Luz Elena Castro, an International Photojournalist will lead a photo tour back to her homeland of Colombia. Yes, Colombia was a country of conflict and cartels, but that is now in the rear view mirror. But those lost years are a clear benefit as Ms. Castro shares her country with you through an unusually authentic photographic and cultural experience: Colombia Today – The Undiscovered Charms. While Colombia has now reconnected with the rest of the world, it has maintained its unique mix of colonial, afro and Indio influences.

Luz Elena Castro was born and educated in Colombia and began her career in the late 1970’s. She has worked as a staff and freelance photojournalist, an instructor of photography at a Colombian university and as the personal photographer of Cesar Gaviria during his political campaign and his presidency of Colombia – an extremely prestigious appointment. Throughout Luz Elena’s career her images have been shown at important galleries in Colombia, the U.S. and in Europe. She has been living and working in California since 1996, where she has undertaken numerous photography projects, particularly regarding social issues and the Latino community, which have been published and exhibited.

It is hard to imagine a better guide for photographers who wish to discover the myriad of photographic and cultural opportunities of Colombia as it exists today. Luz’s passion for her homeland, its beauty, color, history, hot Latin pulse and pre Columbian mysticism burns bright and hot. She takes absolute delight in exposing guests to all of them. Being thoroughly bi-cultural Luz Elena has an uncanny ability to deliver all things Colombian to a North American group in very meaningful ways. From a photographic point of view she is best known for her ability to capture exceptional emotion through her lens letting ordinary moments speak in extraordinary ways.

Colombia will soon see many tourists, but we are there now. Experience and photograph a culture that has been moving along to its own beat, literally and figuratively, for hundreds of years.

Learn more about Colombia Today-The Undiscovered Charms

Best regards.
Teri Goldstein

A Different Perspective is pleased to announce that its South India Photo Immersion Tour led by Manoj Sharma, the guide for many well-known western photographers has already sold out.

Manoj has been leading trekking and cultural photo trips to areas of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and of course India for over 25 years.

Manoj visited the USA two weeks ago and we had a chance to discuss this tour in depth along with others we are collaborating on such as Arunachal Pradesh with Nagaland and the future Kashmir and Ladakh Tour.

I asked Manoj, “What makes his South India tour different from others South India photo tours”?

– Photograph the silk weavers of Kanchi in their homes with looms
– A chance to shoot the night ceremony at the Great Shree Meenakshi Temple (by smart phones!)
– Photos of musicians and singers in the pillared halls in the Great Temple of Madurai (by smart phones!)
– A visit to the tea workers houses in Munnar
– On the ground access to shoot village life in the Kerala Backwaters
– A chance to photograph a family preparing a typical South India meal along with dinner
– Shoot the Elephant Festival
– Take photos at the Kalamandalam classrooms for the performing arts school
– The opportunity to photograph the Theyyam Festival in the temple
– Street photography in Mumbai
– Shoot in the Dharavi slum area of Mumbai

South India Photo Immersion Tour with Manoj Sharma is a superb example of A Different Perspective tour.

A Different Perspective philosophy:

1. Unique Photo tours designed for the curious, adventurous and experienced photographer
2. Concierge level, small group tours that provide you with photo and cultural experiences of a lifetime
3. Travel with the best photographer/leaders who love sharing their country with fellow photographers on a highly personal level.

With A Different Perspective you do not just visit and photograph South India you become a part of it!