The Exotic Silk Road 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY INVESTIGATION
The Exotic Silk Road Photo Tour
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UZBEKISTAN KYTGYZSTAN KAZAKHSTAN
MAY 21 - JUNE 5, 2019
Registan Square in Samarkand This is one of the highlights of the tour.
The Exotic Silk Road 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY INVESTIGATION
The Silk Road Photo Tour - 16 Days US$9450 An invitation from Peter Eastway...
On the following pages, you can read a brief synopsis of what Mehmet has planned.
4 Travel photographers understand only too well the excitement of visiting a new country and
I have not visited these locations before. Mehmet
searching for photographic opportunities.
has. However, I have travelled through Turkey, Georgia and Armenia with Mehmet and trust
So I know you will understand my personal
his judgment. And take a look at the photos in
excitement when long time friend and European
this brochure, all taken by Mehmet in between
photo guide Mehmet Ozbalci suggested we visit
offering his clients wonderful service and amazing
the Silk Road and three new countries!
experiences.
Uzbekistan. Kytgyzstan. Kazakhstan.
I need 6 intrepid photographers to accompany us in 2019 (maximum number is 8 or 9 with a
Or the ‘three Stans’ as Mehmet calls them.
partner) to make it happen.
The Silk Road itself conjurs up visions of ancient
Do you have a sense of adventure? Would you like
trails and medieval discoveries. Ours will be just
to add the three Stans to your passport?
a small segment of the western end. After all, we only have 16 days, so rather than spending them
Bookings and further inquiries via email to Kim
all travelling, the idea is to experience as much of
Valenti - kim@betterphotography.com
the three Stans as we can in some detail.
Eagle hunter in Kyrgyzstan All Photos by our Guide, Mehmet Ozbalci
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The Travel Program 6
MAY 21: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN
interesting bazaars in Central Asia, offering a
Arrival in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. You will
tremendous amount of people photography.
be met at the airport and taken to the hotel. In the afternoon, we will photograph the colourful
Next to the bazaar is the Bibi Hanim Mosque, built
Chorsu Market, where the local people shop for
in the 15th century. It’s an impressive photogenic
almost anything and everything, including fruit,
building with a great big blue dome. We will
vegetables, meat, bread, dried fruits, textiles,
then photograph Shakhi Zinda, which was once
brooms, baskets etc... This is a great opportunity
the burial place of the noble and elite people.
to photograph people.
There are several mausoleums built in the 15th century in this complex and it is still an important
In the late afternoon, we will photograph the
pilgrimage site. There are great opportunities
impressive Khasti Imam religious complex in the
to photograph the pilgrims with beautiful
old city. Dinner and overnight in a 4 star hotel.
backgrounds of blue tiled walls.
MAY 22: SAMARKAND
We will then go to the Registan Square which is a
In the morning, we will take the fast train to
real jewel in the heart of the old city. Our hotel in
Samarkand, the ancient capital of Tamerlane (an
Samarkand is a 4 star superior hotel.
enjoyable train trip of 2 hours). MAY 23: SAMARKAND In the afternoon, we will photograph the
In the morning, we will drive outside of
colourful Siab Bazaar where you will see women
Samarkand to photograph the agricultural fields
in colourful local dresses. This is one of the most
with people working, then to a small village with
Women of Samarkand All photos by Mehmet Ozbalci
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a workshop making traditional silk paper, using
impressive domed buildings and minarets of
the bark of mullberry trees. We can photograph
Bukhara at dawn, then back to the hotel for
the people working in the paper making process.
breakfast and time to rest.
In the late afternoon, we will visit and photograph
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the Gur Amir Mausoleum where Tamerlane and
In the afternoon, we will visit and photograph
his descendants were buried.
a blacksmith workshop and keep exploring the old city. Dinner will be in an old medresah
MAY 24: BUKHARA
with a show of Uzbek traditional clothes and a
We drive to Bukhara which was once the largest
performance of local dancers. It’s an ideal place to
commercial and religious center on the Great
photograph the models in traditional dress.
