Japan Photo Journey with Gavriel Jecan (an Art Wolfe Inc. Workshop)
Join Gavriel Jecan from Art Wolfe Inc. on a journey through Japan in magical winter to learn his unique approach to nature photography.
From the snow macaques, the most northern primate on earth, in their mountain valleys to the northern island of Hokkaido with its large lakes and wild running rivers. Experience the surreal and wonderful contrast that Japan has to offer.
- Date: Feb 20 - Mar 2, 2018 (10 Days)
- Destination: Tokyo, Yudanaka, Hokkaido - Japan
- Genre: Nature, Landscape, Wildlife, Travel
- Skill Levels: All Skill Levels
- Group Size: Max. 10
- Includes: Accomodation, All Meals, Local Transport, Guide and All Entrance Fees.
Workshop Details
One of the things Gavriel Jecan enjoy’s most, besides taking photographs, is taking people along with him to some of his favorite locations.
He’s been taking small groups of people to some of the locations that the favorite episodes of Travels to the Edge took place.
As seen in one of those episodes, Japan in winter is simply magical.
Much of the wildlife has been habituated to people, and therefore translates into amazing photographic experiences.
Visiting the Most Northern Primate on Earth
First we’ll visit the snow macaques that live in the mountains about two hours west of Tokyo. Here in an isolated steep cut valley with an amazing mountain lodge are three extended families of macaques, numbering around 50.
Because they are the most northern primate on earth, they have the longest, luxuriant fur of any primates, particularly in the winter months. They come down from the pine and oak forests and for a couple of hours a day they hang around a natural hot spring.
They have been habituated to people visiting them there, so you can photograph from within inches without interrupting their behavior, which is very animated and fun. It is a photographic bonanza.
The Japanese Crane
After visiting the macaques, we will travel to the northern island of Hokkaido. Hokkaido reminds me a bit of Alaska, full of forests of birch, pine and fir with a back drop of beautiful volcanic mountains.
There are also large lakes and wild running rivers, and hosts three species of bird wildlife that are extraordinary to photograph.
The Japanese Crane has been symbolized in Japanese culture for thousands of years due to its grace and beauty.
Visitors from Siberia
Giant whooper swans come in the winter months from nesting in Siberia. They have been fed by locals for years, helping them sustain thru the winter, as well as creating an easy and wonderful photographic opportunity for us!
And often Steller’s sea eagles will swoop around the same area. They are massive black and white raptors that winter over on the icy shores of Hokkaido.
Stunning Golden Hours
The days are short in February on Hokkaido, but the beautiful hues of sunrise and sunset are protracted allowing us hours to capture quite stunning images.
After sunset we will have time for a hot bath at the lodge before eating a traditional Japanese meal.
After dinner we will have time for lectures and critiques before calling it a day.
With the abridged daylight, it really allows for a nice schedule to fit everything in and still have enough hours for a good night’s sleep!
Since we travel in and out of Tokyo, you will get to experience the surreal and wonderful contrast that Japan has to offer, not only the very modern and bustling city, but the natural and beautiful countryside.
Itinerary
Shooting schedules have the ability to be altered to effectively cater to the photographic desires of the group, as well as to adapt to changeable weather conditions.
Day 1 Tokyo
Arrive Tokyo International Airport.
Welcome and transfer to the Hotel.
Day 2 Tokyo
Gavriel will gather arrivals in the early evening for Meet & Greet.
This day is the latest day to arrive in Tokyo.
Transfer and overnight Tokyo hotel for arrivals.
Days 3, 4, and 5 Yangon – Yudanaka
Group transfers by chartered bus to Yudanaka.
Overnight at Village Lodge (3 nights)
Film snow monkeys and visit nearby hot springs village.
Days 6-9 Hokkaido
Transfer to Hokkaido by flight.
Overnight at Hickory Wind Nature Lodge (4 nights).
Day 10 Tokyo
Transfer back to Tokyo by flight.
Overnight Tokyo hotel.
Day 11 Tokyo-Departure Day
Participants can catch flights back home this day.
Transfer to airport provided.
Optional Extension Provided for special visit to Koyasan, March 2-6, 2018. Please inquire for additional information about extension.
Gavriel Jecan
Gavriel Jecan started photographing at the age of 12 when his father gave him his first SLR camera. His appreciation of photography grew while photographing black-and-white on family hiking trips in the mountains. His love of nature, rock climbing and traveling inspired him to become a professional photographer.
In 1994 Gavriel Jecan joined Art Wolfe, Inc. and he traveled extensively with Art the world over. He was a member of the Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge TV field crew and teaches photography around the world on his own photo tours and Art Wolfe, Inc. The quality and scope of Jecan’s shooting has gained him representation by the world’s largest stock photography agencies (Getty, Corbis, Danita Delimont, OnAsia, and Okapia).
Jecan’s images appear regularly in calendars and magazines worldwide, including International Wildlife, Backpacker, Audubon, National Geographic, Midwest Express, Nature Foto, German Geo, Asian Geo, Outside, Sinra, Terre Sauvage etc. He has published five children’s books: C for Coyote, Wild Colors, Alaska Animal Babies, Hide and Seek, and South West Colors.
See more of Gavriel's photography here.Pricing
Total Cost: USD $8,200.00
Deposit: USD $820.00
Deposit
Deposit of $820 due now; Remaining balance due 90 days before the workshop start date. You will be contacted by the organisers of this workshop - Art Wolfe Inc. - with payment instructions.
Contact Photo Educate at any time for any clarifications or more information about payment terms.
Price Includes:
- Accommodations (twin sharing basis) as indicated above in the itinerary.
- All meals.
- All tuition - led by Gavriel Jecan from Art Wolfe Inc.
- Services of Air Conditioned Van
- Services of English speaking guide escort accompanying the trip
- Entrance fee to visit monuments.
- Services of local English guides during city sightseeing (as required)
- Mineral water during all meals, transfers, drives and sightseeing (available in vehicle)
Services Not Included
- Any international Airfare, travel insurance or medical insurance. (health insurance is mandatory and travel insurance is highly recommended)
- Anything not mentioned in inclusion above.
- Tipping to accompanying escort is not included in our quote.
- Any expenditure of personal nature like alcoholic drinks, Fruit shakes, sodas, laundry, telephone calls, or internet
- Anything ordered from room service at any hotel including mineral water (other than what being offered by the hotels on their compliment).
- Any sudden increase in price due to steep hike in fuel cost, change in government tax policy or for any reason beyond our control like acts of god, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situation or reason beyond our control.
Cancellations
Should you need to cancel, you must do so no less than 90 business days prior to the course date to receive a refund, less a handling fee of 5% (plus any transaction fees that apply).
If Art Wolfe, Inc. receives written notification cancelling your Trip more than 45 days prior to the planned departure of your Trip, Art Wolfe, Inc. will refund 50% of the total Trip cost to you.
If you cancel between 10 and 1 business day(s) prior to your course, there is NO refund of the course fee paid.
If we need to cancel a session for any other reason, a full refund or credit for another workshop taken within 12 months will be issued promptly following cancellation. Please check on your workshop status before making travel arrangements. Art Wolfe Inc. is not responsible for reimbursement of airline tickets. We encourage all participants to consider purchasing travel insurance.
Transfers
If you would like to transfer to a different course, or different dates for the same course, we would be happy to accommodate your request on a space-available basis and with the payment of an administrative fee. If you transfer more than 30 days prior to your originally scheduled course, the fee will be $50. Transfers are not possible 30 days or less prior to the course you are registered for.
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