Meteora

A week of photography workshops. This trip blends two of our favorite passions: cycling and photography. Each day will offer both the option to work on your photography or to explore by bike—or to do both. Formal morning photo shoots amongst the spires and monasteries, plus late light shoots at dusk, will highlight photography’s greatest ally: magic light. Magic light is that soft glow that illuminates the world in a way that brings out colors that even the largest Crayola pack hasn’t considered. It’s the light that kisses our eyes and our camera sensors, leaving any semblance of harsh contrast behind.

As a professional photographer, Russell Graves has been studying light as it hits his eye and camera sensor his entire life. He’s learned not only camera techniques that help capture an image, but how to anticipate and prepare so that he is ready when those magical moments reveal themselves. And, lucky for us, Russell will be with us this week to teach us what he’s learned, to improve our ability to see both with and without a camera, to help us understand what being prepared entails, and to improve our ability to capture and process beautiful photos. And let’s face it, everyone who longs to go to beautiful places wants photographs that do the original justice.

To learn more about Russell Graves and see a gallery of his fabulous work, visit his website at www.HackberryFarmTexas.com or www.RussellGraves.com. Be sure to sign up for his newsletter and webinars and scroll through his catalogue of past instructive presentations.

Cycling Meteora. Make no mistake, Meteora is a photographer’s dream, and it may be hard to pull ourselves away from our cameras and another breathtaking scene. But it’s that same beauty and magical setting that will entice us to jump on our bikes each day to explore not only the winding roads that snake around the spires but set out into the surrounding hills and mountains across the valley. Vistas from cliff faces and mountaintops will stop us in our tracks, then point us to our next destination. Cycling in Meteora is just as magical as exploring monasteries and capturing digital images; in so many ways it is the perfect complement to our other sensory experiences.  And it’s just plain fun to boot.

Decended from the heavens. Meteora is steeped in history and cultural significance. Originating in the 14th century, the construction of monasteries atop towering rock pillars served as a refuge for monks seeking solitude and protection from invading forces. These monastic complexes evolved into centers of religious contemplation, housing priceless Byzantine artifacts and manuscripts. Meteora’s resilient monastic community resisted external threats, embodying spiritual fortitude. During World War II, the area sheltered resistance fighters. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Meteora symbolizes the convergence of natural beauty, architectural marvel, and religious devotion. Its enduring legacy as a spiritual sanctuary and historical testament resonates through the ages.

Doupiani House. Ordinarily, we stay in a villa when we do Photo+Bike tours, but this week we stay in one of the most elegant, most beautiful hotels imaginable. Located at the base of the valley from which the monastery spires rise, Doupiani House is a family-owned gem that provides the perfect setting, not only for our photo and cycling excursions, but for relaxing, gathering for workshops, and sharing stories on the patio. For one lucky week in Meteora, we’ll call this special place home.