GYPSY SOUL PELGRIMAGE
Messolongi, Greece
"A travel through the ancient greek traditions"
12-19 of june 2019
This is a week long
Travel documentary workshop
When : from the 12th untill 19th of June 2019
Where: Messolongi, Greece (west greece, delta)
Focus: Photo-documentary, narrative story creating, personal development
Participants: 10
Price: 880€*
*(not inc.) Travel expences to Athens, lunch and supper, drinks
Reservation: to confirm your place in the workshop an amount of 150 euro has to be payed in advance
Contact us for more information
The ancient greek gypsy pilgrimage tradition, Festival of Ai Symi
Traveling back in time with traditional Gypsy musicians guiding the ancient warriors, during days and nights, trough the village up to the mountains where lays a sacred monastery, ceremonies and traditional dancing are practiced to celebrating the victory, freedom and the baptisms of the future generations.
Traditions whose roots reach as far as the ancient Greece 1000bc
Check out the deeper story here
Workshop description
This photography workshop will be about finding your own unique vision of the traditional celebration in the southern Greece village of Messolonghi by using the camera to explore in a direct, spontaneous way. Open to both serious amateurs and professionals alike, from fine art photographers to documentary photographers, it is a workshop that will emphasize the development of your own personal way of seeing photographically. This worksop will also be about learning how to edit your work intuitively and will include discussions about how to take your photography to the next level.
Jordi Oliver, one of Spain best photo documentary photographers. Specialised in humanistic photography and working with the Gypsy community for more then 10 years. Known for his alternative learning method, a born educator, teaching you how to bring your personal way of seeing out into your photographs.
Detailed program
Wednesday 12/06/2019
6 pm: Leaving by bus from Athens to Messolonghi
8:30 pm: Arriving to hotel, The Socrates organic village, Wild olive
9:30 pm: Supper and welcome at the hotel
Thursday 13/06/2019
9 am: Breakfast and briefing
10 am: By bike we will go to the town of Messolonghi
11 am: Meeting with Vasilis Artikos, great local photographer, introduction about the pilgrimage.
2 pm: Lunch
5 pm: Discovering the area and localisation
9 pm: Supper at restaurant
Friday 14/06/2019
9 am: Breakfast and briefing
10 am: visit to a local gypsy community
2 pm: Lunch
8 pm: The Saint Simon festival is launched by gypsy musicians, we will witness the first opening and have supper in the town with the involved families. These festive activities will last until 7 am.
Saturday 15/06/2019
10 am: Breakfast and briefing
11 am: The participants of the festival are going with the musicians from one member’s house to the other to pick up “the brothers in arms” (ancient warriors) and have a tour in the center of Messolonghi.
2 pm: Lunch
7 pm: photographical discussion, by Jordi Oliver and Vasilis Artikos
10 pm: Traditional celebration at the centre of Messolonghi
Sunday 16/06/2019
10 am: Breakfast and Briefing
11 am: Visit to the sea side
2 pm: Lunch
7 pm: Celebration at the central church, Agois Spyridonas, a parade will start from the church until the monastery (located in the mountains). The brothers in arms and the gypsy musicians will go to the mountains with horses and start the ceremonies of the baptisms.
11 pm – 8 am: Dancing and drinking in the forest around the monastery, each family group have their own designated area.
Monday 17/06/2019
9 am: Breakfast and Briefing
10 am: Going back to the monastery for the baptisms of the gypsy children, an orthodox ceremony will be given along with traditional rituals.
2 pm: Lunch
7 pm: The families are having a parade, going back from the mountain to the town. The celebration continues in the centre of Messolonghi and ends in the Island of Agia Triada (St. Trinity), to honor the fallen heroes of Klisova.
10 pm: Supper
Tuesday 18/06/2019
9:30 am: Breakfast and briefing
10:30 am: Editing at the hotel
2 pm: Lunch at Messolonghi
7 pm: Exhibition of our work through the form of an audiovisual, open to all public in the cultural centre of Messolonghi.
Wednesday 19/06/2019
9 am: Breakfast and briefing
10 am: Bus to Athens, estimated arrival time 1 pm
