Travel with our mentors and try out all of the
latest equipment from Nikon! Including world class digital SLRs, Nikkor lenses and the Coolpix line of Digital Cameras.
Across the great desert lands of Egypt, surrounded by kings and pharaohs, vestiges of ancient civilization stand frozen in time. Capture the pristine beauty and preserved antiquity of the Middle East when Popular Photography embarks on a ten-day excursion to Egypt.
With the Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza as your backdrop, allow the special events team and Nikon professionals Karen Kasmauski and Mark Edward Harris to guide you through the land of the pharaohs. Begin your photography workshop in the capital city of Cairo and view the treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Observe the ancient art of the bargain at Khan el-Khalili, join in a game of backgammon, sample from a selection of aromatic teas, and photograph the exciting drum of local life at Cairo’s famous marketplace.
Next stop is the city of Aswan, where we’ll capture the Fellukah (local sailboats) and the picturesque sights of this small city located on the banks of the Nile River. From Aswan, we’ll embark on the cruise vessel, the HS Royal Lily. Before cruising north along the Nile, we explore the island temple of Philae and view the quarries that provided the foundation of Egypt’s great obelisks and pyramids for thousands of years. Join visitors from around the world to explore the Valley of the Kings, a repository of tombs providing the final burial place for Egyptian pharaohs and nobility for nearly five hundred years—The tomb of King Tutankhamun was discovered here in 1922, almost wholly preserved from the 14th Century BC.
For an unforgettable sunrise shoot, climb the 3,500 steps to Mount Sinai and capture the hallowed and breathtaking scenery below. As the ten-day photography workshop comes to an end, remember the cool desert air and quiet mystery of the Nile through photo images that will last a lifetime.
Join the Mentor Series November 9-19, 2008 as we experience the ancient remnants and limitless beauty of Egypt!
Mark Edward Harris
Conde Nast Traveler
GEO Magazine
www.markedwardharris.com
Karen Kasmauski
National Geographic
Newsweek
www.kasmauski.com
Air & Land Workshop Cost: $3,799.00*
*includes roundtrip economy airfare from JFK to Cairo, local airfare from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Sharm el Sheik to Cairo, 3 night Nile Cruise including meals, hotels based on double occupancy, breakfast daily, entrance fees, Bedouin dinner, English speaking guide, transportation to all shooting locations, airport tax and fuel surcharges, daily lecture series, presentations, group review sessions, and an Mpix photo book. Does not include gratuities, optional excursion to Mount Sinai or visa.
Land Only Cost: $3,199.00*
includes local airfare from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Sharm el Sheik to Cairo, 3 night Nile Cruise including meals, hotels based on double occupancy, breakfast daily, entrance fees, English speaking guide, transportation to all shooting locations, airport tax and fuel surcharges, daily lecture series, presentations, and group review sessions. Does not include gratuities, optional excursion to Mount Sinai or visa.
Single Supplement
$850.00 Additional (limited availability and on a first come first serve basis)
Meridien Hotel, Pyramids
Tel# (011202) 377-3388 / Fax# (011202) 377 1730
Nile Cruise
HS Movenpick Royal Lily
Marriott Hotel, Sharm el Sheik
Tel# (0112069) 600-190 / Fax# (011202) 600-188
Ramese Hilton, Cairo
Tel# (011202) 2-575-8000 / Fax# (011202) 2-575-2942
Non-Photographers/Spouse Policy
We would like to notify you that spouses or non photographers of trek participants who travel with them to mentorseries trek destinations advertised as part of the mentorseries will be charged the prevailing workshop cost. This is because of limitations in the workshop classes, transportation and seating at the many venues we work with on the treks.
Digital
Be sure you bring your laptop for review sessions; edit sessions and the Photoshop presentation, as well as a extra memory cards and storage devices.
Equipment
Bring a camera, all your lenses, flash and lightweight tripod. We suggest lenses ranging from 12-24mm to longer lenses 75 – 300mm. Be sure to bring your battery charger and more then one set of rechargeable batteries. Be sure to bring your camera's manual too. Bring an external hard drive besides your laptop to guarantee you have enough space, especially if you are shooting RAW.
