NOVEMBER 15 -21, 2026
✔ 5 participants, 3 spots left
✔ 7 full days of shooting and teaching
✔ Daily image reviews and evening critique
✔ Personal 1-on-1 sequencing session
✔Pre-trip support: visas, flights, gear
✔Every location scouted by me personally
VARANASI & KOLKATA: SEVEN DAYS IN INDIA'S TWO MOST PHOTOGENIC CITIES
Two cities, two worlds, one journey.
We start in Varanasi, where winter fog turns the ghats into a dreamscape and rituals unfold along the Ganges from before sunrise.Then Kolkata turns up the volume: flower markets, yellow taxis, colonial grandeur, and street life so dense you could shoot for a lifetime and never run out of frames.
ONE OF THE OLDEST CITIES IN THE WORLD
Sunrise on the ghats: ritual bathing, prayers and morning light on the Ganges, photographed from the shore and from a boat
The Ganga Aarti fire ceremony, evening and morning versions, with time to work the angles on repeat visits
Sadhus and pilgrims: some of the most remarkable faces you will ever point a camera at
The labyrinth alleys of the old city: light and shadow play, chai stalls, and a story behind every corner
Kushti akharas, the traditional wrestling gyms, where training happens the way it has for centuries
Winter fog on the river, adding a layer of mystery you can only capture this time of year
Want the full picture before you decide? Read my Complete Varanasi photography guide.
THE FORMER BRITISH CAPITAL
Mallick Ghat flower market at dawn, and the special morning light under the Howrah Bridge
Kumartuli, the clay idol makers' quarter, and the old alleys around it, Kolkata at its most authentic
Life along the railway tracks, where families treat the lines as their backyard
The city's markets: fruit pyramids at Mechhua, the colorful covered halls of Koley, the packed evening crowds of New Market
Yellow taxis, hand-pulled rickshaws and colonial facades, the icons that give Kolkata its timeless look
Streets so alive you find photographs within minutes of leaving the hotel.
I've mapped the city in detail in my Guide to the best photography spots in Kolkata
MAXIMUM 5 PARTICIPANTS
India's most photogenic places attract photo tours by the busload, and you've probably seen the result: fifteen photographers circling one sadhu, everyone taking the same shot with someone else's elbow in the frame. We work differently.
Five photographers can disappear into the alleys of Varanasi, spread out along a ghat, or move through the flower market without changing the behavior of the people around them.
And with only five of you, my attention isn't rationed: I'm next to each participant every day, on the streets and in our evening reviews.
Not sure yet? That's what questions are for.
Drop me a message or WhatsApp me at +972-51-5099149 — I reply quickly.
VARANASI
Not sure yet? That's what questions are for.
Drop me a message or WhatsApp me at +972-51-5099149 — I reply quickly.
The workshop is open to photographers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Guidance is tailored to each participant, with daily feedback focused on seeing, timing, composition, and narrative development. We work in real conditions: crowded streets, complex light, evolving rituals.
The goal is to help you develop a clearer visual language while producing work that reflects the cultural depth and everyday reality of Kathmandu.
Street photography in high-density environments: working close, reacting quickly, composing under pressure
Documentary observation: following rituals and sequences over time rather than collecting isolated moments
Visual storytelling: building coherent narratives from repeated visits to the same locations and themes
Rather than chasing single "decisive moments," the focus is on understanding context: how people move through space, how rituals repeat and evolve, and how individual stories sit inside a much larger cultural event. The result is not just stronger individual images, but a deeper ability to read complex scenes and translate them into meaningful photographic stories.
KOLKATA
My workshops run differently from typical photo tours. Here's what to expect: how we shoot, how we travel, and how to know if this adventure is for you.
In this workshop, the main focus is documentary and street photography. There are no pre-set shoots and no models. We photograph reality as it is. We are there to witness and tell visual stories of the places we visit and the people we meet.
We will usually have two sessions a day, morning and afternoon. We start early, and at some point we break for food, critique, and theory. For some this can be an intense schedule, but don't worry: the moment you feel tired, you can hop in a taxi back to the hotel and rest. No one is pushed to photograph beyond their limits.
I believe theory needs to be paired with practical experience, so hours are set aside during the workshop for photography study. We will go through many slides built with one purpose: to make you a better photographer.
Every day, participants split into small teams of 2-3 and work in a specific area within the same location. I spend time with each of you individually and mix the teams regularly, so everyone gets a fair share of my attention. At the end of the day, we sit together to review and discuss the photographs taken.
There is no limitation on gear, but I encourage short focal lengths, somewhere between 24 and 70mm. Even better, get used to working with primes: a 28mm, 35mm, or 50mm in full-frame terms (roughly 18mm, 23mm, and 35mm on APS-C). Working this way has many benefits, but above all it makes you feel like a participant in the story rather than an observer, and it teaches you to get close to your subjects.
This is an independent-photographer style workshop. You are encouraged to make your own decisions and be self-reliant. Beyond photography, you will learn how to plan a trip to places like these by yourself.
The workshop officially starts early in the morning of day 1 and ends in the evening of the last day. You are welcome to arrive earlier, and I will be around.
Before the trip, we create a shared WhatsApp group to discuss all travel and photography arrangements: visas, flights, gear, what to bring, and more. You will already know each other by the time we meet.
