There is probably no other type of nature photography requiring so much knowledge as macro photography.

In the course of this holiday package, participants will be instructed and taught by Urmas Tartes, a renowned nature photographer. The instructor will share practical tips on how to take photos and use the photo equipment, and answer to several other questions.

This holiday package is suitable for advanced photographers interested in the world of macro photography. During the holiday, participants can visit several pearls of Estonian nature and other interesting places. The participants will also have a chance to use a photo-hide to photograph animal species living in wild nature.

In the course of these four days, we will discover the macro world of Estonian nature which is unbelievably fascinating and rich in species. During the holiday, we will visit discovered as well as undiscovered trails and places.

Package price per participant: EUR 748

The trip will take place if there are at least six participants (the maximum number of participants is 12).

The price includes the following:

accommodation for 4 nights;

catering (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches);

the possibility to use the sauna in two evenings;

the possibility to use the photo-hide in one evening;

local transport to destinations described in the package brochure;

a tour in Mooste manor complex;

an English-speaking tour guide;

the possibility to use the photo-studio;

the possibility to use training rooms while staying in the brewery.

The package does not include the following:

transport to the Phototourism Centre of Estonia;

flight tickets;

photo equipment;

dinner.

The Phototourism Centre of Estonia is located in Mooste in Põlva County. The Phototourism Centre operates in the brewery of Mooste Manor and is surrounded by renovated manor buildings. In the renovated brewery, guests can find a guesthouse with tasteful furnishings, a photo-studio, a sauna and beautiful halls. The lovely interior and the surroundings of the manor offer the guests a chance to spend a truly relaxing holiday.

Schedule: Day 1

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Arrival, mingling, organisation of accommodation

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm - Photo training

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm - Dinner

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm - Tour in the manor complex

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm - Sauna and leisure time

The sun will set at 9:11 pm

Day 2

4:30 am – 5:15 am - Sunrise at 5:07 am

8:00 am – 9:00 am - Breakfast

9:00 am – 12:00 noon - Photo training

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm - Break

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm - Photo training

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm - Dinner

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm - Summaries, analysis of the photo training (part 1)

The sun will set at 9:14 pm

10:00 pm – 12:00 Midnight movie night in the fireplace room

Day 3

4:30 am – 5.15 am

Sunrise at 5:05 am

8:00 am – 9:00 am - Breakfast

9:00 am – 1:00 pm - Outing/hike in the bog with a professional photographer

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm - Lunch in nature

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm - Trip to Taevaskoda and Piusa sand caves

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm - Dinner in restaurant Kiudowski.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Visiting a local event (depending on the events taking place) – e.g. a concert, a dance, etc.

Day 4

4:30 am – 5:15 am

Sunrise at 5:03 am

9:00 am – 10:00 am - Breakfast

10:00 am – 1:00 pm - Photographing in the studio and printing photos

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm - Lunch

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Check-out

Photoadventure in the macro world with Urmas Tartes

What kind of tricks do macrophotographers use? How do the different situations nature creates affect a macrophotographer? What does and what doesn’t fit into the bag of a macrophotographer? How to adjust and maintain the equipment? How do photos mature in a digilab? How to administer an image library? What is the market like for nature and macro photographers? What kind of stories do macrophotos tell? How to analyse photos? How to take photos that you will remember from first sight?

You have the opportunity to find out about all this and much more! The time from the Friday evening till Sunday lunchtime is only dedicated to three people - you and two companions. This means that all your questions will get a thorough answer and you can enjoy all this from close-by and without any interference.

You will get to know secrets and tricks that are impossible to explain to a bigger audience. We can talk about things that interest you the most*. We can talk at dinner table, on the photo hike, while viewing the images from a big screen with a high-quality projector as well as in the sauna.

The weather will not affect our activities. It is sometimes even better to demonstrate tricks in the historical interiour of the building rather than outside. There are no photography-related secrets in the Vodka Factory of Mooste.

Instructor:

Urmas Tartes

Urmas Tartes is a freelance nature man and nature photographer. He has a degree in biology. He was the first Estonian to be awarded the title “Wildlife Photographer of The Year” (2009) on the most prestigious nature photography competition. Urmas teaches photography at the Estonian University of Life Sciences and nature photography at Tartu Art College. He has organised a countless amount of nature photography trainings and masterclasses. He has also been part of various judging panels, such as the Matsalu Nature Film Festival, the Nature Photograph of the Year, the photo competiton of Estonian Nature and the VVV fotocompetition “Notice Me”. Together with Arne Ader, he wrote and published Estonia’s first nature photography textbook “The Stories and Fascination of Nature Photography”.

Photography courses

The photography courses include various components that intertwine with each other.
Under “photography course” we mean an organised vacation and and an escape from everyday routine.

The main components of the photography course, i.e. holiday are abundant catering; the photo course - a lecture in the hall, practical assignments in nature, analysing the photos in the studio and a cozy accommodation in the guest house of the vodka brewery. In addition we will take care of our guests’ transport to the various locations included in the holiday set, an evening programme and other components that will make the time you spend with us unforgettable.

The photography courses last three to five days depending on the topic and the size of the groups is 8 to 15 people. The topics of the courses vary and registration onto the courses is through the Photography Centre of Estonia.