Namibia -October 10-24, 2026 Announced!

August 23, 2024

The 2026 Namibia ~ A Creative Adventure Photo-Safari: October 10-24, 2026 (14 nights): $9,999. dbl. occupancy. Based on 8 participants.

The Itinerary:

Fly into Windhoek (Hosea Kutako International Airport, airport code WDH at around 8:00am. We will be picked up and transported to our lodge at Quiver Tree Forest.

QuiverTree Forest, Keetmanshoop - Here we will be able to photograph the iconic Quiver Trees. Night photography instruction will be provided. In addition, we will let you know in advance what lenses and accessories you will need for Milky Way and night photography.

Kolmanskop (Ghost Town) here we will photograph the abandoned ghost town of Kolmanskop. This is a photographer’s dream come true with sand-filled doorways and light flowing in from broken windows, etc…

We will stay at either Sossus Dune Lodge, Sossusvlei Lodge or Dead Valley Lodge in Sossusvlei or a combo of the three. Both the Dune lodge and Dead Valley are the closest lodges to the entrance of Dead Vlei and we will be able to get out in the morning early morning to photograph the sunrise at the Vlei.

The distance from Kolmanskop to Sossusvlei is about 550km and the trip should take about 7 hours. We will make stops along the way to break it up. We will be visiting Deadvlei and Dune 45 and much more.

There is a fairly strenuous up-and-down hike to some of the best photo locations that should take anywhere from 20 -45 minutes depending on how slow or fast you walk. It usually takes me about 30 minutes, it is not a race, and you can walk at your own speed. No need to carry a large backpack full of heavy gear, usually a couple of lenses and water are all you need.

At Sossusvlei two desert systems come together: the beautiful red dunes of the Kalahari Desert and the breathtakingly stark Namib Desert. The desert experience is a surreal and truly unique. Deadvlei, with its ancient camel thorn trees in the now dried up lake, is a photographers dream. So many photo opps here. Along with the spectacular landscapes we should get to photograph some wildlife as well, with chances for Oryx and Springbok among others against or on the dunes.

From Sossusvlei we head off to Swakopmund to spend 3 nights at Swakopmund. This bustling coastal town is filled with bird life, beaches, restaurants, and sand dunes. We will spend most of our time photographing the amazing bird life in and around the Walvisbay area. The Salt Mine and bay area is especially productive with a huge selection of waders and other waterfowl along with large numbers of flamingoes. During our time in Swakopmund we will enjoy a chartered boat trip for dolphins, seals and marine life.

At Okuakuejo Camp, Etosha or Ongava Lodge we will have our photo safari’s. Here we should see and photograph many species including and especially the endangered Black Rhino. There will be game drives during the day, and we will likely see Lion, Giraffe, Elephant, etc...

*We will be driving in comfort in an air-conditioned, oversized 4x4 Land Cruiser that is spacious with large windows and a pop-up roof to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Every participant will have a window seat.

This tour includes:
- All accommodation
- All transfers & travels in Namibia by a local guide
- Breakfast & Dinners included everywhere -except in Swakopmund which will only include breakfast.
- Bottled water in the vehicles
- All park fees
- Ghost Town early entry photo permits
- Catamaran Charters Marine Dolphin & Seal Cruise

This tour excludes:
- All alcohol and drinks
- Excursions other than in the itinerary such as optional helicopter flights
- Gratuities for our guide/drivers
- Expenses of a personal nature including laundry.

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS TOUR CLICK HERE.

*A single supplement is available for most of the trip, excluding 2 days and is $1250.00 additional.

*A detailed information sheet will be sent upon sign up. This trip needs a minimum of 8, please don’t purchase your airfare until I let you know we are good to go. This itinerary is subject to change.

