Syria photography workshop
15–21 April 2027
Seven days of documentary photography with Laurin Strele, from Damascus to Aleppo via Saidnaya, Maaloula, Homs and Hama. Fieldwork, individual mentoring and daily image reviews focus on everyday life, cultural heritage and the lasting effects of conflict.
4,400 EUR per person
€4,400 until 15 October 2026. €5,000 thereafter.
Reserve with a €1,000 deposit.
Photograph by Laurin Strele
Photograph by Laurin Strele
Photograph by Laurin Strele
More information
Route and places
Planned route for 15–21 April 2027. The sequence and individual visits remain subject to local permissions, access and a current security assessment. Confirm arrival and departure arrangements with us before booking flights.
Damascus
Syria’s capital has an old city shaped by centuries of trade, craft and religious life. Photograph its streets and markets while developing a focused documentary approach with Laurin.
Saidnaya
The former military prison near Damascus is a site of torture and mass executions under the Assad regime. A possible visit will address its history with care and respect for victims and families, only if access is authorised and conditions permit.
Maaloula
A mountain village known for its monasteries and Aramaic heritage. Its built environment and religious traditions offer a different context for the week’s photographic work.
Homs
A city profoundly affected by the war, with an old centre and neighbourhoods undergoing recovery. Fieldwork considers everyday life and the relationship between people and the changing urban landscape.
Hama
Known for its historic wooden waterwheels along the Orontes River. Photograph the riverfront and city streets, working on how people, architecture and place relate within a frame.
Aleppo
A historic trading city known for its citadel and covered souqs. Continue the fieldwork around the old city, subject to access, and refine a final sequence of photographs with individual feedback.
Photographic work
How we work
Fieldwork and travel between the planned stops are combined with individual guidance and daily image reviews. Local access determines the pace. The emphasis is on understanding the context of a scene, developing a focused body of work and responding to feedback as the week progresses.
Image reviews
Daily image reviews, editing and one-to-one feedback. The final review focuses on selecting and sequencing a coherent body of work.
Photographing in a country affected by conflict requires care with consent, personal histories and the possible consequences of an image. We do not guarantee access to sensitive sites or private spaces. At Saidnaya in particular, any authorised visit must respect victims, survivors and families.
Practical information
- Mentors
- Laurin Strele
- Group size
- Maximum 10 participants
- Language
- English
- Included
- All meals, hotel accommodation and transport within Syria.
- Not included
- International flights.
What to bring
Bring a familiar camera, spare batteries and memory cards, a laptop with your editing software and backup storage. Use a manageable kit for walking and road travel. Specialist equipment, including drones, must be discussed with us in advance; permission to import or use it must not be assumed.
Arrival and departure
The planned route starts in Damascus and finishes in Aleppo. Confirm arrival, departure, border or airport arrangements and the meeting point with Laurin before booking travel. Those arrangements are not established by this route outline.
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