Silk Road. There will be some possibilities to photograph people carrying weeds and different
MAY 26: KHIVA
items on their donkeys and carts.
We drive to Khiva through the Kyzylkum Desert, with a stop in the desert to photograph the
In Bukhara we will take a walking tour in the
square-shaped ‘sand stoppers’.
old city, including the domed bazaars, Poi Kalon religious ensemble and medresahs. Dinner will
We arrival in Khiva in the late afternoon. Khiva is
be in the house of a family where one room is
a one thousand year old fortress city, with its old
converted into a cosy restaurant. They will show
section well preserved. It is also one of the most
us how to make the traditional Uzbek dish of
interesting cities in Central Asia for photography.
“pilav”. We will stay in a 4 star hotel in the heart of
We will photograph Khiva in the afternoon from
the old city.
one of the towers. Our hotel is 4 star hotel.
MAY 25: BUKHARA
MAY 27: TASHKENT
Early in the morning, we will photograph the
In the morning, we will be out to photograph a
The beautifully preserved Khiva An old fortress city
The Exotic Silk Road 2019
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number of interesting spots including a mosque
photograph a typical Central Asian market, the
with wooden columns, an old graveyard with the
Osh Bazaar.
city walls in the background. In the afternoon,
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we will drive to the airport for the flight back to
MAY 30: ISSYK KUL
Tashkent.
This morning, we will drive to the Issyk Kul, surrounded by snow capped mountains and
MAY 28: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN
nomadic villages. It is also one of the largest
We will have time to rest in the morning in
alpine lakes in the world.
Tashkent and then we will fly to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. Arrival in Bishkek, dinner and
On the way, we will photograph the old
overnight in a 4 star superior hotel.
settlement of Burana, with remains of a blue tiled minaret and tomb stones. In the late afternoon,
MAY 29: BISHKEK
we will have a chance of photographing the Issyk
Drive out of Bishkek to photograph nomads
Lake. Our hotel is a charming boutique hotel.
making and selling Kymyz, which is a national health drink made of horse milk (it might be
MAY 31: BISHKEK
healthy, but it has a strong, distinct taste)! Then
In the morning we will see felt making, then we
we will photograph the horse milking process at
will photograph the traditional nomadic horse
a horse farm. Local people go to this farm to buy
games played with a goat carcass and hunting
and drink fresh horse milk.
with eagles. These will be privately arranged only for our group. It is great photography with really
This area offers great landscape photo
interesting backgrounds. In the afternoon, we will
opportunities as well, with snow capped
drive back to Bishkek.
mountains, nomadic people, huge herds of sheep and goats. In the afternoon, we will explore and
Osh Bazaar All photos by our guide, Mehmet Ozbalci
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JUNE 1: ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
for one hour. We will also see the spot where it is
Drive to Almaty, Kazakhstan by crossing the
believed that Ghenhis Khan and his troops set up
border outside of Bishkek. Almaty was the
their yurts and cooked. Overnight in a guesthouse
capital of Kazakhstan during Soviet times and it
with bathroom and WC for common use.
is a beautiful city surrounded by snow capped mountains. The name of the city comes from
JUNE 3: ALMATY
“Alma Ata” which means big apple or father of
Departure for Almaty. On the way, we will stop
apples. Apples are native to this area.
at the Charyn Canyon, a unique natural complex offering wonderful views and great photo-ops.
After proceeding to our hotel, in the afternoon
The Valley of the Castles is full of interesting
we will explore the colourful Green Bazaar where
sedimentary rock formations. Our hotel is a 4 star
the local people sell fruit, vegetables and meat.
hotel with a great view over the city.
