Join Keith Skelton and Armando Arorizo for our fourth annual Mexico photography workshop and tour! Dia de los Muertos in Mexico City. This will be the trip of a lifetime! 

Mexico is a vibrant, beautiful country filled with friendly people, a vivacious energy, amazing architecture, and delicious food. One of the world’s great civilizations, Mexico offers a tantalizing blend of Meso-american cultures, Spanish traditions and contemporary arts. Mexico offers photographers limitless opportunities to photograph the people, culture and cityscapes.

This will be a cultural and street style photography workshop. We will be using nearly all our time from dawn into the night to shoot a variety of subjects and scenes including people, architecture and cityscapes. You will improve your skills while experiencing an amazing slice of the country. We will practice both candid and posed portraits taking advantage of natural scenes. All should return home with new found experiences and dynamic photographs.

Some of the places we will visit and photograph:

-MEXICO CITY: As one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City there is a lot to do. You’ll find world-class museums, sprawling markets, tons of historic buildings, squares, parks, and sights. Despite Mexico City’s huge scale, most of its tourist attractions are all centered around a fairly small geographical area. The Zócalo is at the heart of Mexico City and it encompasses the Templo Mayor and the Palacio Nacional. Situated just off the Zócalo is La Cathedral Metropolitana a magnificent cathedral fortified with gold and a beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture.

-COYOACAN: (meaning the place of coyotes in Nahuatl) is a relatively quiet neighborhood in Mexico City. Formerly a rural village, Coyoacán has become a rich pocket of art and history in the capital of Mexico. It is known for its cobbled streets, art galleries, colourful buildings and artisan markets. Coyoacán is where Frida Kahlo spent most of her life. We will be based here for half of our trip. 

-TEOTIHUACAN (te-aw-tee-wah-kahn) the "birthplace of the gods" is the amazing ancient Meso-american city located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City.  A once in a lifetime experience and hard to miss photographically.

-TAXCO (tass-ko) is just 100 miles southwest of Mexico City is one of Mexico’s most beloved colonial towns. Perched on steep hillsides, Taxco was once a silver mining town and is now best known for its silver craft. There are many shops throughout the town to buy inexpensive quality silver jewelry! Taxco is picturesque with white stucco buildings with red-roof tiles, winding cobbled streets, antique churches, and romantic little plazas overlooked by bougainvillea-laced balconies. It has been declared a national heritage site by the government.

-TEPOZTLAN  is a Mexican town south of Mexico City. It’s known as the reputed birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec feathered serpent god, and for its weekly craft market. A steep trail leads to the Aztec Tepozteco pyramid, on a clifftop above the town. Situated in a highland mountain valley and cradled by dramatic, copper-toned, mountain cliffs, Tepoztlán is one of Mexico’s most alluring and unique colonial towns. With a breath-taking mountainous landscape, charming town center, rich echoes of ancient civilizations, the town makes for one of the most remarkable mix of colonial and indigenous experiences in Mexico. 

The Parish of the Nativity, the Church of Tepoztlan, and its former convent were built between 1555 and 1580 by villagers of the old township of Tepoztlan, led by the Dominican monks.

-AMECAMECA is a small town at the foot of volcano Popocatépetl where we should get some amazing views. 

VIVA MEXICO! As a special addition to the workshop there will be a PHOTO GALLERY EXHIBIT of you work in the spring of 2024.  The show and opening will be held at the Perfect Exposure Gallery showcasing your photographs taken in Mexico. 

Whats included in your fee: 

Expert instruction and guidance from two experienced photography instructors. Every student will receive personal attention in whatever needs you may have including street photography, BW photography, camera skills, working with people and more.

-Airport transfers (Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport.

-Private Sprinter bus to locations.

-Deluxe single hotel accommodations. Casa Tuna Coyoacanand HOTEL PUEBLO LINDO (Taxco) . Nine nights , two hotels. 

Hotel Boutique Pueblo Lindo sits is the heart of Taxco with amazing views of the city. The suites are modern, comfortable and spacious. The hotel has a rooftop restaurant and sitting decks all around. Casa Tuna is a private walled modern hotel with a beautiful courtyard and terrace. It is just a few blocks from the central plaza. 

-Breakfast is included at most hotels. 

-Entrance to Pyramids of TEOTIHUACAN

-All local transportation.

