Jane Mattson Shapiro / Brown bear photo tour 2023
“Art Wolfe and Gavriel Jecan provided an incredible experience in eastern Alaska, near Katmai. From the idiosynchratic fishing lodge, to great food, and unbelievably talented sea plane pilots—to decent weather, an incredible number of brown bears/grizzlies, who literally posed while they were catching their Sockeye salmon, it was supurb! Walking sticks were helpful on the terrain, as were waders and boots—and it was possible to sit in the streams and look up at the bears fishing, fighting, loving, sleeping, and helping each other. Really came away with an understanding of this animal’s behavior. Older than the rest, I had my own guide, who helped also carry my backpack and held my hand at times on the rough ground…though I did not go as far as the others, I got some terrific shots. Art and Gav answered technical questions and our group learned more about post production from each other. I strongly recommend this trip to nature photographers and others!”
Their deep understanding of bear behavior and their commitment to ethical wildlife viewing ensured that we had the chance to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, without causing any disturbance to their routines. Art and Gav’s presence seemed to blend seamlessly with the surroundings, allowing us to capture breathtaking shots of bears in their most candid moments. Mothers and cubs, running bears, incredible leaps into the river and catching the rose-colored sockeye in their powerful jaws, and quiet adorable moments of bears snoozing on the tundra, we captured it all!
The trip was a perfect blend of adventure, education, and camaraderie. Art and Gav’s enthusiasm for sharing their knowledge was infectious. They patiently answered our questions, provided guidance on camera settings and composition. I wholeheartedly recommend joining Art and Gav on their next expedition. It’s a decision you won’t regret – a magical experience that will forever live in your heart and your portfolio.
Alan Alpert – Namibia / Botswana 2022
It was a great trip. One of my top ten! You guys did a great job leading it and organizing. The local guide and driver were excellent.
Jenny A. – Katmai Bear tour 2022
The past week in the back country of Alaska has surpassed all of my craziest dreams and expectations. A week long fellowship with Art Wolfe, Gavriel Jecan and 7 other amazing photographers has resulted in new friends, endless inspiration, a lot of learning, and a permanent smile on my face. Simply being in the presence of some of the most incredible animals I have ever had the privilege of shooting was amazing, and to have the opportunity to learn from Art and Gavriel made it even more spectacular. Sitting by the river and watching Alaskan brown bears fish for salmon or standing in a wide open field as 3 cubs playfully tormented their tolerant and loving mother are certainly experiences I will never forget.
Victoria Hobbs Braden – Grand Tetons 2021
Thanks Gavriel, even with the heavy rain I still came away Inspired, and with some great images.
Linda Parker – Palouse-2021
I want to thank you very much for a great trip to the Palouse. We really appreciate all the effort that went into planning the itinerary, scouting the sites, coordinating with the restaurants, and the excellent critique session. We always enjoy just spending time with you, and now we are sad that it is over.
Linda
Fred Gray – Palouse 2021.
I want to thank you for making our Palouse outing a huge success ——- everyone I have talked to was very pleased.
Fred
Tod R. Hamachek – Monterey, Astoria and Palouse 2021
I never know what I’ve learned until I’m home, downloaded my DNFs and developed them through Lightroom. My three sessions—Monterey, Astoria and the Palouse have left a deep impression and pushed me into different and exciting directions. I want to thank you, Art and Libby for your help, encouragement and constant constructive feedback. So I look forward to meeting again soon.
Roland Wolfram – Palouse 2021
It was good to meet you in Pullman. I enjoyed the lightroom session yesterday and picked up a several ideas and tips from your approach on everyone’s photos. I used them on the Palouse panorama, especially the radial filter and focus on highlights and shadows for a softer touch.
Roland
Larry Curtis – Cultural Japan Photo tour 2020
Gav it truly was an outstanding and fun adventure. You organized perfectly and chose guides who not only got us safely from place to place but had interesting commentary and were pleasant to be with. Bravo. As often is the case, the photographers who choose to travel with you were delightful interesting and courteous companions who were open to sharing their thoughts about photography and culture and history. Each person had a back story which was fascinating and informative. In other words, I am not reluctant to accompany you because I am confident that the trip will be exactly what I hope for in a photography based international travel workshop. Cheers, my friend. I wish to see you again in some far off land.
