Oaxaca

Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico, but Oaxaca has by far the most unique and magical traditions. The festival takes place from October the 31st to November the 2nd every year. Over these three days, the city is completely transformed into an artistic wonderland. It is very normal to see faces painted with decorative skulls, floral garlands enlacing every lampost, colours splashed on every wall and displays of remembrance scattered through the city. The day of the dead in Oaxaca is like nothing you have ever experienced before!

In addition to all the festivities around Day of the Dead, Oaxaca is known for its amazing cuisine, mezcal production, modern nightlife, storied history, and ancient Zapotec temazcal steam baths.

Workshop Description

Join acclaimed photographer Chris Suspect and take your street and documentary photography to the next level. Chris will review the basics of street photography, the differences between street and documentary work, and the history of street and documentary photography, including the work of the masters.

During the course of the workshop, Chris will identify your natural photographic inclinations and then encourage you to go outside your comfort zone by making more challenging or complex images that build upon your personal style. The end goal is to come home with a strong portfolio of work that is consistent with your personal voice and vision.

You will also learn how one “reads” a photographic image and how to identify the elements of what makes a photograph successful. Chris will discuss visual cues to keep in the back of your mind when shooting from juxtapositions, tricks of perspective, multiple points of interest, capturing raw emotion, layering, obscuring elements, geometric principles, shadow play, and harnessing the subliminal power of semiotics. Chris also works a lot with flash and will share techniques to shoot at night in the festivities around Oaxaca.

This workshop is for all levels but a basic understanding of how to operate your camera is expected. A laptop and thumb drive will be required for editing and critique sessions. Any camera is accepted.

Schedule

We will have breakfast every day as a group. Then we will meet daily in the mornings to review work and give feedback. The group will go out and shoot at different times and locations depending on the Dead of the Day festivities and schedule of events.

The workshop starts on the 28th in the evening with a group dinner (after all students have arrived ) and ends the 4th at approximately 8am after group breakfast. You can make travel arrangements to depart Oaxaca anytime after 8 AM on the 4th.

What’s included: 

• Personal review of your portfolio by Chris Suspect 

• Single accommodations for 7 nights/8 days in Hotel del Marquesado, a 4-star rustic, colonial style hotel in the center of Oaxaca (1 king size or 2 double beds / AC / TV / Wifi).

• Meet and greet party in the hotel courtyard with mezcal tasting, cocktails and live music on October 28th.

• Two group dinners (first and last night in two of Oaxaca's best restaurants.)

• October 31 - Visit Xoxocotlán graveyard at sunset. Car travel included.

• November 1 - Visit the graveyard of Atzompa and then head to Etla for their Day of the Dead parade. Car travel included.

• November 2 Go to the village graveyard of Teotitlan. Car travel included.

• Attend a Lucha Libre match (schedule permitting).

• Group presentation of student work at a surprise location.

Note: Does not include air travel or transfers to/from Oaxaca. 

Optional/Add ons

• Visit a temazcal steam bath $100 per person on Oct 29 or 30th 3 hour trip. Must be booked 2 months in advance.

• Visit Hierve el Agua. Natural mineral pools in the mountains $75 per person 6 hour trip on Oct 29 or 30th

• Visit Monte Alban. Zapotec architectural ruins $50 per person. 4 hour trip on Oct 29 or 30th.

• Visit a mezcal distillery $50 per person 3 hours trip.

All add ons can be arranged closer to departure with the exception of the temazcal which requires 2 months advance notice.

Getting to Oaxaca

The best way is to fly to Oaxaca International Airport and then take a 20 min taxi/transfer to the city’s center. We can assist in making transfer arrangements to the hotel from the airport.

Safety in Oaxaca

As far as crime goes, Oaxaca is one of the safest states in Mexico. Oaxaca City, in particular, when compared to other urban centers, retains a friendly, small-town vibe. As a tourist, if you take the usual precautions as you would in your own city, the chances of experiencing crime are low. There are no US Government travel restrictions for the City of Oaxaca.