We will then have time to photograph Zenkov Cathedral with its typical Russian architectural
JUNE 4: ALMATY
style. It is one of the tallest wooden buildings in
Drive to the scenic Assy Plateau, located outside
the world. Overnight in a 4 star hotel.
of Almaty at an altitude of almost 6000 ft. We will be using 4WD vehicles to get there. This is where
JUNE 2: SINGING DUNES
we will see and photograph nomads herding
Drive by 4WD vehicles to reach the most
their animals and living in their yurts. The drive
photogenic sites in the Kazakh National Park. In
to the plateau and through the plateau offers
the late afternoon, we will photograph “Singing
breathtaking views.
Dunes” which is a three mile long, about 200 ft high area of sand hills offering very photogenic
JUNE 5: DAY OF DEPARTURE
desert scenes. On the way to the Singing Dunes,
Transfer to the Almaty airport and flight back.
we drive through the immense Kazakh steppes
Singing Dunes, Kazakh N. P. Some dunes are over 200 feet high
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How Do You Like To Learn? 14
Everyone has different ways of learning. For some,
to do is ask. Importantly, you will never be made
it is sitting back and watching an expert at work,
to feel silly because you asked a basic question -
noting how he or she positions and uses the
chances are others in the group don’t know the
camera, reacts to the light and the weather, or
answer either!
interacts with people to achieve the best posing and expression.
Peter will be shooting as well. He is just as passionate as you are about photography. He also
Others like to be given suggestions, to understand
feels it is important to practice what he preaches
what the experts are seeing and thinking, and
and to show participants what he has captured as
then left to experiment and discover on their own.
the tour/workshop progresses.
They are looking for guidance, but not too much. However, he is very aware that his primary role is And yet other photographers like to be shown
to act as your instructor and guide. And he wants
how to find the photograph, how to compose
you to return on other workshops and trips, which
the image and what camera settings are required.
you will only do if you are happy.
They want help with their camera controls and detailed instructions on how to frame and
So, please don’t be shy to ask for help at any time
compose.
and it will be cheerfully provided with a smile!
Different photographers at different stages require different levels of assistance and that’s fine! Peter provides all three levels of interaction, all you have
Nomadic horse game Called Kokpar in Kyrgyzstan
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How Physical Is It?
Bring Your Partner
You don’t need to be super fit to enjoy this
Non-photography partners are most welcome
photography tour. If you can walk along well
to come along, but they will be expected to
maintained tracks, you should have no trouble on
participate on most of the activities. Sometimes
the Silk Road.
we may leave early to take photographs, and then continue on to our next destination.
However, there will be some walking involved when we leave the hotels or the vehicles to get to
However, there will be some mornings when we
the best photographic locations.
will return to the hotel, so if your partner wanted to sleep in, that would certainly be okay!
Sometimes we will only be walking a few hundred metres. Most of the time it is no more than a
What we find is that non-partners really appreciate
kilometre or so.
our itinerary. Rather than being centred around meal times, it’s based on experiencing the
The weather will also determine what walks
countryside and what it has to offer. It’s a varied
are possible, but at this time of year, we’re not
and exciting program, and whether you’re using a
expecting there to be any major difficulties!
camera or not, the experiences will last a lifetime.
Zenkov Cathedral Almaty Kazakhstan
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Peter Eastway G.M. Photog., MNZIPP, Hon FAIPP, HFNZIPP, FAIPP
photography competitions, both as a judge and as an active participant. He judges and speaks
Sydney-based photographer Peter Eastway
internationally on a regular basis.
is a Grand Master of Photography and a two time winner of the AIPP Australian Professional
Peter’s work has been published internationally
Photographer of the Year. Known best for his
in photography and travel magazines, and he
landscape and travel photography, he has worked
was also the author of the Lonely Planet’s Guide
in most areas of the profession and also loves
to Landscape Photography. His photography has
sport, studio still life, portraiture and wildlife.
featured on the cover of the Lonely Planet’s guide to Australia, an Australian postage stamp, in
Peter is the editor and publisher of Better
articles in the Qantas inflight magazine, and in an
Photography magazine and website, a position
Apple television commercial. And he has worked
that has given him special access to many of
with Phase One researching and promoting its
the world’s leading photographers over the past
Capture One raw processing software, and with
30 years. His ability to communicate both the
Adobe on its Lightroom software.
technical and aesthetic sides of photography makes him a sought after speaker on the
In 2015 he featured in the National Geographic
international circuit.
