ITC Photography Series presents: VIETNAM AND ANGKOR

How do we develop a personal vision? With the advent of digital photography, everyone has become a "photographer" yet there are few who really see and create images that are compelling and dynamic. In this course, we will work with each participant to help them develop his or her unique vision; the workshop will culminate in a collection of images that will be visual gifts to us all.

The destinations in Vietnam and Cambodia have been chosen to provide maximum visual possibilities.

In the pre introductory meeting, we will review each participants work, give feedback, and optionally, have each person write a short paragraph or two on what they like about photography, what is their purpose in making images and what are the themes that they want to express in their work. In the meeting after our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, we will review the images created. Each participant will be asked to pick between 6-10 of their favorite images to be discussed in a friendly critique. We will then work together as a group interpreting selected images through Photoshop.

Maximum Group Size
The maximum size of the group is twelve persons.

Inclusive
Almost everything is included, including all transport and airlines (with airport transfers), all meals at wonderful places representative of each regions distinctive cuisine, comprehensive pre-tour packet, as well as emergency air evacuation coverage through www.sosinternational.com.

Airlines
Cathay Pacific is a good choice for quality and routing (SFO, LAX and Vancouver are hubs), and also provides an option for a Hong Kong stopover. We would be pleased to provide a quote or more information.

Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the geographic highlight of Vietnam if not Southeast Asia. The area, resembling a water-bound Guilin, presents a stunning setting karst topology. You may read more here about this remarkable place: Halong Bay

View some of Mark Tuschman's images on his personal site (under Vietnam):

www.tuschmanphoto.com

Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta, the vibrant "rice basket" of the country, features Asia's last authentic floating markets. The busy life on the Mekong's waterways is scenic and fascinating, also an ideal destination for photography. In the Mekong, we will mix travel by van and by boat over 2 1/2 days rather than simply slow cruising which would limit access to areas and the amount of the region we can cover. More on the Mekong Delta.

Sapa
Sapa is a former French hill station, located high in the scenic mountains along the border of China. Themain attraction here is the multitude of hilltribes, still in traditional dress, as well as the stunning panoramic views of vaulting terraced rice fields and the far ranges into China. More on Sapa.

We take a lovely coach car to the border leading up to Sapa run by a French resort firm.

Temples of Angkor
We will canvas the primary five temples at Angkor, including Banteay Srei which you may be thinking of, which is located just out of the main area. The other temples would be the Bayon, Ta Phrom, Angkor Wat and the walled city of Angkor Thom, also pausing at secondary temples en route such as the library Preah Khan, which has been well preserved. More on Angkor.

Highlights
During this trip, we will have special access to sites and activities, such as a private sunrise at one of the secondary temples in Angkor away from the crowds and private village visits in Sapa. The weather this time of year is especially ideal for northern Vietnam which spends much of the year overcast in cold weather. As always, our private trips in Vietnam emphasize the gregarious Vietnamese — always the highlight of travel in the country — and we will enjoy private home visits and encounters.

Mark Tuschman has been a professional photographer with nearly 30 years of experience. His primary commercial work has been for healthcare and pharmaceutical clients and he is known nationally as an excellent photographer of people in their environments. His personal work involves working with non-profit organizations in the field of women's rights, both in reproductive healthcare and in microfinance. He also loves doing landscape photography. For a full range of his work, please visit:

www.tuschmanphoto.com and marktuschman.blogspot.com