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Join Leica Store Miami for a photographic and cultural adventure in Japan! Japan is a land of breathtaking contrasts, home to one of the most forward-thinking and simultaneously traditional cultures on Earth. Vast cities ride waves of innovation and offer the rest of the world a glimpse of the future, yet much of rural Japan has mainly remained untouched. The countryside is another world, one dominated by pillars of ancient tradition, spiritual temples, and nature in full bloom.
On this photography adventure, we’ll meet in the ultra-modern metropolis of Tokyo, and make our way to the legendary Mt. Fuji, the atmospheric Kiso Valley, the ancient capital Kyoto, and the sacred Koyasan Mountain. We’ll be visiting Japan during its most colorful season, autumn. At this time of year, the Japanese maple tree, Momiji, is in full bloom making for truly amazing photographs.
This tour is suitable for all levels of experience and ability. While other cameras are certainly allowed, the focus is on Leica camera systems and learning how to use them to their full potential. Current owners as well as those wanting to try Leica gear out for a week of real shooting are encouraged to attend. We’ll share our favorite tips and tricks so you can get the most out of this exceptional gear.
This trip will be led by photographer Andy Marty and a local guide/translator. They will be with us every step of the way to ensure that we have an amazing experience. Leica experts David Farkas and Colin McKinley from Leica Store Miami will be on hand to give assistance and advice as you photograph this beautiful country.
This trip will begin in Tokyo and end in Osaka. Tokyo has two international airports, Haneda and Narita, but we recommend flying into Haneda International Airport (HND) and out of Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX). If you prefer to head back to Tokyo either to return home or spend a few extra days, you can take a bullet train from Osaka. *For those who prefer to fly out of Narita International Airport (NRT), please keep in mind that it can be about a 1.5 hour drive from Tokyo.
On the first day of the tour you will arrive at Vagar airport, on the west of the Faroes. We recommend that you fly from either Reykjavík or Copenhagen, which should be around a 1½ hour flight. You can arrive anytime you like, as long as it’s before 17:00. You’ll arrive to the Faroe Islands and make your way from Vágar Airport to the Foroyar Hotel in Torshavn. There will be some time to rest before you meet with the rest of the group in the evening for a delicious welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant. This is a great chance for you to get to know your fellow travelers a little better. You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss the itinerary with your photo guide, who will go over the details for the days ahead.
This is when the adventure truly begins! You’ll rise early for breakfast, before heading out to your first destination – the beautiful village of Gásadalur. Surrounded by majestic mountains on all sides and lush green valleys, it makes for a spectacular sight, though is perhaps most well-known for the iconic Múlafossur waterfall that plunges from a cliff into the waves of the ocean below.
From there, we’ll make our way to the village of Bøur and thereafter to the the stunning Lake Sørvágsvatn that appears to float high above the sea. A short hike will take us to a panoramic viewpoint, where we’ll spend our time capturing the surrounds. You’ll also catch sight of the incredible Bøsdalafoss waterfall, which flows in a surreal fashion from the lake directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Our sunset session will be at Vagar Island, where the jagged Drangarnir sea stacks reach into the sky. This is one of the most mesmerizing places in the Faroe Islands and will make for breathtaking images. We’ll photograph these epic rock formations from several angles as we make the most of the golden light.
Heljardalsa Waterfall | Daniel Kordan 2016
Today, we’ll rise early for a sunrise shoot, before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Then, we’ll catch a ferry to Mykines Island, the jewel of the Faroes. This remote island is home to only 14 people throughout the year, though it plays host to thousands of seabirds nesting along its spectacular coastlines during summer! You’ll have ample opportunities to photograph puffins, gannets, fulmars and kittiwakes as they dive from the black basalt cliff faces into the water on the hunt for fish. The highlight of Mykines is the lighthouse at the end of a steep islet Mykineshólmur, which will take us about two hours. We’ll be rewarded by an incredible view of the ocean waves crashing into the islet from all around.
On day four, we’ll visit Streymoy Island. This is the largest island in the Faroes and offers plenty of incredible landscapes for photography. We’ll spend a whole day exploring the island, visiting the black sand beach at the small village of Tjørnuvík and catching a view towards Eysturoy Island across the ocean. Next, we’ll explore the charming turf-roofed houses of Saksun, dotted across the valleys and surrounded by stunning mountainous scenery. Nearby is the famous Fossá waterfall, tumbling from a height of 140 metres. It makes for a wonderful composition during sunset, as it drops in two tiers.
Today, we’ll move to Eysturoy Island, basing ourselves in the vibrant village of Gjógv. With quaint houses surrounded by lush vegetation on the backdrop of amazing mountains, this village offers a lot in terms of compositions and is a great base for the next few days of our trip. After a long day of exploring the island, we’ll journey to the village of Funningur for a sunset session at the old Funningur Church. With its grassy roof, wooden design and perfect position at the mouth of a fjord, this church is a stunning place to capture the last rays of blazing light as the sun skims close to the horizon.
On day six, we’ll rise early and take a ferry ride to the island of Kalsoy, where we’ll witness one of the most iconic views in the Faroe Islands. An easy hike will take us to an astonishing viewpoint looking out towards the spectacular Kallur Lighthouse, dwarfed by the sheer cliffs surrounding it that reach towards the horizon of the sea. To the west, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of Eysturoy Island, while Kunoy and Viðoy islands lay to the east In the afternoon, we’ll visit the village Viðareiði to capture the beautiful sights of the surrounding cliffs from a panoramic viewpoint. There is a wonderful composition of the Viðareiði church to be explored, with a huge mountain in the background and the open water at its base.
On day seven, we’ll explore Borðoy Island, one of the northern islands in the Faroes archipelago. Scenic fjords make for stunning visuals here and we’ll spend part of the day capturing the incredible mountains that surround the tiny village of Árnafjørður. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a hike above the fishing port of Klaksvík, to a mountain ridge known as Klakkur. Along the way, there will be plenty of opportunities to photograph the rich birdlife, before we’ll find ourselves faced with an exceptional view across the straits towards the Kalsoy Islands with the open water at our feet. It’s a great place to take a mind-blowing selfie as you stand seemingly at the edge of the world.
This will be our final day in the Faroe Islands. After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel and your photography guide will transfer you back to Vágar airport. From there, you’ll be able to catch your flight home or to your next destination.
