A trip to Japan is an unforgetable experience. Join acclaimed photographer Marc Koegel for this exclusive small group workshop to the land of the rising sun.

This workshop is not a tour, it is a workshop. Marc will be working with you closely in the field, discussing techniques, composition and creative opportunities that each location visited together affords. You and your unique personal photographs created are the focus of this workshop, and you control just how much support and help you desire. Marc will be there for you, not to make his own photographs!

This will be a very small group workshop with a maximum of 6 participants only.

There are 2 workshop itineraries to choose from. A 9 day itinerary that begins and finishes in Osaka, and an 8 day itinerary that begins in Tokyo and finishes in Osaka (with an option to return to Tokyo by high speed train).

Both itineraries include famous sites such as Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks), as well as the Kyoto area and Lake Biwa. Read below for more informatioin about how each itinerary provide unique photographic opportunities.

THIS workshop listing is for the 9 day itinerary that begins and ends in Osaka. If you're looking for the workshop that begins and ends in Tokyo please visit this link

For this workshops we will meet at the Star Gate Hotel Kansai Airport. There is a free shuttle from Kansai International Airport, or take a 5 minute train ride.

Meting in Osaka will allow us ample time to work on seascapes, including several torii gates located in the ocean. Our route passes by incredible bridges, and takes us as far as the city of Matsue (Shimane Prefecture) where we will photograph several torii's and even a hidden waterfall. Another highlight will be our visit to the famous Hashiguiiwa Rocks, which we will be able to photograph at sunset as well as sunrise (it's only a 3 minute walk from our hotel there).

Our journey includes a visit to the Futamiokitama Shrine and its famous Meoto Iwa (wedded rocks), passing by several oppotunities to photograph seaweed farms. We will stay closeby so as to have the opportunity to photograph for both sunset and sunrise. Traveling to Kyoto we will spend 2 nights photographing at various locations including the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Shirahige Shrine, Ukimido (floating hall) and several other stops along Lake Biwa.

The small group will allow us to be extremely flexible and quick to move around.

You will be encouraged to work on a personal body of work, created with the help of Marc. Frequent reviews of our work provide encouragement and time relevant feedback that wil help you create your best work.

This workshop is geared for you to create personally meaningful work using whatever techniques suitable and *not* limited to black and white and / or long exposure photography.

This workshop is offered as a (almost) fully inclusive experience. Single occupancy rooms, and all transportation including ferry service is included. Meals are not included.

Please contact Marc Koegel directly with any questions / comments.

Japan is a vast and unforgettable visual playground for photographers - A perfect location for an in-depth workshop!

Marc Koegel is a fine-art photographer working exclusively in black and white. His landscapes, and architectural photographs have earned numerous international awards and have also been widely exhibited internationally.

Born in Germany, Marc first came to Canada in 1996 to earn an Economics degree. He has been seriously involved with photography ever since he was given his father's camera and darkroom setup at the age of 12. Marc has worked with many internationally acclaimed photographers and leads numerous workshops and tours, both in Canada and internationally. 

Visit Marc's website for more information and to see his beautiful photography:

www.marckoegel.com

Workshop Itinerary:

Day 1:

Arrival in Osaka, Japan. We will meet at the Star Gate Hotel Kansai Airport and have our first group dinner together by 6pm. We will talk about the workshop and what lies ahead for us.

Day 2:

We will rise early to photograph an incredible bridge closeby before heading towards Toyohashi. Here, there are several seaweed farms and a beautiful seaside shrine to visit and photograph.

Day 3:

Our hotel is very close so we will photograph seaweed farms, tertrapods and other coastal scenes, before taking a ferry that will bring us to the Futamiokitama Shrine and its famous Meoto Iwa (wedded rocks). We photograph during soft sunset light, and venture on to our hotel that is located closeby.

Day 4:

Another chance to photograph Meoto Iwa, during sunrise light this time. Afterwards, we'll be heading towards Kushimoto. Along the way we stop and photograph tetrapods and other wave defence structures, and we may even find more opportunities for Nori nets. We'll photograph the famous Hashiguiiwa Rocks during sunset light, and then walk to our hotel.

Day 5:

At sunrise, we'll photograph the famous Hashiguiiwa Rocks once again, before heading towards Kyoto and Lake Biwa. Kyoto and near Lake Biwa offer several photo opportunities, including Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Shirahige Shrine, Ukimido (floating hall) and more.

Day 6:

We have another day in the Kyoto area to further explore and photograph. In addition to the well known sites, we will also stop at lesser known locations along Lake Biwa.

Day 7:

Today we travel west to end up in Matsue. This area offers a particularly nice Torii gate perched on a rock in the ocean close to shore. Along the way there are other locations to vphotograph including a hidden waterfall. Lake Shinji offers a great photographic opportunity at sunset time, before we head towards our hotel for the night.

Day 8:

After photographing in the immediate area at sunrise we're on our way to return to Osaka, this time using a different route than on the previous day. Photography locations along the way include not one but two massive bridges, as well as the famous Himeji Castle. Once we arrive in Osaka we'll have our farewell group dinner together.

Day 9:

We will checkout and you'll be free to start your return journey from Osaka anytime this day.

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About this Photo Tour / Registration Details and Fees:

Included in the Photo Workshop Fee is the following:

* Tuition for photo tour
* Expert leadership by Marc Koegel
* 9 days, 8 nights single occupancy accomodation
* All ground transportation

What is not included:

* Return airfare to Osaka
* Travel Insurance, including health and trip cancellation insurance (highly recommended)
* Meals and drinks
* Visas (if necessary)
* Excess baggage charges, airport taxes and other service charges
* Personal items (alcoholic beverages, laundry, film, batteries, etc)

A deposit of $2000 is required to reserve your seat in this workshop The balance is due 90 days before departure of your choosen workshop date. This is also the latest day the workshop will be confirmed. Your deposit is non-refundable unless we have to cancel or postpone the workshop, in which case you will receive a full refund of all monies paid.

How to Register:

You can register online by follwoing the link below, or you can contact Marc Koegel directly for registration assistance.

 

 

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our Local Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops valued at or under $100, VPW is unable to provide a cash refund. Transfers are limited to one transfer to either the same event at a later date, or a different event of equal value. VPW requires 48 hours written notice in order to make such a transfer (email notice is acceptable). The event you are transferring to must occur within 6 months of the original event you registered for. A $15 fee will be applied to all transfers.

For our Local Workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 4 to 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 30 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

For our Master Photographer Series workshops, 1 to 5 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

For our Photo Tours (both in Canada and abroad), 1 to 10 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Transfers (for all events over $100): If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date, VPW requires a minimum of 30 days written (email) notice. All transfers are based on availaibility, and subject to approval by VPW staff. For courses/workshops with tuition above $101, the transfer fee is $35.

Transfer Fees as based on event pricing:
Tuition of $100 and below, the transfer fee is $15
Tuition of $101 and above, the transfer fee is $35

VPW can give no refunds:

If you registered for any event valued at or under $100
If you do not show up for your registered course.
If you register for a course beyond or below your skill or ability level.

Refunds for all events valued at $101 and above (excluding Master Series Workshops):
If a student wishes to cancel their registration for any of VPW's events, and has provided written notice within the appropriate timeframe, a refund less a $50 administration fee will be provided.

Course Cancellation:

Occasionally, we may have to cancel a course due to low enrollment. In this case, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid to VPW up to that time.

Read complete refund and liability policy