Dave Hachey – Cultural Japan photo tour 2020
Gavriel, Larry’s words echo my feelings too. I very much look forward to traveling with you again. Safe travels wherever you may go, …Dave Hachey
Robert French July 13, 2020
Greetings, all …Here where I live, we residents publish a quarterly, four-color magazine. I do a bit of the photography for it. Last year I did a photo spread on Myanmar. The photos came from a couple of group trips I did with Gavriel Jecan ( International Photo Tours ). The photo spread won the award of excellence in the national Apex competition for all types of publications, other than news organizations. The award was in the design/photography category. See link below to go to a PDF of the issue. Myanmar is on pg. 9. Also, a few other of my photos in the issue: the dimpled young lady on pgs. 23 & 24, and the blue hour shot of the suspension bridge on pg. 28.
Best ~ Robert F
Lawrance W. Curtis – Mongolia 2019
It was the trip of a lifetime! Truly a 1,000 miles from any major city, in gorgeous-beautiful landscapes with the most friendly people who ever lived in a yurt. Wish my life to be long enough to go back with this great crew of travelers and lead by Gavriel Jecan
Elane Zelcer – Glacier Bay AK 2019
It has been just over a week since I came back to Melbourne, and in amongst my day-to-day work, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying going through my photos, deleting the rubbish and finding one or two gems that warrant close post-processing attention. I’m still in that process, having left the whales and eagles until last, although there are some already on my website. It really was an amazing week – learning from you both in such a glorious part of the world, seeing and capturing whales bubble-net feeding, and that wondrous breach (well, series of breaches & tail slaps) on our last morning up in that little bay, and actually capturing eagles grabbing food from the water, eating mid-flight. Every day was a learning experience – and loads of fun as well! Thank you for being so open to sharing your skills and knowledge – I’m continuing to put this into practice. Thank you again – I look forward to keeping in touch.Kind regards Elane
Steve Allen – Mt Rainier workshop 2019
Gifted and talented people are rare. Add warm, kind, helpful, knowledgable to that list and you’ve got folks that add joy and smiles to the world. Your kindness, guidance and inspiration at Mt. Rainier were a blessing for me and I’m sure for all the folks and loved ones at the workshop!
Elane Zelcer – Alaska 2017 Glacier Bay
I’m a little delayed in sending this, but cannot wait any longer without saying thank you so much!
It has been just over a week since I came back to Melbourne, and in amongst my day-to-day work, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying going through my photos, deleting the rubbish and finding one or two gems that warrant close post-processing attention.
I’m still in that process, having left the whales and eagles until last, although there are some already on my website.
It really was an amazing week – learning from you both in such a glorious part of the world, seeing and capturing whales bubble-net feeding, and that wondrous breach (well, series of breaches & tail slaps) on our last morning up in that little bay, and actually capturing eagles grabbing fish from the water, eating mid-flight.
Every day was a learning experience – and loads of fun as well! Thank you for being so open to sharing your skills and knowledge – I’m continuing to put this into practice.
I’ll keep watching for the Namibia trip but promise that I won’t come unless I know I can walk the distances.
Thank you again – I look forward to keeping in touch.
Robert Levy- 2015 Romania photo tour. Before I go another step, I have to say I love the Romanian people. I have already had a wonderful time. These people are friendly, nice, helpful, and our photo guide, Gavriel Jecan has helped me get great shots and has made wonderful arrangements. Who know Romania could be this wonderful. Wow, I am two days into the trip and loving it. What a great trip.
Oded Shulsinger _ 2015 Romania photo tour. Thanks to Gavriel Jecan our amazing Photo tour guide–who by the way grew up in Romania and left to become one of the best photo tour guides in the world–thank you for alerting me to see and get great photographs.