WHATS NOT INCLUDED: Airline tickets, lunch/dinner, tips, gallery entrance fees to museums and drinks. We will eat together but it is not required. 

WHAT TO BRING:

All types of cameras are welcome. This is mostly about street photography so you might consider smaller cameras. A variety of lenses will be used from wide to telephoto. Small tripods are a personal preference.

Mobile phones (REQUIRED) (many US carriers include Mexico and Canada in their plans) Laptop or iPads if you want to do editing on location. (not required)

CLIMATE: Mexico City (7,000’) and Taxco (5000’) are both at high elevations so the climate in mild ranging between 80-45F. We will check the forecast before departure. Generally one should have good walking shoes, light clothing, rain jacket and long trousers.

HEALTH: Visit your health professional 4 to 6 weeks before departure to check on possible immunizations you might need. 

PASSPORT AND COVID VACCINATIONS REQUIRED.

WORKSHOP RESERVATIONS: 

A deposit of $600 will hold your place until August 15, 2023 when the final balance will be due. This will guarantee you accommodations. We will send you an invoice for the final balance on August 15. You can arrange two payments if desired. 

Payments can be made though PayPal (plus a 6% charge), Zelle or personal check. 

FORMER STUDENT PRICE: $4900

FULL PRICE: $5200

LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE.

INTINERARY: Friday October 27 - Sunday November 5, 2023

-Friday, October 27: We will meet in Mexico City late in the day allowing people to travel. You will be picked up by a driver the airport. We will have orientation and introduce each other before heading out for a meal.

*Our accommodations will be at CASA TUNA in Coyoacan for five nights. 

-Saturday, October 28: Breakfast Casa Tuna.  We will photography Day of the Dad celebrations at Paseo de la Reforma. 

-Sunday, October 29: Breakfast Casa Tuna. We visit and photograph Mexico City's Zocalo, National Palace and surrounding area. 

-Monday, October 30: Breakfast Casa Tuna. All day photographic activities in Coyoacan, Chapultepec and the surrounding area.

-Tuesday, October 31: Breakfast Casa Tuna. We visit the Basilica de Guadalupe and the great Aztec pyramids of Teotihuacan. 

-Wednesday, November 1: Early departure to Amecameca, Mercado Juarez and views of the Popocatépetl volcano before proceeding to Taxco.

*We will stay 4 nights at Hotel Pueblo Lindo. 

-Thursday, November 2: After breakfast we will explore the many winding streets and Zocola in Taxco. This will be a good day to siesta in the afternoon after much walking. 

-Friday, November 3: Early departure for a day trip to Tepoztlan. 

-Saturday, November 4: Hotel breakfast and further exploration of Taxco including the underground marketplace and silver shops. 

-Sunday, November 5: Breakfast at the the hotel and transport by private back to Mexico City airport for late afternoon/evening flights home. Please make your return flight on November 5th for 5pm or later! 

IMPORTANT DETAILS

*Note that there is considerable walking and steps on this tour. Please make sure you are in good physical condition and able to walk 2-5 miles a day.

Please make sure your passport is up to date!

As of Jan 2022 these are the no Covid 19 travel requirements flying TO the United States: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html Please bring your own Covid test kits with you. 

Travel Insurance required!

https://www.worldnomads.com/usa/

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com

https://www.travelguard.com

https://www.tripassure.com/main/

GETTING THERE: Most major US cities have air service to Mexico City. Flights from Los Angeles can run between $300 and $600. Check Google Flights for up to date prices. https://www.google.com/flights/ 

Please make your return flight on Nov. 5th for 5pm or later!

Your Workshop Leaders:

-Armando Arorizo is a freelance Photojournalist with over 20 years of experience. He has shot everything from Presidential Inaugurations, the Academy Awards to the NBA Finals. He is currently a contract photographer with the Prensa Internacional and Agencia EFE News. He is also owner of the Perfect Exposure Gallery In Los Angeles. Born and raised in Mexico, he is fluent in both English and Spanish. He has previously led “The Art of Street Photography” photo workshops.

-Keith Skelton began his career as a photojournalist moving to a career in commercial photography working since 1980. He has been leading California Photography Workshops for the last ten years teaching hundreds of adult students from around the world the skills of landscape, urban and street photography. Keith has traveled and photographed Mexico numerous times since 1968. He is a graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography. 

QUESTIONS:

Keith Skelton: keith@keithskelton.com

Armando Arorizo: armando@theperfectexposuregallery.com