*All images in this post are copyright Denise Ippolito

Finland Photo Tour- January 4 – 10, 2026

August 17, 2024

Join award winning photographer and international tour leader, Denise Ippolito for a Finland photo tour in January. During this tour we will visit some of the best locations in the world for winter wonderland photos. See the description below for more information on this incredible trip. This will be the first time I am visiting, so I am going to be well armed with drivers, helpers, award winning photo guides and photo instructors (that have been to these locations before). I have worked with them all in the past and they are a great team. I am also hiring two specialized local guides to join us on one of our excursions so that we can make the most of our time there. I am really looking forward to this adventure. I hope you can join me.

Day 1 (January 4)

Arrival at Rovaniemi Airport (RVN). Drive to Rukajärvi where we will be based for the next 6 nights.

Check in at our hotel Hotel (Scandic Rukahoviand) and get settled in . The hotel is located in a in a ski resort area. There are a lot of restaurant options and just about everything you might need.

Day 2 – 6 (January 5-9)

We will be photographing in several amazing winter locations during our stay in Finland. We will visit the Riisitunturin National Park. This magical wonderland is world famous for its spruce trees that have a thick coating of condensed frost. In January, when we visit the crown snow will have had time to take shape, and the trees will be slightly bent, creating a truly spectacular winter white forest. In addition to the widely sought after trees of Lapland we will also have some other amazing winter landscapes to photograph. One of those is the Myllykoski Old Mill at the Myllykoski rapids. It is absolutely one of the most famous and beautiful locations in Finland. A frozen landscape with a suspended bridge and black river with rocky shores; this place will offer endless creative compositions.

During our trip we will take a snowmobile sled excursion to Kuntivaara (see photo of open air sleds in the photo gallery section). We will spend an entire day at perhaps the very best winter forest location in the world. We will be accompanied by two local professional guides that will provide warm drinks and cookies to brighten our expedition.

Day 7 (January 10)

We will say our goodbyes and return to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) for flights back home.

Dates: January 4-10, 2026

Price per person: US$4700. based on double occupancy, Single supplement: US$750

Limit: 8 – 10 participants, Exact times and details will be provided to all via an additional information sheet once we get our entire group together.

All locations require a fair bit of walking. There are trails that are easy to follow. Everyone can move around and decide for themselves how much walking they want to do. There will be plenty of assistants to help if needed. At Kuntivaara no walking is required, but if you choose to explore the options are endless. All locations are huge! So we can spread out across several kilometers if we want.

If a geomagnetic storm is in progress, aurora photography will be possible. Its a bit south of the aurora oval, but it is still possible from our locations and our guides have photographed the aurora there several times.

Temperatures range from -5 to -35 degrees Celsius. So, basically you need thick down jackets, snow pants, warm boots (I’ll wear my Arctic Muck boots), basically everything you need for cold weather photography. If you have been to Norway or Japan in the winter this trip will be similar but slightly colder. It will not be wet or windy, and that is a plus for photography.

Snowshoes are available for rent if needed.

Included:

Ground transportation

Hotel Accommodations

Entrance fees to all sites

Snow mobile transport to Kuntivaara

Two professional local guides to Kuntivaara

Award winning photography instruction

Snacks and warm drinks at Kuntivaara

Not included:

Airfare to and from Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)

Meals and drinks

Personal items and laundry.

Deposit Information:
A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 due at sign up. Final payments are due July 30, 2025. Full payments are always welcomed.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS TOUR CLICK HERE.

Free Zoom Session

August 1, 2024

Have you ever gone to a great photography location and wondered why your photos don’t reflect what you saw? Have you ever walked away saying “I left so much on the table?” Have you ever beat yourself up for missing so many shots and wondered why you were not happy with your images? Well, you are not alone. I can guarantee you that some of the best photographers out there feel exactly that way at one time or another.

Join Paul McKenzie, Donna Bourdon and Denise Ippolito to continue this conversation. During this Zoom session we will share some of our favorite images as well as go over our thought process for capturing those images. We’ll talk about re-inspiring ourselves and what we do to jump start our own creativity. We will also share some of our techniques along with lessons we’ve learned in the field. Our final thoughts will include how we post-processed the images. We will be concentrating mostly on wildlife images for this session.

