Wild Horses and Lavender Landscapes
Experience Highlights
Photograph the famous wild white horses of the Camargue during multiple photoshoots on private land.
Capture the vast lavender fields of Provence in golden hour light
Experience the narrow lanes and charming architecture of ancient hilltop villages in the Luberon
Enjoy the fabulous wine, delectable cuisine and authentic warm hospitality of rural France
At A Glance
Dates:
June 27 - July 7, 2026
Your Instructor:
Randall Ball
Price: $8,450 Single Occupancy
Deposit: $1500
Difficulty:
Easy
What's Included: Airport transfers, Lodging (private room per guest/couple), Breakfasts, Transportation, Guides & Photography Instruction
What's Not Included: Airfare to Marseille/from Montpellier, France; Meals other than breakfasts; Travel Insurance; Personal Expenses (laundry, alcohol, etc.); Gratuities. Anything not specifically listed as included
White Horses of the Camargue
We conclude our time in France photographing the famous wild white horses of the Camargue as they splash through the shallow marshes and lakes of their natural habitat. Capture white stallions rearing on the beach and charging through the surf alone and in groups. Camargue’s black bulls and beautiful pink flamingoes also reside in the area and we won’t skip the opportunity to photograph them. The “Gardians”, the cowboys of the Camargue, in their traditional garb and gear also make fabulous subjects for our cameras.
Lavender & the Luberon
We begin our adventure photographing the vast lavender fields of Provence at sunrise and sunset. We hope to catch the fields in their prime just before harvest with sublime colors and fragrance to fill the senses.
Next, we move on to the Luberon massif, a mountainous region with rolling landscapes and ancient hilltop villages. The honey-colored stone architecture of the area is reminiscent of Tuscany and supremely photogenic in warm early morning and late afternoon light.
Epicurean Delights
We’re here to make photographs but it would simply be wrong to overlook the gastronomical delights of this region. Indulge your palate at the many local cafes and restaurants.
READY TO JOIN THE ADVENTURE?
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Randall is an award-winning photographer based in Houston, TX who specializes in capturing stunning environmental portraits of wildlife. His journey in photography began as a combat photographer in the Marine Corps. Later, he pursued a formal education at the renowned Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. Randall's commercial work has been featured in advertising campaigns and major magazines worldwide. Read more about Randall and see a selection of his images.
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We recognize that life happens, and sometimes plans must change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply:
Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferred to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:
Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:
Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.
Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.
Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.
*Canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity
All cancellations must be made in writing. Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.
Payments made for private workshops that you arrange with us are not refundable.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance which may provide reimbursement for non-refundable payments in case you need to cancel your reservation and provide coverage for immediate medical evacuation in case of an emergency. -
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Q: How should I make my travel arrangements?
A: Book your international flights to arrive at Marseille International Airport (airport code: MRS) on or before June 27 and depart from Montpellier International Airport (airport code: MPL) in Montpellier, France on July 7. Additional details to help you plan your travels will be provided to registered participants
Q: Do I need a tourist visa or ETA to enter France?
A: If your passport was issued by the United States, a tourist visa is NOT required to enter France/European Union.
Q: What if I want to arrive early or stay after the workshop dates?
A: No problem, let us know your arrival/departure details and we will book the additional hotel nights on your behalf (additional cost).
Q: What is the fitness level required for this trip?
A: This trip is classified as Easy from a physical fitness perspective. No hiking is in the itinerary but we will be strolling the cobblestone streets of small villages which can be hilly for several hours at a stretch.
Q: Where will we stay?
A: We will stay in small hotels in each of our 3 locations. They are all clean and comfortable (3 star+) but not luxury resorts.
Q: Is there an extra fee for a private room?
A: No, the workshop fee includes private room for each guest or couple with ensuite bathrooms.
Q: Breakfast is included in the workshop, but what about the other meals?
A: Lunch and dinner are not included in the workshop because there are so many fabulous restaurants to try in the charming towns and villages we will visit and we want each person to sample the cuisines that most appeals to them.
Q: What if I have special dietary requirements?
A: We will pass on any dietary requirements to the hotel where it is relevant to breakfast, which is included in the workshop price. You will have many options at the restaurants we eat at for lunch and dinner which can accommodate most dietary needs.
Q: Can my non-photographer friend/partner attend?
A: Absolutely, travel partners who may not share your passion for photography are very welcome. Just make sure they can handle being part of a group that wants to do nothing but eat, sleep and talk about photography. Also, they should be aware of our (very) early start times and long days. Unfortunately, due to limited space, we cannot offer a discount for non-photographer partners.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: We’ll adapt to the weather as needed to ensure you get the best shooting opportunities. Rain rarely stops us—unless conditions are extreme.
