SPRINGTIME IN SPAIN/May 18th-25th
Years ago, right after the dinosaurs disappeared, I shot an international corporation’s annual report, and one of the locations was Spain: Madrid and Toledo, and Cordoba to be exact. I often look at some of those images (shown here) and thought about going back on my own and doing a workshop there. Madrid is an amazing city and has been on my bucket list ever since I started doing my own workshops; dating back to my first one in Prague.
Well now the timing seems to be right, especially since I have Katka (and Petr) helping me once again to produce it. For so many of you that know her, you know that it will be run professionally and efficiently.
The capital of Spain, Madrid is touted to be the 10th most livable city in the world and has a population of a little over three million people. It became the capital after the death of Franco (not a very nice guy), and the beginning of the democratic authority in 1978.
The city has been occupied since prehistoric times, which coincides with the time I was last there. Madrid’s name is derived from the Romans who established a settlement on the banks of the Manzanares River. 
Madrid is an important global city. Its status comes from its influences on science, culture, fashion, entertainment, and most important…the arts…that’s us! J
Besides shooting at great locations, Madrid, as well as all of Spain, is famous for Tapas, Gazpacho, (its humble beginnings began in Spain), Paella, Manchego Cheese (made in La Mancha) and especially wine. We will indulge ourselves in the wonderful local restaurants that serve these gastronomical (tapas) treasures; cold soups, cheeses, seafood rice dishes, and regional wines. Your lunches and dinners should play an important part in this workshop.
FYI, Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world (after France and Italy), and the largest wine country in terms of land dedicated to vineyards.
As always, the locations and times are subject to change, depending on those that work the best as far as logistics, timing, and whether any given location is large and interesting enough to support a number of shooters.
Coming up with interesting yet contrasting photo ops/locations was easy, narrowing them down to fit in six days was very difficult. I have chosen those that I feel will give all of you a good look at the photographic and cultural diversity.
I will be scouting all the locations with Katka ahead of time, and as a result of that fact-finding mission she and I will get together, compare notes, decide on the best locations, and write a final schedule; to be passed out at the meet and greet. 
The following schedule is the actual workshop dates. How we will fill up those days will depend on the locations that we will have scouted. I have shot at many of them, so I have a good idea ahead of time which ones I want to take you all to.
Right now, I don’t have any sunrises planned since I need to first scout the locations. Also, unless there are great opportunities, and since sunrise is at 7:00am, and sunset at 9:30pm, that would make for very long days. We might need some time for our critiques, download images, lay back, and be ready for the afternoons.
If there is a location that would be great at sunrise, we would come back afterwards, have breakfast, then have the critique and afterwards compensate for it in the afternoon with plenty of time off.
SATURDAY, MAY 18th: Evening meet and greet
SUNDAY, MAY 19th: I usually have the first critique of your five favorite images in the morning, but this Sunday morning El Rasto, Europe’s largest flea market happens, which dates back to Medieval times: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=el+rastro+flea+market&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
After lunch, we will meet in the afternoon instead of the morning for that traditional critique, then head out to The Royal Palace: http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-the-royal-palace-of-madrid/
Depending on the time, we will either shoot the golden/blue hour there, or perhaps back near the hotel…around the historic district.
MONDAY, MAY 20th: Morning critique, followed by a leisurely lunch. In the early afternoon we will head to Lavapies, An historic district in central Madrid:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=lavanpies+spain&t=hi&iax=images&ia=images
For the late afternoon light, we’ll find ourselves in Retiro Park. Quite a departure from all the street shooting that we’ll be doing. One can easily get lost in this magnificent park: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=palacio+de+cristal+retiro+park&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&ulexp=
TUESDAY, MAY 21st: Morning critique, some time to download photos, then we’re off to the Mercado de San Miguel to have a late lunch/early dinner and shoot into the late afternoon: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=mercado+de+san+miguel+in+madrid&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&ulexp=
For the sunset and blue hour, we’ll be heading to The Temple de Debod. This shrine was originally constructed in Upper Egypt, Aswan to be exact. It was dedicated to the God Amun.
In 1960, due to the construction of the Aswan Dam and the consequent threat posed by its reservoir to numerous monuments and archeological sites, UNESCO made an international call to save this rich historical legacy. As a sign of gratitude for the help provided by Spain in saving the Abu Simbel temples, the Egyptian state donated the temple of Debod to Spain in 1968.
This one is going to be great to shoot right at sunset and into the Blue hour: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=temple+de+debod&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&ulexp=
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22nd: Morning critique, and the rest of the day you’ll have for yourself to shop for leather (Spain is famous for it), street shooting around the historic area close to the hotel, and one needs to see the Museo del Prado: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=the+prada+museum+in+madrid&t=h_&iax=images&ia=images
You’ll see me there!
We will be leaving at approx. 5:00pm for La Mancha…about a one-and-a-half-hour drive. (you might want to brush up on the Cervantee’s Don Quixote): https://www.britannica.com/place/La-Mancha
We will be shooting the blue hour at the 12 windmills of Consuegra then head back to the hotel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consuegra
Thursday, MAY 23rd: Morning critique, lunch, then we’re off to Toledo…about an hour’s drive.
Toledo was declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO. I remember when I shot there, and I can vouch for it as a great city to spend the day; very different from Madrid.
Here’s some of the places that I will be scouting for possible shooting locations during the workshop:
Plaza de Zocodover: It was the nerve center of the city during most of its history, acting as its main square. Horses, donkeys, foals, mares, mules and other beasts were sold, when the city of Toledo was a Spanish-Muslim city:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=plaza+de+zocodover&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&ulexp=
Mirador del Valle for a possible sunset:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=mirador+del+valle&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes: This monastery was initially named “San Juan de la Reyna” and was conceived to be the mausoleum of Catholic Monarchs. They would change their plans later, choosing Granada as their burial place, after its reconquest in 1492.