Zoom Session - FREE TO ALL - If you would like to join us, please register HERE:

Date: August 22nd, 2024

Time: 8:00pm EST, (Eastern Standard Time-please check your time zone ) will last about an hour and fifteen minutes.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

*You will need to have the Zoom app downloaded (it’s free) on your computer or phone if you plan on using your phone before the start date —you will also need to register (it is easy and free). If you run into any hiccups please contact Zoom (not me as I will not be able to help you) or Google the issue to find the resolve, you should easily be able to register.

A few sample images, top row images by Paul McKenzie, middle row images by Donna Bourdon, last row images by Denise Ippolito

Alaska’s Bald Eagles in Winter - February 10-14, 2025 Workshop

July 28, 2024

This trip begins in Homer Alaska. We will be going out to Katchemak Bay and surrounding areas each day to photograph these majestic birds in their natural environment via boat. We will need to flexible to take advantage of local conditions. Snow is always a plus! We will either do (two) 2-hour boat trips or (one) 4-hour boat trip daily, depending on weather, tides and local conditions.

Let Donna help you get these amazing flight shots. Her workshop clients sing her praises when it comes to camera settings. One of her eagle shots from Homer is currently on the cover of Sierra Magazine and they have also been published in the National Wildlife Federation Holiday Card Collection for the last three years..

This trip will be led by A Creative Adventure tour leader -Donna Bourdon. If you don’t already know Donna get to know her virtually here.

Cost $5700.00pp.

*No need to rent a car. Donna will supply a group transfer to and from the airport.

Alaska’s Bald Eagles in Winter

Not included: your airfare to and from Homer, AK through Anchorage and back. Lodging and all personal items. All meals and beverages except breakfast--it is included with your lodging, Tips for the boat captain.

Included: Photo instruction, a short informal meet & greet with slide program to get you acquainted with conditions, camera settings, etc.. All boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to the dock and back to the hotel each day. Five full days of photography from either the boat or on land.

February 10-14, 2025

Five days $5700.00. Limit 5 participants

Workshop Leader-Donna Bourdon

*As always with wildlife photography there are no guarantees but this trip is fantastic and the opportunities are tremendous! Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions, weather, etc…

A detailed information sheet with gear, lodging, and travel recommendations will be sent to all participants.

Deposit Information:
A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 due now to hold your spot. Final payments are due September 15, 2024 via check or wire transfer only, fees on both ends are the responsibility of the participant. Credit cards will not be accepted for any payment other than deposit. Full payments are always welcomed via check or wire transfer . All checks made payable to: Denise Ippolito LLC.

Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.

Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.

What some folks have said about this trip with Donna:

“This time last year, I was in Homer Alaska with Donna Bourdon photographing eagles in snow. What an amazing experience with our American National Bird.”
K.S.

“My husband and I had a fantastic trip to Alaska to photograph primarily bald eagles. Donna led us on a magical journey into the eagles’ world.”

M.R.

“Honestly, it was one of the best wildlife photographic experiences of my life and I feel like I was able to capture some of the best images ever as well. On a scale of “1-10” I would rate it a NINE - only because there should always be room for improvement and I feel like you and Donna as instructors and myself as an aspiring photographer should always push ourselves to improve and grow as we move through life. ”
CF

New Vietnam Trip ~ Including Mekong Delta River

July 25, 2024

Join multi-award winning photographer Paul McKenzie for what will be an amazing photo tour of Vietnam. Paul lives a hop, skip and a jump away and has visited Vietnam many times. He put together this trip with a very talented English speaking, local guide. Together they will share their knowledge of the area and assist you with the many photographic opportunities that Vietnam has to offer.

This trip’s highlight will include the Mekong Delta River which is a huge draw. You will have a much sought after photo session with the arranging of water lilies in the river (see image directly above) plus much, much more. With the rolling rice fields, fishing villages with nets, basking weaving, incense displays, local villages and The Red-shanked doucs!!!!!, this trip is sure to please everyone. Travel to each location will in an air-conditioned bus and you will stay at nice air-conditioned hotels.

