Luminance Ladakh 2009

Photo Expedition to Ladakh – India 2009

Expressions of interest are invited for participation in an adventure in the Himalayas.

Ladakh is one of the most remote regions of India, lying on the vast Tibetan Plateau in the far northwestern region, though politically part of India, it is a miniature version of Tibet. It is a spectacular landscape with sweeping open sandstone valleys intensified by emerald oases and turquoise lakes. Age-old Buddhist gompas (monasteries) perch on the highest hilltops below the swirling clouds of the mountain skies.
Ladakh offers the traveler a glimpse of the past and a simpler way of life not known or understood by many westerners.

Who is this trip for?

This trip is designed for avid photographers who need an adventure. You don’t need to be a pro or have the latest gear. Being in Ladakh is an irresistible combination of travel and photography.

You need to be prepared for a unique cultural experience to do this trip which requires flexibility, good health and a positive attitude. Being at 3000 + metres can be intense and the roads and vehicles are out of another age.
You will visit remote and ancient Buddhist Monasteries, attend a Buddhist festival and see dramatic and diverse landscape. Photo opportunities abound in the surreal light of Ladakh.

Trip Details.
Rugged road travel at medium/high elevation (up to 3800m)
14 nights guesthouses, hotels and camping
Easy to strenuous day hikes
Dates
To be announced, Late July – August 2009
Cost
NZD$5000 including airfares Singapore – Leh – Singapore
Itinerary
Trip itinerary to be finalised

What will I experience?

I am fortunate to have a good friend with over 20 years experience operating trekking and tours in Ladakh. His knowledge and network in the region is what makes this trip very unique. We will see things that mainstream tourists don’t know about, will be looked after by experienced and knowledgeable staff – in fact, all we need worry about is our camera gear.
We will be based in a traditional hotel in the village of Stok where we will be fed excellent, tasty vegetarian food. You will have the use of your room at the Stok Highland Guesthouse for the entire tour, even when we are out overnight.
You will see 1000+ years of Buddhism and our good friend Lama Rigzen Ph.D. Buddhist Philosophy, can answer all your questions regarding Buddhism.
You will get to photograph landscapes, buildings, people, history all in the beautiful light of Ladakh.

What will I learn?

With the help of our expert guides and Lama Rigsen, we will gain a unique insight to Buddhism and the culture of Ladakh.
The goal is to increase your ability as a photographer, no matter what your experience level may be and allow you to see a wondrous place, meet amazing people, and capture your travel story in photographs.
This workshop allows you to learn technical skills with the guidance of a professional photographer in the field and in the classroom.
You will have time to work on your own, and the opportunity to receive my full and personalised attention when you need it. You will also have the opportunity to learn by watching my techniques as I create my own images.
We will have informal workshops at the Stok Highland Guesthouse during evenings and free time. Workshops will be tailored to the requirements of the participants but will be based on the following outline;
Basic workflow:
Image capture
ingestion
Sorting
Keywording
Archiving
RAW or JPG – Pros & Cons
Raw converters
Preparing files for end use
Printing workflow
Digital presentation

What do I get?

Trip cost includes the following;

Airfares, Singapore – Leh – Singapore
Hotel in Delhi & all accommodation in Leh
All transportation as per itinerary
All meals (Except in Delhi)
Support team (Porters and hotel staff)
All permits (Not Indian visa)
Camping charges
Monastery entrance fees
Practical and technical photography tuition
Trip expense does not include;

Any expense of personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls etc
Any expenses that arise due to unforeseen circumstances such as but not limited to roadblock, landslide, and flight cancellation.
Personal insurance
Tips for local staff
Airfare to and from Singapore, from NZ, or where ever you are coming from

What do I need?

Your own camera equipment. A digital camera of any kind is fine, but a 35mm DSLR with manual settings will be the most flexible. Photography will be digital based.
Plenty of memory cards or digital storage and backup
A tripod is recommended
Sleeping Bag
Good comfortable walking/hiking shoes
Warm trekking clothing (we will provide a list of necessary equipment)
Participants should be reasonably fit and prepared for walking through mountainous terrain at high altitudes

Ladakh funding projects.

Andrew Spencer Photography supports and encourages participation in important funding projects in the Ladakh region. Trip participants will be shown some of the current and ongoing initiatives that are improving the lives of the Ladakh people.

Programmes include direct sponsorship of students at The Lamdon Model School. Some of these students come from very isolated and remote regions of the Himalayan mountain ranges of Ladakh and foreign sponsors provide the necessary funding to subsidise meals, clothing and school materials for these impoverished, yet deserving children.

A current dental clinic project will build a much needed dental health facility at Lamdon school and provide a treatment and educational centre for the 1200 students. This is a comprehensive project which involves building of the dental clinic, sourcing of the clinic equipment and attracting dentists to operate the facility.

A reforestation project is helping with erosion prevention and beautifying Ladakh, in the longer term will provide a valuable timber resource.

Every little bit of generous sponsorship helps these projects advance. We will see some of the work being done and see how we can help.

What do I do now?

Contact Andrew Spencer and let him know you are interested in this experience of a lifetime.

The fine print;
There is more information once you sign up for the workshop tour. The following will be required:
You must have travel insurance. This will cover your airfare if the trip is cancelled due to political reasons, a family emergency, unexpected illness or injury, you need to cover yourself.
Itinerary – although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary as listed, it is subject to change due to numerous reasons beyond our control. Please read the Limitations of Liability in the Participant Information Form.
Conditions of Participation – Your participation on this trip is subject to the conditions stated in the information form, which includes the Agreement and Release from Liability and the Booking Conditions. We urge you to read this information carefully and to call us if you have questions.
Services – We use local suppliers who provide services that may include transportation, equipment, logistic support and other services (hotels, restaurants etc.). We do not own or operate these independent suppliers. We work with providers who share our commitment to safety and quality.
All booking transactions will be made through our agent Manjeet Kaur of Costsaver’s travel Singapore.