We choose our own accommodation based on the shooting plan. We might stay in different hotels to suit different comfort levels and budgets, but they should be within a short walk of each other so we waste no time getting out to shoot.
We plan our transportation together and navigate like locals: public transport, taxis, rickshaws, whatever works best in the moment. The itinerary can change along the way, but only if the change suits everyone in the group.
First of all, this is not an organized tour. It is an adventure, and it is for people who enjoy stepping a little out of their comfort zone to experience something new.
It is best suited for people with a passion for travel and candid street and documentary photography. "Passion" is the key word, because the workshop is intense. We will shoot and walk a lot. You may need a week of rest afterward, but you will be happy, because you will have taken some of the most memorable photographs of your life.
Most participants come with some experience, but beginners are welcome too. In an environment like this, you can progress very fast.
You should be in good physical health and able to handle long days outside with limited comfort. You can always take a few hours off, but that time comes at the expense of shooting or classes.
I'm Gil Kreslavsky, a street and travel photographer and educator. For more than a decade I've traveled full time through Asia and Africa documenting human stories, with work featured by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, UNESCO, Britannica and others.
Varanasi and Kolkata are two cities I never stop returning to. I've photographed them across many trips and seasons, and they've given me some of my most cherished images. I know these streets well enough to tell you which ghat catches the best morning light, what hour the sun reaches under the Howrah Bridge, and which alleys reward a second and third visit. Every location on this itinerary is a place I've worked myself, more than once. I never lead a workshop in a place I don't know deeply.
Today I teach through my workshops, online classes, and my YouTube channel.
If you've ever joined a group of 10+ photographers, you know how frustrating it is: everyone hunting the same shot, nobody getting real attention.
I check in with every participant consistently, so you get all the personal guidance you need.
We go where locals go and meet real people. I only lead workshops in places I've explored in depth myself, so you get authentic immersion in the culture and a deeper understanding of how to photograph it
VISA
Most nationalities need a visa, and the easiest route is the e-Visa at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/
Fair warning: the online form is long, occasionally illogical, and famous for testing people's patience.Set aside a quiet hour, have a passport scan and a photo file ready, and don't leave it to the last week. Processing is usually quick, but apply at least a few weeks before the trip so a hiccup doesn't become a crisis. One more caution: use only the official government site above, as there are lookalike sites charging double.
MONEY
INTERNET
Don't count on buying a SIM at the airport. Local SIMs are available from operator offices and small retailers in the cities, and registration requires your passport and a photo, plus some patience of its own. An eSIM bought before you fly is the low-friction alternative, and we'll compare options in the group WhatsApp before departure.
Tuition: my full experience and knowledge at your disposal throughout the journey. Daily teaching, image reviews, personal guidance, and a 1-on-1 sequencing session.
Trip curation: I select the right hotels, plan transportation and build the shooting itinerary. You book, I guide.
Support before the trip: help with visas, flights, gear choices and any questions, starting from the moment you sign up.
NOT included: flights, travel insurance, visas, lodging, meals, local transport, and personal expenses. I keep tuition separate so you control your own comfort level and budget.
Reserve your spot with a $300 deposit through the booking form. The balance is due about 2 months before the workshop starts.
A minimum of 3 participants is required for the workshop to run.
After you sign up, I'll personally confirm your registration and tell you when to start booking travel arrangements. Don't book flights before my confirmation.
You can cancel anytime. Your payment is refunded (minus transaction fees) if another participant takes your place. I'll do my best to fill the spot, but if nobody does, the deposit is non-refundable.
If I have to cancel the trip, you'll be notified promptly and receive a full refund of everything you paid me. I can't cover costs beyond the workshop fee, such as flights, accommodation or insurance, which is why travel insurance is required.
I'll always do my best to help you in any difficulty, but I'm not responsible for personal loss, accidents, or health-related issues. Travel insurance is mandatory for all participants.
Only 5 participants per workshop. 3 SPOTS AVAILABLE.
A $300 deposit reserves your place, with the balance due 2 months before we start.
Prefer to talk before booking? Email info@kreslavsky.com
I encourage participants to work with short focal lengths and get close and personal with their subjects.
You'll capture more intimate, expressive photographs, and convey a real sense of your subject's surroundings and context.
The style we practice is reportage. No staged shots, no fishermen throwing nets for the camera. We find our subjects ourselves and photograph life as it actually happens.
Telling a visual story means approaching a subject from many angles. By exploring different perspectives and vantage points, you'll learn to capture the essence of a scene and convey its message in the most powerful way.
The internet is full of graphically pleasing street photos, but few of them tell a real story. Our focus is telling stories with the camera, not just making a pretty frame.
There is no such thing as bad light, only different ways to use it to your advantage. You'll learn to solve complex lighting problems on the street and make strong images in any conditions.
Color combinations carry real emotional weight in a photograph. We'll learn to see and understand them, and to use color contrast and harmony deliberately to make images that resonate.
Each evening we sit together and examine the day's photographs from a compositional perspective: framing, balance, negative space, and what makes a composition hold.
By the end of the workshop, you'll have developed a sharper compositional eye.
We'll also work on editing: color correction and fine-tuning exposure, contrast, color, and sharpness, so your final images match your vision.