Location: Central and South-Central Coast of Vietnam

Arrival/Departure: Noi Bai International airport/Ho Chi Min Int’l Airport

Schedule: August 21-31, 2024 (10 nights)

ITINERARY

Day 1 (21st August 2025): Arrive at Noi Bai International airport -

You should plan to be in Hanoi on the 21st. There should be time to explore Hanoi, depending on what time your flight comes in.

Day 2 (22nd August 2025): Hanoi

- After breakfast, check out of our hotel at 7:00am, go to photograph the incense sticks and workers.

- In the afternoon, take pictures of the fish trap baskets in Hung Yen

- Photograph the soya sauce containers

- Local flight to Hue City at 16:00

Day 3 (23rd August 2025): Hanoi – Long Coc

- After breakfast, take pictures of flower sellers in Hanoi at 9:00 am

- Check out of the hotel and take pictures of the making of soya sauce in Hung Yen

- Travel to Long Coc for sunset shoot

Day 4 (24th August 2025): Long Co tea plantation – Hue City

- Sunrise photo shoot in Long Coc tea plantation

- Check out of our hotel at 12:00 and travel to Noi Bai International Airport to take a flight to Hue City at 4:30 pm

Day 5 (25th August 2025): Hue City

- Photograph the making and transport of paper flowers in Thanh Tien village

- In the afternoon, take pictures of fishermen and the traditional lighting of lanterns in Nhu Y River

Day 6 (26th August 2025): Hue City – Da Nang City

- In the morning, visit and take pictures of sunrise in Quang Loi Lagoon

- Check out of our hotel at 11:30 and travel to Da Nang

- Afternoon photo shoot with the Red Shanked Doucs (monkeys)

Day 7 (27th August 2025): Da Nang – Hoi An

- In the morning, photograph the Red Shanked Doucs again

- Check out of the hotel and travel to Hoi An

- In the afternoon, we will photograph the fishermen while they mend their nets

Day 8 (28th August 2025): Hoi An ancient town

- Sunrise shoot of the fishermen in Thu Bon river

- After breakfast, portrait photography in Hoi An

- In the afternoon, take some pictures of locals making lanterns and painting masks

Day 9 (29th August 2025):

- Sunrise shoot at the Tam Tien fish market

- After lunch, take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City at 2:20 pm

Day 10 (30th August 2025): Long An – Ho Chi Minh City

- In the morning, photograph the cleaning and arranging of water lilies in Mekong River Delta

- Go back to Ho Chi Minh City

Day 11 (31st August 2025):

- Free shooting and shopping in Ho Chi Minh City

- 11:30 am our tour ends, and we will drop you off at the Ho Chi Min Int’l Airport

*NOTE -This workshop has a different arrival and departure airport. You should plan to arrive at Noi Bai International airport at least one day before the trip starts so that you do not miss the group transfer. Our photo tour ends at 11:30am on August 31, 2025 -you will be dropped off at the Ho Chi Min Int’l Airport, so please plan your flights home accordingly. *Itinerary subject to change due to local conditions

INCLUDED

Private air-conditioned transfers throughout the trip in Vietnam.

Domestic flight tickets.

Hotels (4 stars standards)

Internationally acclaimed award winning, English speaking, local guide - plus an international multi-award-winning photo instructor.

Sightseeing tickets

Most hotels provide breakfast * we may not be at the hotel to take advantage of the free breakfast due to shooting schedules— but we will have breakfast at the hotels whenever possible.

NOT INCLUDED

International Air tickets.

Travel insurance.

All meals and drinks- this trip is approximately $2000.00 less than my previous trips to Vietnam, this will make up for the cost of all meals. I doubt you will spend anywhere near $2000.00 on meals for the trip (as meals are quite inexpensive) but this way you will have the flexibility to order what you want.

Personal items, laundry, etc..

* Images below provided by our local guide