Oaxaca, Mexico
Semana Santa, 13 April - 19 April 2025
1500 € per person | 7 days | 10 people
Guest Mentor: Local photographer Noel Rojo
By Noel Rojo
Ever thought about improving your photography by incorporating compelling stories?
In the lively heart of Oaxaca, Mexico, Holy Week is a time rich with tradition and community spirit. This sacred period offers a unique chance to experience the city's cultural and religious life up close.
As you stroll through the streets, you'll see processions filled with locals wearing traditional attire, carrying candles, and participating in reenactments that honor their faith. Vibrant floral decorations and beautifully crafted altars line the routes, adding to the colorful atmosphere. Each day's events offer something different, from the solemnity of Good Friday's silent marches to the joyous celebrations on Easter Sunday.
In this 7-day workshop, together with our 2 locals guides and street photographers Vita Flumen accompanied by Street Macadam member’s Noel Rojo, you'll have the opportunity to elevate your photographic techniques and storytelling abilities. This workshop isn't just about taking beautiful pictures; it's about learning to see the world through a lens of creativity and narrative depth.
You'll explore Oaxaca’s colorful streets and charismatic residents, delve into its rich history and his typical architecture, and emerge with a portfolio that tells the authentic story of this enchanting city.
Some of the great assets of this workshop:
- Receive practical tools to improve your approach on the street
- Gain confidence in candid shooting
- Discover your own unique style
- Refine your skills through one-on-one shooting sessions
- Expand your creative possibilities
- Learn new approaches and improve your unique way of shooting
- Receive constructive feedback to help you craft cohesive visual narratives
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, this workshop welcomes all who are passionate about learning, shooting, and immersing themselves in the vibrant and colorful Mexican’s life.
Worshop Highlights
Local experience
We prepare and travel with a local photographer as to make sure we shoot and visit the best locations in the best circumstances.
Customized Lessons
Tailored discussions based on your interests and identified areas for growth.
Joint Photo Reviews
Direct feedback from established photographers in joint reviews with all participants as to learn and be inspired by other photographers. See the world you are shooting through different eyes and you will most definitely learn a lot.
Individual Portfolio or Project Review
A thorough evaluation of your portfolio or project to pinpoint areas for improvement.
1-on-1 Shooting Time
We offer personalized shooting sessions during the workshopwith one of the instructors to refine your skills.
The group of max 10 participants will be divided into 2 groups. Each small group will greatly benefit from the support and expertise of one of the guides.
Each group, will change mentors regularly, allowing you to experience different approaches to street photography and learn how to approach people and work the scene effectively.
This rotation ensures that you will gain diverse perspectives and techniques, enhancing your skills and especially your creative eye.
By the end of the workshop, you will have developed a well-rounded understanding of street photography, ready to apply these insights to your own journey.
Some of the personal goals you can address together with your local mentors:
Discovering Your Personal Style
Explore various influences, review past work, and participate in on-location assignments to pinpoint your unique style and solidify your photographic identity.
Understanding Visual Stories
Learn to select and approach stories that will stand out visually, enriching your images with deeper meaning and context.
Crafting a Visual Language
Discussions on using elements like color, mood, and composition to bring your stories to life. Hands-on sessions will teach you how to use these elements effectively.
Advance Sequencing
Understand how to piece together photos for a seamless narrative, focusing on pacing and themes.
Techniques for a Cohesive Body of Work
Learn to incorporate themes, maintain visual consistency, utilize repetition, and apply intentional composition to enhance storytelling.
Collaborating with a Documentary Photographer
Gain insights and tips on adopting a documentary approach to elevate your project’s narrative.
Constructive Criticism
Participate in both group and one-on-one feedback sessions in a supportive, non-competitive environment, fostering meaningful connections and personalized improvement.
What’s included and what is not
Included in the workshop is the fee for all photographer guides (Local and from Street Macadam)
Not included is the airfare, accommodation, food & drinks and transportation. We’ll provide a list of preferred accommodations to participants, which are comfortable enough and well located. Also, we’ll provide great ideas about where to eat/ go out. Local costs are very low.
Local Guides
Noël Rojo
Noel Rojo is a Mexican documentary photographer with a deep passion for street photography. His work focuses on capturing subtle, authentic moments that evoke a spectrum of emotions—from loneliness and alienation to melancholy, solitude, and the fundamental human desire to belong. Approaching his craft like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, Noel carefully selects images that come together to tell a compelling story.
He loves experimenting with colors, layering, and geometry, finding excitement in the unpredictability of street photography. For Noel, it's not just about capturing the perfect shot; but the simple act of exploring the streets to reflect these internal processes.
A nostalgic touch often permeates his images, a deliberate nod to the past that he weaves into his work. Additionally, Noel enjoys incorporating elements of symbolism and metaphor to add extra layers of meaning to his photographs.
Vita Flumen
is a Mexican-Canadian photographer and a Fujifilm ambassador based in Mexico. With a prolific career in architecture before pursuing photography, Sandra’s photography focuses on urban life, such as human’s relationship to the environment and the narratives that arise between them. Her passion for these themes has fueled accomplishments such as creating the first book focusing on street photography in Mexico’s history, Antología de fotografía de calle mexicana. She’s also founder of Urban Observers: a platform dedicated to spreading and promoting Latin American street photography. She’s a member of Women Street Photographers, Women Photograph, pro member of The Raw Society and recently she’s been selected for the class of 2023 of The Eddie Adams Workshop.
Sandra’s work, both photographs and text, has been published and featured locally and internationally in outlets such as L’Oeil de la Photographie, Forbes, La Vanguardia, EyeShot Magazine, Revista Gatopardo, Women Photograph’s 2022 Annual, and Revue Épic. She’s also participated in more than 50 solo and group exhibitions on four continents and has received awards and honorable mentions in global photography competitions. Since 2017, Sandra has been the official photographer for Mexico’s legendary La Carrera Panamericana rally.
She studied photography at the International Center of Photography in New York as well as at Formation en Photographie in Quebec and Escuela Activa de Fotografía in Mexico. And, with a degree in architecture from the School of Architecture, Art and Design of Tec de Monterrey where she graduated with honors, she’s now a professor at this institution.
Disclaimer
Dear Macadam members, as you probably know, our priority is for you to have a maximum amount of fun during this worksop, while ensuring everyone’s safety.
Consequently, there may be times when we need to adjust the itinerary, or the program.
Unpredictable weather, or unexpected events can occur. Rest assured, we will always do our utmost to ensure that this unique experience remains unforgettable and that your portfolio is enriched with incredible shots.
Please note that we also reserve the right to cancel the workshop if the minimum number of participants is not reached. We sincerely hope it never comes to this.
Additionally we ask that you contact us before purchasing your plane ticket. Our goal is to supervise this workshop with the utmost professionalism and avoid any potential disappointments.
Book your Workshop to Oaxaca | Deposit 500 € | Full Payment 1500 €
13 April- 19 April 2025
10 people Max
Accomodations, meals & Local transport are note included in the prices
In this 7-day workshop, together with 2 local guides and street photographer Vita Flumen and Noel Rojo accompanied. you’ll have the chance - to discover your unique style
master visual storytelling
refine your skills through one-on-one shooting sessions
expand your creative possibilities
learn new approches and improve your unique way of shooting.
We will provide constructive feedback to help you craft cohesive visual narratives.
NOTE: If you choose to pay just the deposit, the remaining balance is due 60 days before the workshop begins.
Refund policy:
As our places are limited, we ask that anyone who cannot attend please notify us 3 months before the workshop date.
At that time, we will refund the deposit or the amounts already paid.