Anything we missed?
| Day | Date | Itinerary | Overnight | Meals Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 27 | Marseille – Provence - Welcome to France! We will transfer you from our meeting point near the airport to our charming hotel in central Provence. Relax and recover from your travels until we gather for our Workshop Overview meeting followed by our first group dinner at a local restaurant. | Provence hotel | – |
| 2 | June 28 | Provence - Before sunrise, we set off to photograph the lavender fields in the pale morning light. We will capture various views of the lavender, dotted with small stone shepherd’s huts and mountain backdrops. In the afternoon, we return to capture the beautiful purple lavender and sunflowers – a sight and scent to behold! We end the day when the sun sets over the lavender fields. |
Provence hotel | B |
| 3 | June 29 | Provence – we’ll explore the lavender and sunflower fields, but we head for different locations today, giving you the opportunity to photograph diverse landscapes with varying backdrops, providing a wide array of stunning landscape images at sunrise and sunset. | Provence hotel | B |
| 4 | June 30 | Provence – Luberon – sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we make the drive to the village of Rousillion in the Luberon (~2hrs). This region is the rural French countryside of your imagination, characterized by strikingly picturesque hill-top villages dating back 1000 years or more. We’ll check in at our hotel and get settled before heading out to explore Roussillion with our cameras in late afternoon light. |
Luberon Hotel | B |
| 5 | July 1 | Luberon - We depart early to capture another beautiful hilltop village in the soft morning light. Late afternoon we set off again to photograph different villages and lavender fields, offering you a wide array of varying landscapes. We’ll also stroll the narrow cobblestone streets of the villages creating compositions with their photogenic shutters, doors and other architectural details. |
Luberon Hotel | B |
| 6 | July 2 | Luberon - today we photograph more villages and lavender fields. You can obtain a wide array of images including perched villages at sunrise and sunset, some with lavender stretching out at the foot of the village and others with wonderful views out across the valley floor with a patchwork of orchards and vineyards. We also photograph a beautiful and still working 12th century abbey in a sublime, solitary setting, surrounded by fields of lavender, one of the most iconic sights in Provence. |
Luberon Hotel | B |
| 7 | July 3 | Luberon – Montpellier - we begin with a sunrise shoot nearby. Then we check out after breakfast and drive to the Camargue, stopping along the way to visit the impressive Pont du Gard Roman viaduct ruins where we’ll do a bit of photography and have our lunch. We arrive in Aigues Morte mid-afternoon in time to get settled and stroll the lanes of this medieval village before dinner. |
Montpellier Hotel | B |
| 8 | July 4 | Montpellier - we depart before dawn for the Parc Ornithologique, a natural Camargue wetlands area with one of the largest arrays of birdlife in Europe, including its famous Pink Flamingos. Our local contacts provide us with access to the park before sunrise and before it opens to the public. Capture images of birds flying at sunrise. Our guides will direct us to prime locations among the waterways and lakes to capture a variety of species from single birds to large flocks of pink Flamingos. We return to our hotel for meals and some downtime before heading out in the afternoon to photograph the Black Bulls of Camargue, thundering through the shallow waters of marshland, as they are herded by the Gardians on horseback – a unique and thrilling photographic experience. |
Montpellier Hotel | B |
| 9 | July 5 | Montpellier - we start this morning with an early morning beach photoshoot with a beautiful white Camargue stallion. Capture portrait and action images of our subject rearing and running atop the sand dunes and along the beach in golden hour light. Return to our hotel to clean up, eat and download images. Time allowing, Randall will cover image management and post processing tips in Lightroom before we head out in the late for another photo session of wild white horses running through the marsh. The horses are herded by the “Gardians”, Camargue Cowboys, who make fantastic subjects dressed in their traditional attire, trident in hand, surrounded by the herd as well as some close-up portraits of both the horses and the “weathered” ranchers. |
Montpellier Hotel | B |
| 10 | July 6 | Montpellier - in the morning, we head to the beach for the ultimate spectacle of the wild white horses running along the golden sand and surf, sea spray flying. We’ll shoot several drives in different directions to capture an assortment of action images in a variety of lighting conditions. There will also be another opportunity to capture “Gardian” portraits as well as more intimate photographs the horses. This afternoon is our final photoshoot with the horses and Gardians splashing through the marsh. Take advantage of breaks in the action to capture portraits of individual horses or Gardians or up-close detail shots. |
Montpellier Hotel | B |
| 11 | July 7 | Montpellier – Home - a relaxed morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing to Montpellier airport for your homeward flight. End of Service. |
– | B |
Note: This itinerary is our general plan but is subject to change without notice due to weather, logistical considerations or other reasons.
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