FAROE ISLANDS 2021

If you're looking for an incredible photography destination in 2021, join Paul Zizka and Dave Brosha in the fantastical Faroe Islands for six days (five nights) of exploration and adventure.

Come let us help you take your landscape, night, and portrait photography skills to the next level! You'll get a chance to work closely with both of us as we tackle a variety of topics (primarily in the field, with some classroom learning and critiques) aimed at expanding your technical photo skills and your creative vision, all while soaking in the splendour of an incredible environment.

The Faroe Islands

Located between Iceland and Norway - a small archipelago of volcanic islands; a place that looks like someone mashed together Scotland + Greenland + Ireland + Iceland.

This will be a six-day workshop with a great group blending daytime landscape/nature (and even portrait!) photography with a night component. If you're looking to come explore an incredible country with a group of passionate people - well, we'd love to have you there!

Itinerary (note: subject to change as we finalize all details)

Day 1 - Monday, October 4 - Workshop starts mid-afternoon at about 3PM at our hotel on Vagar. Group introductions, overview, astrophotography presentations, field sunset session.

Day 2 - Tuesday, October 5 - Sunrise photography around Vagar, close to hotel, breakfast back at hotel, break, 2-hour classroom sessions just before dinner, dinner at Vagar Hotel, sunset session on Vagar.

Day 3 - Wednesday, October 6 - Transfer day to Gjogv with stop in scenic Saxon. Early dinner at Gjaargardur, sunset in northern Eysturoy, possibility of night session.

Day 4 - Thursday, October 7 - Sunrise somewhere near Gjogv, close to hotel, breakfast back at hotel, break, 2-hour classroom sessions just before dinner, early dinner at Gjaargardur, sunset session on northern Streymoy.

Day 5 - Friday, October 8 - Sunrise somewhere near Gjogv, close to hotel, breakfast back at hotel, break, 2-hour classroom sessions just before dinner, early dinner at Gjaargardur, sunset session on northern Streymoy, night session.

Day 6 - Saturday, October 9 - Final group breakfast.

The finer details:

Included:
- Daily instruction/mentoring by Paul Zizka and Dave Brosha
- All in-country accommodations + breakfast/dinner (alcohol exempt) during the dates of the workshop
- In-country transportation during duration of workshop (we have a number of rental vans secured)

Not Included:
- International Airfare (participants will need to be in Vagar, Faroe Islands for the start date of the workshop)
- Lunches. As this will be a workshop around late nights and early mornings, participants will have free time from late morning through late afternoon; as such, lunches aren't with the group and are "on own".

- Personal effects or alcoholic beverages
- Travel Insurance

Price/Payment Schedule:

Cost: CAD $5,250

Payment options: Full payment or $1500CAD non-refundable deposit to secure a space with three further installment payments:

Non-Refundable Deposit: CAD $1,500
Payment #2: CAD $1,250 - September 30, 2020
Payment #3: CAD $1,250 - February 28, 2021
Payment #4: CAD $1,250-  June 30, 2021

Note: failure to pay by payment due date means forfeiting deposit and spot will be freed up and potentially sold to another interested participant (see more in cancellation policy below).

If unforeseen circumstances arise, participants are welcome to transfer/sell their space to another interested participant.

Accommodations

Hotel Vágar

Gjáargarður - Guesthouse of Gjógv

Important note: this is not a "luxury" tour. While we feel you will find it very comfortable, please note that accommodations will be shared (two participants per room). We will do our best, however, to accomodate friends/spouses traveling together to ensure you room in the same cabin.

All accommodations during the duration of the workshop dates (from kick-off to final group breakfast) included.

Transportation

All in-country transportation from the time of the formal workshop kick-off at the hotel in Vagar (details of which to be sent to participants upn registration) to final group breakfast included/covered.

What to expect

The workshop is suitable for participants of all levels of experience in photography. Most locations will be readily accessible with drives/short hikes.

This event focuses primarily on landscape and outdoor photography, but participants are free to ask questions about and practice portrait photography as well. It is worth noting that the workshop will be quite intense in order to maximize field time. Participants are not expected to participate in every aspect of the workshop/tour. It’s up to you to get out as much as you like, though of course it is recommended you give it your all.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Both Dave and Paul preach and live the ethics of "leave no trace" photography, which means that the utmost care is given, while hiking and photographing, to leaving zero impact on the natural environment. Participants are expected to approach this tour with the same ethics at all times.

What to Bring

As this event is in October in the Faroes, there is the possibility of some very diverse weather conditions and cool temperatures, especially in the late evening and early mornings. Please come prepared for a variety of weather conditions as the more comfortable you are, the more enjoyable your experience will be.

Make sure to pack:

• suitable and comfortable clothing, which you can layer (including long underwear)
• warm jacket.
• waterproof jacket and pants
• hiking boots (we will be in potentially wet and rocky areas)
• warm hat
• a headlamp or flashlight
• gloves (try to find gloves that still allow you to operate your camera)
• your own camera equipment (preferably DSLR, which allows manual control of shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings and a range of lenses, if you have). Our recommended lenses to bring would be one wide angle lens with a fast aperture (useful for night photography) and a 70-200MM lens. Other lenses are useful, of course, but those two lenses were our most frequented "go-to" lenses.
• a sturdy tripod
• a cable (or wireless) shutter release
• a laptop for editing (with editing software, preferably Adobe)

As well, we optionally recommend:

• small first aid kit
• blister bandages
• water bottle

Cancellation and Insurance Policy


CANCELLATION:

Spots are non-refundable but are transferable, with the exception of  a $250 administration fee. For instance, we will provide a refund, minus the administration fee, if the participant is able to find someone else to take his or her spot and can sell/transfer the spot to a new participant. Please contact us at erin@offbeatphoto.ca to make arrangements.

Although extremely unlikely, OFFBEAT Photography Inc. reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time for a variety of reasons (i.e. if a minimum number of participants is not met or if unforeseen circumstances dramatically impacted cost of the tour or global conditions somehow warranted a cancellation). In the very unlikely event of a cancellation, all monies/deposits made to OFFBEAT Photography Inc. would be refunded to participants, however, no compensation would be made for participant flight cancellation fees or any other associated travel costs.

See Insurance Policy for more details.

INSURANCE: It is not only advised but required that workshop participants have trip cancellation/interruption insurance, as well as emergency medical/illness insurance and rescue coverage (proof required within 4 months of departure).Weather and other unforeseen factors can cause delays in travel, particularly from some of our more remote locations. It is the participant’s responsibility to cover any costs in the case of a travel delay of any length. Please ensure your trip cancellation/interruption insurance accommodates this possibility. By purchasing a spot you are acknowledging that you accept these conditions.

Travel Visa

It is the participant's responsibility to ensure they have a valid Travel Visa (if applicable/required) for the duration of the workshop.