The monastery’s construction began in 1477 following plans drawn by architect Juan Guas and was completed in 1504. It was dedicated to John the Evangelist for use by Franciscan Friars. In 1809 the monastery was badly damaged by Napoleon’s troops during their occupation of Toledo and abandoned in 1835. Restoration began in 1883 but was not completed until 1967. The monastery was restored to the Franciscan order in 1954:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=monastery+of+san+juan+de+los+reyes&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
Alcantara Bridge for a possible sunset and blur hour. Again, it depends on how it’s set up for Blue Hour shooting. The stone arch bridge was built over the Tagus river between 104 and 106 AD by an order of the Roman emperor Trajan in 98.
The bridge’s construction occurred in the ancient Roman of Lusitania. In Ancient Rome, the costs of building and repairing bridges, known as opus pontis (“bridge work”), were the responsibility of multiple local municipalities. Their shared costs prove Roman bridges belonged to the region overall, and not to any one town (or two, if on a border).
The Alcántara Bridge was built at the expense of 12 local municipalities in Lusitania. The names were added on an inscription on the archway over the central pier:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=alcantara+bridge&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
Toledo Train Station: The railway reached Toledo in 1858. The original station was of functional design. The present station opened in 1919 or 1920. It was designed to echo the historic architecture of the city. The central section is flanked by two side naves, one of which is adjacent to the clock tower which imitates the style of Toledo church towers:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=toledo+spain+train+station&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
FRIDAY, MAY 24th:
Critique in the morning, some time for your images, and we’ll be shooting and having lunch around the Plaza Mayor. This is the central plaza in Madrid and was built between 1580-1619.
The Plaza Mayor has been the scene of multitudinous events, during the Spanish Inquisition and burning at the stake was practiced against supposed heretics and the executions of those condemned to death.
I shot here, and I can tell you that it’s a wonderful location, lots of people watching, and full of photo ops.
Katka and I are working on having an actual execution for you to photograph, so be sure to bring marshmallows:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=plaza+mayor+in+madrid&t=h_&iax=images&ia=images
Our last place to shoot will be the Atocha Train station:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=atocha+train+station+madrid&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
We’ll be going back to the hotel after the shoot to get ready for the final dinner.
SATURDAY, MAY 25th: We’ll meet for the final review and the workshop will end at noon.
This might sound like too much to do for six days, but everything depends on the scout. Remember that this a time to enjoy Spain and not a regimented boot camp. If you’re tired and want to rest during the long days, please feel free to do so. If you decide to leave a location early, then Madrid is well known for its public transportation to take you back to the hotel; I expect some will do just that. I want happy smiling people, not worn out and tired ones.
The cost of the workshop will be $1695.00 and that will include the meet and greet, transportation, and my famous final dinner. It will also cover some of Katka’s expenses for the scouting beforehand.
For all non-shooters, the fee will be $750.00 which will include everything but the daily reviews; which are only open for the photographers. All other expenses will be up to the photographers. A non-shooter would be a spouse (many of them come), partner, friend, mother-in law, or relative.
As in previous workshops, Katka and I are in now in the process of talking to several hotels to stay at for the workshop, including having the meeting room there. We will try to get a workshop rate as we have done in the past.
Past participants know, it will be a reasonably priced four-star hotel (for the area) located in an area that will be in the central part of Madrid. For those that prefer to stay someplace else, you’re more than welcomed to do so.
Once we decide on a hotel, I’ll let everyone know so you can book your reservations yourself. It’s a lot easier to do it this way, as people are looking for different size and priced rooms and it will eliminate mistakes by the “middle man” …that would be me!!
My workshops are limited to ten photographers, not counting the non-shooters. I can tell you several people have already asked me to hold a spot, so if Madrid has been on your bucket list, I suggest you give it serious thought to signing up sooner rather than later.
As I said, it’s been a while since I shot there and I, for one, am anxious to re-visit some of the locations that I first experienced with my camera.
I do know that Madrid now has a modern look about it with its new structures and facilities. That being said, Madrid still keeps its heritage and has preserved its history while perpetuating its historic neighborhoods and streets.
I hope to see some old friends there, meet new ones, take great photographs, drink Spanish wine, dine on well-known food, come back with wonderful images that have represented Spain, and have a wonderful time in the process. This workshop promises each one of to take home great memories, experiences, and a family slide show that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
One last note: I have successfully contacted Casa Patas to arrange a shoot. This is Madrid’s well-known Flamenco dance company and school: http://casapatas.com/casa-patas-2/
They are excited and have agreed to have their best dancers and musicians (in costume) come to be photographed, so think about bringing appropriate clothing; if you’re interested in learning how. I’ll be working on a way to work it into our schedule based on the initial scouting.
Espero verles pronto en Madrid,
Jose
FYI, the average high in May is 72 degrees, and the average low is 52 degrees. Sunrise is a few minutes before 7:00am, and sunset isn’t until 9:25pm.
Lavapeis: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=lavapies&t=h_&ulexp=a&iax=images&ia=images
As I said, it’s been a while since I shot there and I, for one, am anxious to re-visit some of the locations that I experienced with my camera..
I do know that Madrid now has a modern look about it with its new structures and facilities. That being said, Madrid still keeps its heritage and has preserved its history while perpetuating its historic neighborhoods and streets.
Coming up with interesting yet contrasting photo ops/locations was easy, narrowing them down to fit in six days was very difficult. I have chosen these that I feel will give all of you a good look at the photographic and cultural diversity, to have each one of you take home great memories, experiences, and a family slide show that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
