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<h2>Joe Englander Photography Workshops and Photo Tours</h2>
<h2>
Burma Photo Tour</h2>
<h3>Myanmar (formerly Burma)</h3><p>Myanmar has been in seclusion from the world. It is one of the world's least
Western-influenced countries, and that's what makes it so photographically attractive.
The repression that isolated it is slowly lifting. By dealing with private individuals,
rather than government institutions, we try to directly benefit the people who
suffered under repression.</p>
<p>We begin in Yangon—a city of visual feasts and delights, exotic sights
and sounds—with the unusual octagonal Sule Pagoda and the waterfront Botataung
Pagoda. Of course we'll visit and photograph the famed 2500-year-old Shwedegon
Pagoda; its golden stupa is the spiritual center of the country. We'll photograph
in authentic Chinatown, India town, and the night markets.</p>
<p>To save time and increase photographic opportunities, we'll fly—instead
of taking the slow boat to China—to one of the true wonders of Asia, Bagan
(formerly Pagan). Bagan looks like a vast deserted city of temples and giant
pagodas on the banks of the Ayeryarwady River, but it is actually a photographer's
treasure chest of images. The feeling of the area and wealth of images it provides
are indescribable. Too soon this heritage site will be restricted like Stonehenge:
there to see and admire, but almost impossible to photograph. Right now, we
have the opportunity not only to go in but also to go <i>on</i> many of these
fantastic monuments. Names of pagodas like Sulemani, Ananada, and Shweizagon
will resonate with you for years. This is truly one place where you can't have
too much film or too many discs.</p>
<p>We won't forget to tour the former capital of Mandalay; in fact, it will be
our base for a few days. Here carved wooden monasteries seem to be adorned by
red-robed novice monks. Every morning, monks and nuns in long lines take to
the street seeking their daily alms. From Mandalay we'll boat up the Ayeryarwady
River past all types of boats and fishing villages to Mingun, home of pink-robed,
cigar-smoking nuns and more extraordinary monuments. We'll also visit the ancient
capital that preceded even Mandalay and some of its glorious "antique"
monasteries. When we leave Mandalay—again to save time—we'll fly.
Now we will be going to the remote eastern Shan plateau to photograph at the
extraordinary 22-kilometer-long Inle Lake, where whole villages are constructed
on stilts and fishermen row their boats with one leg while standing up. While
on the Shan plateau, we may photograph 2000-year-old pagodas and stupas in the
ruins of Kak Ku and even stay at an English hilltown where caves are filled
with thousands of Buddha images.</p>
<p>Joe Englander strongly suggests reading <i>The Glass Palace</i> by Amitav Ghosh and <i>The Piano Tuner</i> by Daniel Mason to get a sense of place and culture.</p><hr>
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