Day one:

15:00-18:00

Day two:

10:00-12:00

Day two:

14:00-17:00

Day two:

19:00-21:00

Day three:

10:00-12:00

Day three:

14:00-18:00

Day four:

10:00-13:00

We start the workshop with a relaxed “Meet & Greet” at a café along Vitosha Boulevard, giving us the opportunity to get to know each other in an informal and friendly setting.

It is also a great opportunity for me as your instructor to learn more about you, your photographic interests and what you hope to get out of the workshop. Whether you are a beginner or have been photographing for many years, I will adapt the guidance to help you get the most out of our time together.

We will also spend some time planning the next two days – discussing the places we want to visit, what we would like to photograph and how we can make the most of our time in Sofia.

Once we have finished planning, we pick up our cameras and head out to explore the city. We make our way towards the National Palace of Culture, an impressive example of late socialist brutalist architecture.

And, of course, we will stop whenever interesting photographic opportunities appear along the way – because in Sofia, there is always something worth capturing.

We spend the morning exploring the area around Church of St. George, one of Sofia’s most fascinating historical landmarks and widely regarded as the city’s oldest preserved building.

The church has a history dating back to the beginning of the 4th century, when the building was originally constructed as part of a Roman bath complex. It was later converted into an Orthodox church, and today it stands as a remarkable historical gem surrounded by the modern city of Sofia.

Here we find a fascinating combination of history, architecture, details and urban life – an ideal setting for developing your photographic eye and discovering interesting compositions. We take our time, explore the area from different angles and let the motifs determine our pace.

As always, the focus is not simply on photographing the landmark itself, but on seeing beyond the obvious and finding your own way of interpreting the surroundings through your camera.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral & Seven Saints Church

No visit to Sofia would be complete without Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This magnificent landmark is one of the largest Orthodox church buildings in the world, and its impressive architecture makes it a natural highlight – both culturally and photographically.

We take our time to explore both the exterior and the interior. Inside, the cathedral houses an impressive collection of Orthodox icons, while the subdued light, golden details and richly decorated interior offer plenty of opportunities to work with light, composition and details.

From here, we continue to Seven Saints Church, a building with an equally fascinating and complex history. Originally built as an Ottoman mosque in the 16th century, it was later converted into an Orthodox church in 1903.

The two locations offer a fascinating contrast between history, architecture and everyday life in Sofia. And, as throughout the workshop, the goal is not simply to photograph the landmarks themselves, but to slow down, explore and train your eye to discover the interesting images hidden in the details and surroundings.

Night Photography

As darkness settles over Sofia, we take our cameras out and experience the city from a completely different perspective.

We wander through central Sofia, looking for scenes where city lights, shadows and movement come together to create atmospheric and compelling images. This is your opportunity to experiment with long exposures, light trails, movement and exposure, while also working with composition and learning how to make the most of available light.

Night photography is all about seeing familiar surroundings in a different way. Sofia offers a fascinating mix of historic buildings, modern urban life and artificial light, creating countless opportunities for creative images.

We take our time, experiment and try different approaches – letting the city become our studio after dark.

Serdika – Where Old Meets New

Between 2010 and 2012, around 9,000 square metres of the ancient Roman city of Serdikawere excavated in the heart of modern-day Sofia. Today, the ancient ruins form a fascinating part of the cityscape, surrounded by modern architecture, busy streets and everyday urban life.

This is an area that really encourages us to look at the city differently. The contrast between old and new offers countless opportunities to experiment with lines, perspectives, details and composition– and, perhaps most importantly, to create images that tell a story.

From Serdika, we continue towards the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, one of Sofia’s most iconic buildings. Here we have new opportunities to explore architecture, details and the surrounding urban environment before continuing to St. Nedelya Cathedral.

As throughout the workshop, the goal is not simply to visit the famous landmarks, but to discover the photographic possibilities all around us– finding interesting perspectives, unexpected details and images that go beyond the obvious.

Military History & Monuments

The afternoon takes us to the Military Museum in Sofia, established as early as 1914. Here we find an extensive collection of Russian and Bulgarian military equipment – from vehicles and weapons to larger military installations.

This visit also presents us with a small photographic challenge. With so much equipment, detail and visual information competing for our attention, it can quickly become a chaotic scene. The challenge is to look beyond the distractions and find the strong images hidden within the clutter.

We will challenge each other to work with composition, perspective, details and visual storytelling, exploring how we can create interesting and compelling photographs from what might initially appear to be a visual maze.

From the museum, we continue to Knyazheska Gradina, where we find a collection of older Russian statues and reliefs. Many of these monuments are connected to military history and commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers.

Here we encounter a completely different photographic environment, giving us the opportunity to work with shapes, textures, light and contrastwhile exploring these historic monuments from different perspectives.

The Women’s Market & Farewell to Sofia

We begin the day with a walk through the Women’s Market (Zhenski Pazar), one of Sofia’s most lively and colourful areas. Here we experience a completely different side of the city, with market stalls, local vendors, vibrant colours, people and the energy of everyday life.

It is a perfect place to look for spontaneous moments and authentic images, while working with street photography, people and details.

On our way, we pass Central Mineral Baths, a magnificent building that once served as one of Sofia’s most important thermal bath complexes. Although the baths are no longer in operation, the building now houses a museum and remains an impressive example of Sofia’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.

We continue our walk through the city and finish at the Sofia Synagogue, a beautiful and historically significant building that offers another fascinating photographic subject and an insight into Sofia’s diverse cultural history.

After our walk, we find a cosy café where we can sit down, relax and look back on our days in Sofia. We share photographs, experiences and impressions, and talk about what we have discovered and learned along the way.

Hopefully, you will leave Sofia with many great photographs, new photographic skills and experiences – and a renewed desire to continue exploring the world through your camera.