Greetings!
...Jim will type a pg. for here..
Cheers,
Jim |
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Participant Spotlight
Add something HERE Do you have an award-winning photo that was taken on one of our trips? Let us know and we'll feature your work in one of our future newsletters. |
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Amazing Myanmar
With Karl Grobl 2013: September 6 - 20 - trip full, wait list available or 2014: February 17- March 3 - space available!
Rudyard Kipling once described Burma (Myanmar) as: "quite unlike any land you know about." Join us as we explore this Golden Land, perhaps the least discovered country in Southeast Asia. Our itinerary includes Yangon's Schwedagon Pagoda, the ancient city of Bagan and its landscape dotted with more than a thousand temples, Inle Lake with its local fishermen and bustling markets and Mandalay's U Bein teak footbridge, the longest in the world. Each location affords us a wide variety of photographic opportunities including street photography, landscape photography, environmental portraiture and still life. Burma is truly one of the few "authentic" destinations remaining in this modern, ever-homogenizing world.
To add your name to the wait list for the 2013 tour, click here, then click on the wait/interest list tab. Or email us to RESERVE a coveted spot on the Feb. 2014 tour.
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Day of the Dead: Oaxaca, Mexico
Oct 28 - Nov 5, 2013 with Jim Cline - trip full, wait list available
Experience the most Mexican of holidays in beautiful Oaxaca in southern Mexico. Many of the local people believe that on these special nights the spirits of the dead come to visit. We'll photograph their parties for the dead in cemeteries, and the elaborate altars they prepare. The costume parades, colorful markets, colonial churches, and the local's daily life all make for bountiful photo opps. The ancient Zapotec ruins at Monte Alban is yet another special stop during this unique experience.
To add your name to the 2013 wait list or 2014 interest list,
click here, then click on the "Wait List / Interest List" tab.
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India: Pushkar & Rajastan
 November 3 - 17, 2013 with Karl Grobl - trip full, wait list available
India is a fascinating country with incredible photo opportunities and wonderfully warm people. The Pushkar Fair is, in itself, enough to justify an expedition, but on this trip we will also be visiting other fascinating destinations such as Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Jodhpur. Best for the truly adventurous, flexible and enthusiastic traveler with a desire for off-the-beaten-track places, our India photo tour will leave you with images and stories to ponder for decades.
To add your name to the wait list for this tour, click here, then click on the wait/interest list tab. |
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November 10 - 23, 2013 with Ralph Velasco - still 1 space left!
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small country nestled in the cradle of the Himalayas, the highest mountains on earth. Unknown and mostly unvisited until the 1960's Bhutan, known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon", provides the intrepid photographer with a unique and fascinating variety of photographic and cultural experiences. Nepal is where the ice-cold Himalayas meet the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and the home of three great mini-kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
This will be a photo tour of amazing opportunities and experiences. T o reserve the final spot, click here.
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Chiapas, Mexico: The Mayan World
November 12 - 21. 2013 with Jim Cline - spaces still available!Chiap as, the most beautiful state in Mexico, is located right in the heart of the Mayan world. We'll be photographing wildly beautiful landscapes, rich and mysterious indigenous cultures, the colonial charm of the town of San Cristobal de las Casas, and exotic Mayan ruins. We'll be taking boat rides on rivers where photographing wildlife, including crocodiles, is possible. It's a fascinating, exciting place to visit, with wildly beautiful landscapes, rich and mysterious indigenous cultures, the colonial charm of the town of San Cristobal de las Casas, and exotic Mayan ruins. The photographic opportunities are endless on this unique tour.
