be more than happy to make suggestions.
Old Gibraltar Road (DAY 5, BLD)
Our ride today descends along the old road to Gibraltar which takes the same route as the village ‘Romeria’. This is the day when the local saint is carried by the whole village once a year to a sacred spot. The saint is of course flanked by Andalucian horsemen with their girls riding pillion wearing their bright ‘flamenco’ dresses. Down on the river the water sparkles, and the water birds and turtles enjoy the freshness of the green sandy banks of the Genal. Then, turning uphill once again, we climb back onto a high ridge trail with fabulous views in every direction that leads us back to La Almuña in time for lunch.
After lunch we will go over all of the items we have learnt. There will be a Q & A session.
Wrapping it up (DAY 6, BLD)
Today we will review all the images we have taken, explore some of the software and finesse how we tell a photographic story. We will bring together all the elements that we have learnt during the week to create an exciting narrative of the 4 days’ ride through the Sierra.
For our final evening together Alberto will prepare another gourmet dinner to excite your taste buds.
Farewell (DAY 7, B)
Breakfast and transfers to Malaga airport.
* All horse riders must be reasonably fit and able to control a well trained horse at walk trot and canter in open country. Transfers for non riders.
** Due to weather or unforeseen circumstances we may have to change the order of visits but will endeavour to cover all of the areas that we have outlined in the itinerary