Camargue Horses & Flamingos Mating Parade

Tour Leaders: Serge Krouglikoff/Thierry Vezon

When you think of the Camargue, you picture Wild White Horses running free and Pink Flamingos flying in V-formation. For this workshop, we’ve combined these two iconic subjects!

In January, the Great (Pink) Flamingos are in full mating season so it’s a fabulous opportunity to take some beautiful and very interesting posture combinations! They call the parade a danse because it almost looks choreographed, and they repeat the same movements over and over again. They spread their wings to show off their colour and raise their heads high to find a mate for the coming season, with whom they will remain faithful–until the following year!

Our Flamingos & birdlife photography is led by our talented specialist BBC Wildlife photographer, Thierry.

Photographing the Wild White Horses is a dream come true for so many people. You will be transfixed capturing this world-renowned and noble breed splashing through the shallow waters of the marshland and lakes with the Gardians (Camargue Cowboys) on horseback, especially at this time of the year when the light is soft and beautiful.

Day 1 Thursday

We will collect you from Montpellier airport for transfer to your charming hotel in the centre of the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes. Take time to unwind, unpack and perhaps explore the streets of the city that lies within the mile-long rampart walls.

We will gather for a welcome drink and briefing meeting early evening.

Day 2 Friday

We leave before dawn for the Parc Ornithologique, which is a natural Camargue wetlands area. Our specialist bird photographer, Thierry, is regular here and is expert on where to be and at what time to get the birds at their very best.

Thierry is the only person authorised to access the park before sunrise and before it opens to the public so you can capture wonderful, exclusive images of a wide variety of birds and of the Flamingos mating parade – or danse as some people call it!

We return in the afternoon where you can also capture Camargue birds on their own or up close, Flamingos congregating in pairs or in a group and you can even create a landscape image with the birds in the water together.

We end the day as the birds take flight in V-formation at sunset.

Day 3 Saturday

In the morning, we head to the beach for a shoot with a beautiful white stallion. We photograph him rearing on the top of the sand dunes and running on the beach, providing striking action shots.

In the afternoon, we photograph the sparring stallions which is a unique opportunity to see the White horses entwined at full height, in feisty temperament with their manes flying.

Day 4 Sunday

At sunrise 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 shots of the Gardians’ (Camargue Cowboys) dressed in their traditional Camargue shirts & hats, trident in hand, surrounded by the herd as well as some close-up portraits of the horses and ranchers.

Afternoon departures from Montpellier airport.

Create Away is the only photography workshop company actually based in the Camargue all year round, making us the number one specialist.

We have strong and long-established relationships with the local people who deeply respect their traditions, folklore, fauna and flora.

Exclusive access to private land in the Camargue, unavailable to anyone else

A sunrise and a sunset shoot of birdlife and the mating Flamingo parade, led by specialist photographer

A shoot with a beautiful white stallion on the beach

A shoot with the sparring stallions

A shoot with the iconic Camargue White Horses in the marsh

What’s included in the price:

3 nights B&B in a 3-star Hotel (upgrade to superior room, by request, for a supplement)
Airport transfers from and to Montpellier airport *
Expert guidance throughout, from a professional photographer, whose international career spans over 3 decades
All transportation during the workshop

What’s excluded:

Flights
Insurance
Meals (except breakfast)
Snacks & drinks

* Airport transfers, as per the times and dates, specified on the itinerary (other transfers are not included but can be arranged by us)

Single occupant (en-suite): £1795 per person
2 people sharing room: 5% oﬀ the workshop price
Discounts available for group bookings. Please enquire to ﬁnd out more
A deposit of 25% is payable at the time of booking

FLIGHTS IMPORTANT NOTICE

Please note we sometimes run this workshop back to front. Also, there is a minimum number of people required, so please do not book your flights until you have checked with us.

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.

Before you book your flights, you might like to consider adding extra days before or after the workshop to make the most of the beautiful region – we can extend your stay at the hotel and recommend local excursions ideas so just ask Ros for further details.