For more information or to reserve your spot, click here. |
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NEW! -Ensenada/Tecate Photo Workshop
January 11-13, 2014, with Jim Cline
Come with Jim on a 3-day photo adventure to Ensenada, Mexico. Ensenada lies just over an hour south of San Diego's border, yet few people have discovered all of it's wonderful photographic opportunities. From the bustling fish market at the colorful wharf to the Riviera Cultural Center, harbor scenes, pelicans, sea lions, people, colorful shops, the list goes on. We'll take a winery tour/tasting in Mexico's wine country then travel to Tecate. Tecate's picturesque central plaza is where many of the local people come to socialize and listen to the mariachis play. We will also visit a very rustic pottery factory to document the lives of the local people. During the trip, Jim will give slide show lectures on creating more dynamic photographs and on maximizing your results with digital SLR cameras. To view the full itenerary and reserve a space click here now before the ten spaces fill up! |
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Thailand, Laos & Cambodia
January 18 - February 2, 2014 with Karl Grobl - trip full,
wait list available
Southeast Asia has long been a favored destination for adventurous travelers. On this trip we visit some of the most interesting and photogenic locations in the region. From the Kingdom of Thailand with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty and inspiring temples, to Luang Prabang, Laos with one of the most beautifully preserved French colonial towns in Asia to Cambodia and the ancient temples of Angkor set in lush jungle greenery. Southeast Asia has something for everyone.
To add your name to the wait list for this tour, click here, then click on the wait/interest list tab. |
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As recommended in the 2010 Moon Handbooks
Baja guidebook:
Baja Gray Whales Tour
February 18-25, 2014 with Jim Cline - trip full, wait list available 
We'll spend three days on the lagoon photographing the whales, plus two days photographing the desert scenery in Catavina, and two days in the quaint town of San Ignacio, home to Baja's most beautiful missions and friendly people. Over the last few years, we've had curious whales come right up to our boat!
To see a gallery from the 2008 trip, click here and to add your name to the wait list for this tour, click here, then click on the wait/interest list tab.
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Vietnam Explorer
March 18 - April 1, 2014 with Karl Grobl - trip full, wait list available
Southeast Asia's "skinniest country" Vietnam is a country rich with photographic opportunities. The diverse landscape includes the roughly 1000 mile long and beautiful coastline, magnificent mountain ranges and karstic rock formations to capture the eye. Newly developing in the modern world, traditional lifestyles are still very part of daily life of the Vietnamese. In addition, the Vietnamese are ethnically diverse and most are open to being photographed. There is no doubt that Vietnam offers the adventurous traveler a unique opportunity to experience and photograph an exciting mix of landscapes, people, places, philosophies, cuisines, crafts, and religions.
To add your name to the wait list for this tour, click here, then click on the wait/interest list tab.
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Philippines Holy Week
 April 13- 28, 2014 with Karl Grobl
Perhaps no country in the Christian world celebrates Easter with such spirituality and intensity as the Philippines. On this tour, your photos are sure to capture the pageantry, emotion and fervor Easter celebrations in the Philippines. We will observe worship of the Black Nazarine at Quiapo church in Manila, where mystic, animistic, and Christian rituals are blended together. We will walk alongside the throngs of pilgrims and witness dozens of Filipinos who have consented to have 10-centimeter nails driven through the palms of their hands and to be hoisted upon a cross, in a dramatic reenactment of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
We'll also do some amazing street shooting in Manila- capturing the chaos of the largest meat and produce market in the country, swimming with whale sharks, exploring beautiful Palawan by private boat. The trip is completed in El Nido, Palawan, on one of the worlds most beautiful beaches (shown above)!
To add your name to the interest list for this tour, just email us.
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NEW! Central Europe:
Berlin, Prague, Budagest & Krakow
May 3-16, 2014 with Ralph Velasco - minimal spaces left!
Join award-winning travel photographer, author and international tour guide Ralph Velasco as you discover five of Central Europe's most exciting and photogenic cities. The trip begins in Berlin, Germany, where you'll witness both the former east and west sides of this now unified capital city. Prague is the next stop and remains one of Europe's most well preserved cities. Next on the itinerary is Krakow, Poland, one of Europe's most overlooked cities where great food and old world charm abound (it's Ralph's newest favorite city in Europe). Bratislava, Slovakia is yet another photographic gem that the eleven of us will venture to. Budapest rounds out the tour and offers a wide array of interesting sites to experience and of course photograph. Ralph's personal knowledge of these cities will surely make for some great photo opportunities.