Channel’s Tales By Light six-part photography series produced in partnership with Canon.
Peter was the chairman of the Canon AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards for
He is familiar with Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and
many years and is still involved in all aspects of
Phase One camera systems.
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Camera Equipment For The Expedition
Checklist Here’s an incomplete list of some of the things you may need.
Recommended Camera Stuff
Peter is not an equipment snob! Yes, he uses
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DSLR or CSC camera recommended
professional equipment, but that’s his full time
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Standard zoom - cover everything
job.
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Wide-angles - as wide as you have
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Telephoto - 300mm is not too long, but a 70200mm is pretty good too!
So, whether you turn up with the latest DSLR or an older camera you’ve loved for many years, it
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1.4X or 2.0X Converter
really doesn’t matter. However, there are some
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Spare camera battery & battery charger
lenses and accessories that will certainly help you
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Backpack style camera bag
capture a wider range of photographs.
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Tripod (with a quick release plate)
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Plenty of storage cards for your camera
We do recommend you bring everything you
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Polarising filter
think you might need, but not so much you
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Neutral density filters (0.9x, 4.0x optional)
can’t carry it with you. You will be able to leave
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Card reader and cable if necessary
equipment behind in the hotel at any time.
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Laptop computer (Mac or PC)
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External back-up drives
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Photoshop, Lightroom or Capture One
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Mouse or stylus/tablet
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Hat, sunscreen
Bukhara blacksmith at work Photo by Mehmet Ozbalci
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The Exotic Silk Road 2019
TERMS AND CONDITIONS 22
These terms and conditions relate to the photography tours and workshops organised by Pt 78 Pty Ltd [Pt78], ABN 75 003 152 136, trading as Better Photography, and run by Peter Eastway, the workshop leader, in association with Mehmet Ozbalci of Turfantastik Tours, Turkey.
RESERVATIONS Bookings can be made on the Better Photography website at www.betterphotography.com in the online shop, or you can email Kim Valenti at kim@betterphotography.com, or call her on +612 4388 6851. The workshops are limited to a maximum of 8 participants (plus the workshop leaders). A mininum of 6 participants is required for the workshop to run. Workshop places will be confirmed in order of receipt, payment or deposit.
PRICE The Exotic Silk Road Photo Tour - 16 days 21 May – 5 June 2019 US $ 9,450 Single Room Supplement: US $ 1,100 Deposit to secure place US $ 500 The price includes photographic counsel and all transport ex-Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
PRICE INCLUDES/EXLUDES: • Accommodation in double/twin rooms in the kind of hotels as described in the itinerary. • All breakfasts, lunches and dinners as
per itinerary. • Water, tea or regular coffee, soft drinks (like Coke, Fanta, mineral water, fruit juice in the can) at lunches and dinners. • All admission fees to the museums and places to visit in the itinerary. • English speaking photo guide and local guides. • Comfortable A/C van, driver, gas, parking etc.. • International flight from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan. • Domestic flight from Khiva to Tashkent. • Fast trian from Tashkent to Samarkand • Bottled water in the vehicle. • Private arrangement for photo shooting as in the itinerary. • 4WD vehicles as per itinerary • Arrival and departure airport transfers only on the official start and departure days of the tour (21 May and 5 June). The order of the visits and sites to photograph, as well as the itinerary, can be changed depending on the circumstances like weather, light, crowd, availability, closing / opening hours, domestic flight schedule etc… The price does not include: international air fare to Tashkent, tips to the bell boys at hotels, gratuities to the local guide and the driver, travel insurance.