Kathy Pfeifer Hansen The Mt. Rainier workshop 2016 –
It was great. You are an excellent teacher and you shared so much with us. I hope I can remember all the lessons when I am out there shooting. You guys were a huge help when I was working on wide angle shots and some macro work, both of which can be time consuming, but very rewarding. One thing I learned from both of you is that I have much more to learn. I can hardly wait. Thank you both for a fantastic workshop!
Michael Kovac Palouse workshop 8/2014 – It was a pleasure meeting you at the workshop. I very much enjoyed the time and our conversations. How quickly the time passes. It’s already been over a week since we met. Thanks for being there and guiding us to take better pictures, for driving madly across the gorgeous landscapes (I clocked nearly 900 miles starting Spokane) and for braking mostly sensibly….and to prevent a nasty fistfight in the wheat fields (see also below) with diplomatic negotiation and a sensible retreat J. I enjoyed all and every minute of it. Loved the format and liked the lectures and critiques – very productive. I really liked seeing the before and after, and Art going through the process of making a better image out of his RAW captures. Very insightful! In retrospect, I wish I had also presented the before and after for each of the 7 images for the critique rather than just the images I had some trouble with. Cindy spoke highly of your travels/photo tours to faraway places. Please let me know if you are up to anything interesting and are looking for participants. I hope to spend more of my time exploring the world rather than working madly like I have done in the past 30some years and look forward to new adventures. There are so many places I have been to, but so many more that I would like to visit. And what could be better than combining travel with my joy of photography?! Until our paths cross again, stay in touch!
Michael
Sara Chieco, April 2014 Bhutan photo tour_ An amazing photography trip with Gavriel Jecan – a professional photographer who mentored us and taught me a ton! What a wonderful experience and of course big thanks to our faithful local guide Pema Sonam .
Cyntia L. Hovind, – Jan 2014, India Photo tour
“Dear Gavriel and Denis. I wanted to thank you both for an excellent photo tour through the “Golden Triangle” of Rajasthan, Agra, and Varanasi, India. The trip was an amazing experience of color, scenery, ancient architecture, and raw Indian culture – all sensories were fully engaged the entire trip. The photo opportunities were endless – from the street vendor in Old Delhi to the Sadhus of the Varanasi, it was impossible not to come away with images that will continue to transport me back to India in the years to come. Thanks again for the photo instructions that you both provided throughout the trip –the field is always the best classroom. As I reflect on the trip, I definitely found the experience to be transformative and would definitely consider other photo tours to exotic places with you. Thanks again, Cindy Hovind”
Cynthia Witney -Jan 2014, India Photo Tour
Thank you for an enlightening experience in India both from a photographic and personal perspective.
The trip was very well organised, the accommodation excellent and the photo opportunities endless.
The Manvar desert camp was wonderful and was a standout part of the tour.
The other members of the group were very supportive of a “newbie” entering their ranks and were happy to share their knowledge and experience with “f stops” and Lightroom! Thanks everyone.
I very much enjoyed Gavriel’s presentation and the photo critiques but would have liked more of these during the tour.The only downside (which was unavoidable) was the long bus trips on very rough roads and the speed with which we were ushered through the various photographic sites. Perhaps this was due to the Indian guides’ being unused to leading a photographic tour and to my relative inexperience with these tours, but a better targeted tour from a photographic perspective i.e allowing time for setting up for a photograph, in locations where there was known to be photographic opportunities, would have made a difference to my experience.
I understand that this was the first photographic tour of India and I know my comments will be received in the constructive way in which they were meant.
I hope to go on another Iconic Images photography tour in the future.
Cynthia
Robert Woodward February 5, 2014 India
After months of anticipation and preparing for the photo tour ‘Incredible India’ with three weeks of photo-shoots, I was cordially welcomed to New Delhi ahead of the main photographic tour. Using this early arrival, I explored, predominantly the Government sector, with its beautiful architectural photo opportunities and found these words inscribed on face of the Secretariat Building north side – ‘Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed’.Very British I suspect!! (Yes; by Charles Caleb Colton). Pondering these words, I decided to adopt this theme for my own journey on our photographic tour and relate my observations and photos to how the British Empire may have contributed to the development of India.
