www.fotoasia.org : Photo workshop in south east Asia

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP IN HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
10 days and 10 nights

Participants in these workshops, limited to 8 per tour, are free to choose
between either black&white or color photos with digital or film. They spend 10
days and 10 nights in Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An, Vietnam, with
accommodation.

Photo Journalism is the main theme of the workshop – participants will focus
on developing a storyline using images taken on the trip. The theme of each
participant’s narrative will be individually chosen at the beginning of the
workshop, then the group will work together to select the final 20 images that
represent the best of each photographer’s work. Pictures are to be taken
during field excursions in the same manner as Cartier-Bresson or the more
contemporary James Nachtwey. We will go out on location with daylight or
moonlight, at dusk or dawn, according to our needs and our inspiration. Most
trips will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, but 4 days outside the city limits are
planned as well. The peculiar colonial city of Hoi An has both Chinese and
French influences. We aim to form a close-knit group with a common vibe
shared between the instructor and all participants. This is for the sake of the
work we will be doing together, as well as developing friendships along the
way. Participants will be living together in order to maintain a united group and
promote sharing of ideas – we hope to explore the different backgrounds and
photographic styles of participants with a common goal and passion.
Prior to arrival, participants must have obtained a tourist Visa for Vietnam.

Nicolas Pascarel was born in Paris in 1966 and worked as a photographic
reporter for over twenty years. Since the early 90’s, he has been spending
most of his time in Naples and Havana, but now has decided to return to his
first passion – South East Asia – with the intention of remaining to work in the
region for years to come. Nicolas did numerous workshops in 2000 and 2002
for the Royal Academy of the Fine Arts School of Phnom Penh; in 2002, 2003,
2006, 2007 and 2008 in the city of Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand; as well as
in the city of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam in 2005 and 2006. He often collaborates
with a Cambodian NGO taking care of street children in Phnom Penh. He has
exhibited his works in galleries across France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain,
Cuba, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and China. He also created a
documentary about Cambodia called “Durant la Pluie” in 2004.

Program Workshop:

Cost: 1200 euro This price includes the photo workshop as well as housing
during the entire duration of the trip, with breakfast, ADSL connection, and the
Mobiphone Sim card. Nicolas is present all the times during the workshop,
and is assisted by Tinnakorn Nugul, a Thai photographer. After each day, a
selection of the photographs will be selected and viewed for comments.
Nicolas and Tinnakorn speak the following languages: French, Italian,
English, Spanish and Thai.

2008 Photo Workshop Schedule:
Workshop Vietnam – 13 August to 22 August

2009 Photo workshop Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) :
-21 to 30 January
10 days during the vietnam Tet ( happy new year )

Participants will be staying in double rooms at the Number One Hotel. This
three-star hotel is located in the old part of the city – the heart of Saigon – in
the midst of French colonial architecture, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the
Palace of Reunification. The district is very calm and surrounded by gardens –
it was used as the setting for The Lover; a movie written by Marguerite Duras.

An ideal place to rest after a long day of exploring and photographing, there is
a large roof garden with view of the city at your disposal. Each room has an
ADSL connection that is very easy to use with your notebook, and allows you
to work as well as remain in touch with friends and family back home. The
rooms are spacious and very comfortable, with a generous breakfast served
each morning. For more details, feel free to visit their website

Each photographer will have a Vietnamese telephone card upon arrival in
Saigon. It will have a value of 50 000 Vietnam Dong that can be used in any
mobile phone – this assures everyone stays in constant contact and assures
no one gets lost.

10 DAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP IN CAMBODIA

The workshop in Cambodia will be held as follows:
8 days in Phnom Penh
2 days in Kampot, Kep and Bocor

In Phnom Penh, participants will be housed in a very nice three-star hotel.
It is located in the center of town, in front of the Royal Palace, and only 100
meters from Riverside – one of the most important places of our photographic
tour. The trip from Phnom Penh to Kampot will be made by taxi, the trip takes
approximately 3hours.

Participants will stay in Kep for three days in a simple, but very clean seaside hotel.
We will spend 2 days on site between the city of Kampot andKep. 60 years ago,
Kep was the Saint Tropez of Cambodia, today it is a small abandoned town hidden
away between the South China sea and an endless ocean of rice fields.
The trip to the Bocor will be made by 4x4 jeeps,it is a 5 hour round trip to Kampot city.
The road to Bocor is 33 kilometers of dense jungle, the landscape is savage and
the scenery is really fantastic. The Bocor is an old French casino stuck in the middle of
the jungle, in the past it was the site of many battles between Cambodian and Vietnam
soldiers. Now it is safe to explore, there has been no violence since 1998, but it still
has a very mysterious atmosphere that creates a fascinating feel.The life in Cambodia
is very affordable, essentially the same costs as Vietnam.

There is a risk of malaria in the countryside, in particular on the riversides
and/or near water sources and in the rainy season. There is no anti-malaria
vaccine, you should cover the feet with good shoes or hiking boots. Carry
mosquito repellant and paracetamol. It is advised not to take any drug with
Lariam or Novocain before coming to Cambodia as you risk tiredness, fever
and faintness upon arrival. It is a good idea to cover your feet both day and
night, and to sleep with a mosquito net. It is best to eat properly and to wash
yourself regularly; if you take these precautions, the risk of malaria is
practically zero.

The temperatures in Cambodia are the same as Vietnam; it is hot all during
the year. The dry and unbearable months are February, March and April, for
this reason no workshop will be done during this period. Monsoon goes from
May at October, but during this time, the landscapes in the countryside (rice
plantations...) are most beautiful, and the colors are sublime.
A visa is required to enter Cambodia, it is valid for 30 days. It can be acquired
upon arrival at the airport in Phnom Penh. You will be asked for 4 ID
photographs, and 30 US dollars. The airline companies that service Cambodia
are the same as those that go to Vietnam (see the methods of Vietnam trip).
They all pass through Bangkok, and many flights have a connection to
Phnom Penh each day – Thai Airways Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, One Two Go
all have this option. Malaysia Airlines has a flight with a two hour stop-over
in Kuala Lampur each day from Europe landing in Phnom Penh – this option often
has discount fares as well.

The cost: 1200 euros, and the conditions of the workshop, in Cambodia are
exactly the same as those in Vietnam.