Weather & Dress
We are usually very casual on the treks. We will be both shooting mainly outdoors, so bring a variety of clothing you can layer. Dress comfortably, with good walking shoes. Make sure to have rain gear with you at all times to protect your camera bag and camera.
Meals
Breakfast is included in your package price, as well as all meals on the cruise. Some lunches and dinners will be at your own expense. These are meals that we eat while out shooting in the field. We will bring you to safe and delicious restaurants or point out good snack shops to grab a bite. Again, meals in the field are not included in your package price.
Relative Cost for Meals
- Budget: US $2-4
- Mid-range: US $6-8
- Top-end: US $8 and upwards
Money
Egypt’s currency is the Egyptian Pound. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are accepted at some establishments in Egypt. Traveler’s checks may be cashed at most banks. Most banks accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards for cash advances and ATM’s are fairly widespread throughout Egypt.
You will want to have spending money for water, soft drinks, souvenirs and meals not included in the package.
Time
Egypt is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time
Electricity
Bring a converter and two-prong adapter. Radio Shack or hardware stores sell converters and adapters. Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Laundry
You will have a chance to send your clothes to the laundry at the hotels and on the boat for an additional nominal fee.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations needed.
Medication
Of course, bring your prescription medicine. It will usually be available in Egyptian drug stores, but it may be called a different name. There is no problem with bringing prescription medication into Egypt. However, it is also more convenient to bring your favorite non-prescription medications along. Though you may find such medication in Egypt, such as heart burn medication and pain capsules; you may have problems finding your favorite brands. Don’t forget your Imodium. While no one wants to get Tut’s Trot or Mummy’s Tummy, it may be handy to have some Imodium or other anti-diarrheic with you.
Visas & Passports
You need a passport, a visa can be obtained upon arrival in Cairo for an additional $20 USD cash.
Tipping
We have a local guide with us each day, the suggested tipping is $5 a day per person and for our driver it is $3 a day per person. This tipping is not mandatory, but at your discretion. There is no harm expressing your appreciation with a small tip. Depending on services rendered and the type of establishment. When in a casual restaurant, you can leave 5-10% if you are pleased with the service. For better restaurants, service may be included in the bill. If not, 10-15% is a nice tip.
Incidentals
You are responsible to pay for all charges to your room when we check out of your hotels. Incidentals such as room service, drinks, phone calls, business services, laundry, etc. are not included.
What to Bring
camera/ camera instruction booklet
film/flash unit (and the instructions)
fresh batteries/sharpie magic marker
interchangeable lenses (if you have them)
lens cleaner and lens-cleaning paper
tripod / mini tripod / monopod
laptop
bathing suit/sunglasses / sunhat/sunblock
Hello Egypt Trekkers!
We’re heading back in history to Egypt, one of the greatest travel destinations on earth. The ancient locations we will be exploring require lots of digital memory so bring plenty of cards. For those shooting film, color stock is fairly easy to find but black and white is almost non-existent so bring your own.
In terms of camera equipment, I’ll be bringing my Nikon D3 with a 12-24mm 2.8mm and 24-70mm zoom lenses, as well as an 85mm and a 180mm fixed lens. Zooms of course can be used to cover the longer end of the spectrum. I’ll also have a teleconverter and a set of plus (magnifying) filters. In addition, I will be carrying a Nikon SB-80DX flash for fill-flash situations.
A small, lightweight tripod is always useful, especially for landscape and cityscape shots. If you bring your laptop I can most easily review your work after shooting but I can also look at images on a storage device with a viewer such as the Epson P-5000.
The Mentor Series is a fantastic way to learn about photography and gain experience in setting up shots, approaching people and seeing how working pros handle shooting on the road.
Be prepared for an incredible trip. I look forward to meeting you in Egypt!
Mark Edward Harris