DEPOSIT & PAYMENT Payment details are as follows: 1. A deposit upon booking to reserve your place of US $500 (or equivalent in AUS$). 2. Final payment by 19 January 2019.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS Should you wish to cancel your booking, you must advise us in writing (email is fine). We try to have a fair refund policy that works for both you and us: • Deposits are refundable, up to 90 days prior to the event. If you don’t request a refund of your deposit 90 days out or longer, we will assume you wish to come and the full balance is payable. • if you are cancelling more than 90 days from the workshop date, we will refund your deposit in full; • if the workshop is not full and, after your cancellation, we still have the minimum number of bookings to run, we will refund your deposit in full; • if the workshop is full, and we have turned away other customers, and you are cancelling within 90 days of the workshop date, we won’t refund you unless your place is filled by someone else; • if after you cancel your booking the workshop numbers fall below the minimum number required to run, and you are cancelling within 90 days, we won’t refund you.
The Exotic Silk Road 2019
No part refunds are made for unused portions or services of a workshop.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS The workshop is designed to be suitable for people of all ages in good health and moderate fitness. While activities are not strenuous, on some workshops we may be taking hikes for several kilometres on tracks in National Park and wilderness areas, which may involve short steep descents and climbs. We will comply with the National Parks’ safety requirements, but these are wilderness areas and you need to be careful when you are in them. It will be necessary to carry your own camera equipment and water for these activities. Should you have any concerns about your own capabilities and/or fitness, please contact your doctor to discuss before booking your place. You are required to disclose any medical or physical condition that you have which could create a risk for you or any other participants. We assume no responsibility for medical care nor guarantee to meet any special dietary requirements.
INSURANCE: We have public liability insurance, but we have no insurance for par ticipants, their health, their equipment or personal belongings. We strongly advise you to obtain your own insurances suitable for your needs.
LIMITED LIABILITY As we are a small company, we are not in a position to insure your travel arrangements with Turfantastik Tours. If Turfantastik Tours were unable to provide the services for which you have contracted and paid, Pt78 will not be liable to you for any loss you incur. We strongly suggest you take out travel insurance. In such an unlikely event, we would naturally refund the tuition component of the course. We are not opting out of our responsiblities to you, only those over which we have no control. We are asking you to take the same risk you would were you to book your travel directly with Turfantastik Tours.
RESPONSIBILITY The responsibility of Pt78 is strictly limited. As a tour/workshop operator, Pt78 may organise, promote, and sell programs consisting of services that it purchases from various suppliers. Pt78 does not own or operate any of these suppliers and as such is not responsible for any negligent or wilful act or failure or omission of any supplier. By taking part in the tour/workshop, you agree that Pt78 shall not be liable for the above failings. Pt78 cannot accept responsibility for losses or extra expenses caused by, but not limited to, delay or changes in any transportation services, weather, illness, injury, strike, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses will be the sole responsibility of the participant. Pt78 reserves the right to cancel any workshop prior to commencement,
whereupon paid funds will be refunded in full, but is not liable for any other trip preparation expenses such as, but not limited to, air ticket penalties, visa fees and medical treatments. Pt78 reserves the right to substitute accommodations (if any) of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary or transport where deemed necessary. Where weather conditions or forces of nature restrict or prohibit workshop activities, it reserves the right to alter the trip program and substitute alternative activities. Prior to commencement of any workshop, an Acceptance of Risk Release form is a term of sale. The Acceptance of Risk release must be agreed to by each participant prior to the commencement of the workshop. No alterations to the Acceptance of Risk Release will be accepted. If a participant attends a workshop without signing an Acceptance of Risk Release, their attendance confirms their acceptance of all parts of these Terms and Conditions, and the Acceptance of Risk Release. These Terms and Conditions, and the Acceptance of Risk release, shall be governed in all respects by and interpreted in accordance with the law within New South Wales, Australia. That’s it! Any special requests, please let us know beforehand!
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PHOTOGRAPHY INVESTIGATION
The Exotic Silk Road Photo Tour UZBEKISTAN KYTGYZSTAN KAZAKHSTAN MAY 21 - JUNE 5, 2019 For more information and bookings, contact Peter Eastway at eastway@betterphotography.com or his assistant Kim Valenti - kim@betterphotography.com