Meeting our two tour leaders – professional photographer Gavriel and self-taught, passionate hobby photographer Denis, other travel colleagues, our guide Harendra, our bus driver and our transport spotter; we soon formed a cohesive unit ready for our challenging photo-tour ahead.
Seamless tour organisation and schedules with timings precise, hotels superb, our means of transport varied to include plane, long and short bus rides, cycle-rickshaws, autos (auto-rickshaw), camels, elephants and fleet-footed road walking called for an occasional relaxing glass of wine worthy at the end of each busy photo-shooting day.
India, an incredible union of palaces and poverty, an overall population magnitude of 1.2 billion people, supported by their treasured 300 million cows; difficult to comprehend the numbers and we only saw part of this unique country.
Denis and Gavriel have quite different styles about how they approach and mentor their travel companions; so there were ample opportunities to broaden our learnings from each in the field. Day by day, night by night we continued to build and enhance our knowledge of India’s culture through Harendra and embellish and hone our photographic skills through Denis and Gavriel.
Back home, the joy of recapturing so many vivid memories through 10,000 images continues as I look back over the whole experience of ‘Incredible India’.
The colours, the sounds, the magnitude, the religious aspects, the architecture, the people, wonderful weather and the many laughs we experienced made our journey fulfilling and rewarding.
Well done ‘Iconic Images International’; my expectations were well and truly exceeded.
It was more than just a photographic tour; it was a memorable journey of education, distinction and gratification.
Paul Gabriel Pazstor – Vietnam Photo Tour 2013
The photo tour to Vietnam with Gavriel Jecan and Mihai Moiceanu it was unexpectedly nice and full of Excitement. Everything started with an overwhelming pallet of color surrounded by a non-melodic sound performed by the car and motorbike horns, especially around the Hanoi fruit and vegetable market. In the old Hanoi you are overwhelmed with subjects to photograph, it doesn’t matter what direction you are looking, you’ll always see a subject to photograph. Next it was an overnight train to the northern highlands, Sapa a settlement populated by Hill tribes ( Black Hamong, Flower Hamong, Red Dzao and more.), in this area the landscape beauty was fascinating with old rice terraces surrounded by forested tall mountains. Gavriel and Mihai took us to some nice locations where we can photograph the locals in their traditional clothing working in the field, rice terraces, I was surprised to see how hard they were working and they were happy doing it. After few days our travel took us to a total different location, the Ha Long Bay. Ha long Bay is a UNESCO world heritage site do to its unique beauty and lime stone formation, this landscapes is unreal. Our boat journey took us through this carst landscape with many frequent stop to climb and photograph from the views that you can only dream about with the great panorama to this sea dragons out of stones or to descent in to some of the many caves of this region. From the sea to the Red River Delta where we did complete our story on the rice, from planting season up north in Sapa to the harvest season in Ninh Binh region. The Photo tour to Vietnam was excellent, great accommodation, food and experimented guides- everything was professional, in a way that made our life easier to photograph.
The Photo tour leaders guidness and instructional suggestion were excellent, hardly I can wait to go on another photo tour with Gavriel Jecan or Mihai Moiceanu.
Eric L. – Olympic peninsula workshop 2013
I just wanted to thank Art and Gavriel for such a great workshop.
This is my first one and I understand from talking with others in the group you guys are the best of the best.
Relative to some of the others, I am newer to photography but never felt that way. I learned so much to take back with me about my equipment, composition, light, looking for interesting and often abstract subject matter and so many other things it would take me all day to write them down. Great job. I most certainly will be back for another workshop.
I met wonderful people with simple lifestyle, willing to invite you in their lives. It was a pleasure to travel with him, on the night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and on word to Sapa. Sapa is a beautiful place located in northern Vietnam up in the foothills of Himalaya range. We spent two days in this region before we return to Hanoi on the way to Ha Long Bay, this is a UNESCO world heritage site with unusual lime stone formations. Our last stop for this trip it was Tom Coc, with limestone canyons, caves and rivers.