Just click here to view the full itinerary and to reserve one of the ten coveted spaces. |
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The Philippines
May 17-31, 2014 with Karl Grobl
The Philippines is a great place to escape the multitudes who descend upon other parts of Southeast Asia. It boasts a fantastic landscape including its amazing Rice Terraces (called by many the 8th Wonder of The World), colonial architecture and palm-fringed, white-sand beaches on a scale and beauty that one might have expected to find in Hawaii decades ago. Beyond the scenic beauty, you'll find it's the Filipinos themselves who make the country such a joy to visit. Photo friendly and full of smiles, the people open themselves and their lives to visitors on a scale only matched by places like India and Myanmar.
For more information on this tour, or to reserve your spot, click here. |
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Peru - Machu Picchu & the Sacred
Valley of the Incas
May 21-31, 2014 with Jim Cline - trip full, wait list available
Peru deserves its reputation as a mystical travel destination: From the beautiful colonial gem of Cuzco, to the incredible Inca site at Machu Picchu, to the Sacred Valley surrounded by the Andes, beauty abounds. With its picturesque towns and Majestic Inca ruins, to Lake Titicaca, with its traditional inhabitants living on islands on the lake, Peru is home to an incredible mix of photo opportunities.
To add your name to the wait list for this tour, click here, then click on the wait/interest list tab.
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Guatemala; the Living Maya
with Jim Cline 2014
Guatemala is a true paradise for photographers. Set in a backdrop of indescribable grandeur - volcanoes looming above with beautiful lakes, lush jungles, and pine forests.
We will see the locals living much the same way as their great ancestors, by visiting many towns on their special market days, including the world famous and ancient Chichicastenango market- an explosion of color.
Another highlight of the tour is Antigua, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. Also, Lake Atitlan's deep blue water ringed by dramatic volcanoes is a photographer's dream, as is Tikal, a premier Mayan ruins site. We will stay as near the archeological sites of Tikal and Copan in order to photograph them in the best light in the morning and late afternoon.
For more information or to add your name to the interest list for this 2014 tour, click here.
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The Angkor Photo Workshop
with Karl Grobl
 The purpose of the Angkor Photo Workshop is to push yourself to the limits of your ability and imagination, to have an outstanding and unusual cultural experience and to enjoy and learn from the company of others. The workshop includes a multitude of activities including lectures, one-on-one instruction, critiques, assignments, and exploration of all things photographic. During the course of the workshop you will learn new skills and techniques, then apply them in real-life situations. Your results will be reviewed and then you will go back out and improve your craft. If you're looking to improve your photography skills in a big way, this workshop is for you.
For more information or to add your name to the interest list for this tour, click here.
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Future Tours Planned
Email us if you would like to be added to the INTEREST LIST for these two exciting tours in the works: Southern India (including Kochi, Madurai & Chennai) and Yucatan: The Mayan World. |
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Jim Cline Photo Tours LLC
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Who we are:
Where to find us:
info at jimcline dot com
11387 Ocean Ridge Way
San Diego, California 92130
(858) 350-1314
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Testimonials!
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Karl and I are very proud of
the testimonials we've received.
I hope you'll take a look at
what some of our participants
have had to say about
our tours. Click here to read or take a look below.
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Recent Newsletters | |
(click on month to view)
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Karl's Blog
In spite of his busy schedule, Karl does a great job of keeping his blog up to date. You can follow him on his journeys at his blog address:
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We're in Rough Guides! | 
We are already listed in Moon Handbooks and Frommer's guidebooks. Now we have been written up in Rough Guides as well!
