Camargue Wildlife

Tour Leader: Serge Krouglikoff

When you think of the Camargue, you picture Wild White Horses, imperious Black Bulls and Pink Flamingos flying in V-formation. This workshop combines all three across several shoots in different locations.

Photographing the Wild White Horses is a dream come true for Wildlife and Equine photographers. It’s an exceptional experience to see this world-renowned and noble breed splashing through the shallow waters of the marshland.

The Black Bulls are also a big part of life in the Camargue and we offer a unique opportunity of capturing them running through the marsh.

Our Flamingos & birdlife photography is run by a talented local birdlife photographer. The Camargue is surrounded by the largest cultivated reed-bed in Western Europe, offering an unbelievably wide range of habitats, each with its characteristic flora and fauna and migrating birds.

This workshop is a top pick for Wildlife and Equine photographers.

Day 1

We will collect you from Montpellier airport (by mid-afternoon) for transfer to your hotel. Take time to unwind, unpack and visit the beautiful mediaeval village.

Late afternoon we will gather for a welcome/briefing meeting.

Day 2

We leave before dawn for the 60-hectare ornithological park, with ponds, swamps, channels, reed beds and salt marshes – the ideal habitat to photograph a vast range of bird species. Our bird specialist photographer is a regular here and is expert on where to be and at what time to get the birds at their very best. He has privileged access to the park before sunrise and before it opens to the public so you can capture wonderful, exclusive images, from birds in the nest or on their own to Flamingos congregating in pairs or in V-formation as they fly overhead!

In the afternoon, we capture the Camargue Black bulls thundering through the marshy shallow water with horns held high, herded by the Gardians on horseback – a unique and thrilling photographic experience.

Day 3

In the morning, we head to the beach for the ultimate spectacle of the wild horses running along the golden sand and through the surf with sea spray flying! We shoot several drives in a number of directions, so you can capture an assortment of dramatic action pictures with a variety of lighting conditions. There will also be the opportunity to take portraits of both the ‘Gardians’ and the wild horses.

In the afternoon, we head to the beach for a shoot with a beautiful trained white Camargue stallion. We photograph him rearing, majestically, on the top of the sand dunes, running along the beach and in the sea, making for striking action shots.

Day 4

At dawn we photograph the Wild White horses running through the marsh. We shoot several drives with the horses running across and towards your field of view. We will also take portraits of the ‘Gardians’ (Camargue Cowboys) dressed in their traditional Camargue shirts & hats, trident in hand, surrounded by the herd.

Late afternoon we have another session with the horses running together through the shallow waters of the marsh but with a different composition. After the action, we take portraits of the horses on their own or in small groups, as the sun sets.

Day 5

In the morning, we photograph the sparring stallions – this is a unique opportunity to see the white horses entwined at full height, in feisty temperament with their manes flying.

Early afternoon departures to the airport.

Please note that itineraries are subject to change, due to unforeseen circumstances

Create Away is the number one specialist for Camargue Wildlife photography. We are based in the Camargue and run workshops all year round so have privileged and exclusive long-established relationships with the local people.

Privileged access to private land in the Camargue
3 galloping horse shoots with several ‘drives’ per shoot
A shoot with Camargue sparring stallions
A shoot with the Camargue Black Bulls running in the marsh
A shoot with a beautiful white trained Camargue stallion on the beach
A birdlife/Flamingos sunrise shoot with birdlife specialist

Single occupant (en-suite): £2549 per person

2 people sharing a room: 5% oﬀ the workshop price

Special conditions for group bookings. Please enquire to ﬁnd out more

A deposit of 25% is payable at the time of booking

To join our workshops, you need to have a good understanding of how your own camera works (how to set it up in Manual, Aperture and Shutter priority) and understand about exposure. If this is not the case, we recommend you book a pre-workshop course.

FLIGHTS IMPORTANT NOTICE

There is a minimum number of people required on this workshop, so please do not book your flights until you have checked with us.

Pre-workshop course (subject to availability)
Cost including hotel £390 pp.

If you would like to arrive a day early to beneﬁt from a course on your camera, settings, techniques and how to obtain the best out of your workshop, please let us know. We consider the pre-course very worthwhile for intermediate-level photographers, essential for beginners and very helpful for any photographers with new equipment they are not familiar with.

What’s included in the price:

4 nights B&B in charming 3-star Hotel (upgrade to superior room or 5-star hotel available on request, for a supplement)
Airport transfers to and from Montpellier airport – arrivals day between 09h00 and early-afternoon/departures day after the last shoot and up to 18h00 (other transfers are not included but can be arranged by us)
All transportation during your course
Expert guidance throughout, from a global career-professional photographer, with over 4 decades of experience
Before you book your ﬂights, you might like to consider extending your stay before or after the workshop to make the most of the beautiful region and sunshine– ask Ros for further details.