Overall It was a successful photo tour with a wonderful group. Vietnam is a wonderful country with many Photographic opportunities, it is a place where I learned a lot in terms of photography, culture and beyond. Hope to see you soon on another photo expedition.
Thanks Gavriel.”
Helen Newnham _Myanmar Photo Tours – March, 2013 A very big thank you for an amazing trip to Myanmar – what an extraordinary country.
Thanks must also go to Gavriel and Win for their expert knowledge of Myanmar.
As with all Denis’ trips (this was my third) the preparation and attention to detail is always the best such that everything that can be done to maximize the experience, is done.
This was no ordinary tour but rather a very unique look at Myanmar. One that in many respects was a ‘behind the scenes’ tour that the average tourist simply does not see. Photographically it was very rich with many opportunities set up especially for us.
The group was small which maximized the experience and gave one-on-one access to Denis, Gavriel and Win. We had privileged access to monasteries and on a number of occasions young monks who were gracious and compliant with our many requests. We also had access to women and children in small villages; bullock carts that went up and down, backwards and forwards in the setting sun; fisherman who patiently cast their nets over and over again so we could get our images in the magical light of the setting sun.
The images are stunning.
The highlight for me was Inle Lake. We visited villages built on stilts over the water; lotus weavers; silk weavers; the Padaung woman with their long ringed necks and the fisherman with their conical nets demonstrating their fishing prowess.
Myanmar is changing and changing quickly. There is no better way to see and photograph it than on a tour such as this.
Thank you to all of you for your generosity and patience with my many questions and to my fellow travellers thank you for your company and good humour.
Kind regards Helen Newnham
Dave H – Myanmar Photo Tour 2013
Dear Gavriel, Just a short not to say thanks for a beautiful photography workshop. I must say that it was the richest experience yet and I look forward to joining you and Denis again soon. Now that I’m back home the real work will begin, namely sorting and cataloging nearly 5,000 images. But I look forward to this and will post a link to my web site when it’s up and running again.
Warmest regards, …Dave
Peter Randell – Myanmar – March , 2013
“Mystical Myanmar” was all you promised and more – faultless organisation with the mechanics of getting us around in a frenetic environment, excellent accomodation and a thoughtful tasty array of meals to demonstrate the variety of foods available in this surprising country.
Towering over these mundane but essential aspects of travel was the photography. Unique scenes hit daily, from market scenes the likes of which I have not seen before, to cloth-making crafts including lotus plant sap weaving.
There were fishing images from river and lake that showed skills which may not be around in the next generation.
We were most fortunate to be taken by knowledgeable people to sites they knew were special and to which they had garnered special and frequently exclusive access.
My special thanks to Gavriel for his worldly photographic eye which he shared so generously, and to the remarkable Win with his language and cultural skills as well as his photographic expertise.
Finally, you again selected a great group of fellow photographers from which I have made good friendships which I hope will continue into new adventures.
Thank you.
Peter Randell.
Denise and Roger Bollag – Myanmar, March , 2013
What an experience we had travelling with you and the small group to Myanmar.
The organisation, hotels and the guides Win and Gavriel were outstanding.
We are “amateur” photographs, compared to the rest of the group, but we had the opportunity to see things which no “normal” travel agency or tour can offer.
Thank you again and best regards,
Denise & Roger
Una Mooney – Myanmar – March 26, 2013
Our recent trip to Myanmar was both memorable and unique.
The uniqueness of our experience was brought home to me when upon returning from our first morning’s shoot I shared a hotel lift with another group of tourists. One lady remarked that they had been to seven pagodas that morning.
I silently compared our morning’s experience where we had traversed a century in time photographing the city of Yangon waking up to another new day.
Each day offered a new but equally remarkable experience.
Your desire and ability to push the envelope a little bit further every time, your meticulous attention to detail in planning, your experienced contacts on the ground as well as the photographic expertise your team provides made for an altogether special experience.
Una
Irena P. 2013 Vietnam and Cambodia photo tour.
Gavriel, thank you so much for the trip, I have learned heaps and I feel that my photography is jumping ahead. I have never taken photos of people before and now I feel more confident to do it.