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"This Philippines trip was Fantastic- ranked as a 10 [most favorable]! It was a life-changing/enhancing experience for me, as I tend to be a traveler with trepidations. I enjoyed the people in our group, many were more advanced, and very generous to me with tips and instruction. And, of course, there was much learning from viewing the work of the others. The local guides were helpful and Karl is a great guy. We were well taken care of. Throughout the trip, I really enjoyed meeting, conversing with, and photographing the Filipinos. They ware warm, congenial, and handsome. I particularly liked photographing the children, and shot some great pictures. Thanks for the opportunity." -Lawrence Ballon, tour participant 2013 "Karl was Awesome! I learned a lot from him that really helped me a lot. I knew after a few days that I would want to go on another trip with Karl leading in the future. He is a very talented photographer and at the same time genuine and extremely conscious of the group's well being and enjoyment. I was very impressed with how the tour was handled from the start - very organized, well run, and Karl is very experienced in the country. I want to return to India because the photography is just too awesome." -Jennifer Dooley, India tour participant
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"Our trip was absolutely fantastic! It exceeded all expectations, and mine were quite high. I can't wait to travel with you again. Jim was the best ever and the local guides were excellent, very knowledgeable and fun too.
This trip definitely offered a good value for what we paid, for example, I couldn't believe the high quality of the food and I liked all the hotels, they were good choices in great locations. I'm happy with the pictures I took. Thank you for a fabulous trip!"
~Judy Bonderman, Peru tour participant 2013 |
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"Your 2012 Chiapas Tour was an incredible photographic experience, beyond my greatest expectations. Critical to our enjoyment was the meticulous attention to planning, organization and execution regarding your selection of the quality hotel accommodations, restaurants and local guides. The combination of your proficiency with the Spanish language and inter-personal skills, resulted with a unique inter-action with the local people and many fabulous photo opportunities throughout our journey. Now, I realize why you have attracted so many repeat participants from your other amazing tours, as was evident with your Chiapas venue."
~Chapman Soloman, Mountain View, California
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"Just so you know, when we got off the airplane in Atlanta, I wanted to turn around immediately and go back to Peru. That's how much I enjoyed your wonderful trip. Thank you so much for everything that you did for us."
~Carol Rothschild, Peru tour participant
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"I wanted to thank you and Karl for putting together such phenomenal trip to Vietnam. I am so excited about my pictures and I have been able to produce shots I never imagined I could. Karl was so on-target with teaching all of us new ways to
use the camera and it made the
experience so enjoyable."
~Anietra Hamper, Vietnam
tour participant
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"We are definitely hooked on your tours and adored traveling around with Karl in Southeast Asia. I do believe that along with being among the most charming of 'fearless leaders' , Karl ranks among the top of the most patient, kind, well organized and competent people I have ever traveled with."
~Nina Hauser & Widd Schmidt, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia tour participants |
"I have to give you [Karl] a TON of credit, my photographs are so hugely improved after your course (Angkor Photo Workshop), like night and day, I still cannot thank you enough for putting together such an amazing Cambodia program."
~Jenny Krasner,
Angkor Photo Workshops participant |
"I want to let you know how much fun we had on the Copper Canyon tour. Ralph was a great leader and got us to a lot of interesting places...The train ride was relaxing and shooting out the backs of the cars gave us many opportunities to capture the small stations along the route. The Tarahumara people are especially colorful to photograph and their handicrafts were beautiful and inexpensive... I hope that next year that the tour participants will have as great of time as we did."
~Ed Fitzgerald, Copper Canyon participant
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"It was exciting, an adventure (and) this was not the first photo trip that I have taken, but by far Karl was the best leader and instructor that I have ever encountered... This was a memorable trip to an unforgettable country.... I loved having the time and freedom to photograph on my own and not be compelled to "stay with the group" as on other tours-but if I needed help Karl was right there to help....There was not a single disappointment! The whole experience was wonderful. India is a total assault on the senses-sights, sounds, smells, tastes, textures, colors, crowds-absolutely exhilarating! A photographer's paradise.... I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take this trip. We were introduced to an India that I don't think most tourists see with their regimented itineraries. It was an intense photographic experience and far exceeded my expectations. Well done!"
~Sing Baker, India trip participant |
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"The trip was phenomenal!!!! In every respect the photo tour surpassed my expectations. This was largely due to the expertise that Jim and Karl have in arranging and guiding these incredibly unique an customized tours."
~Bonnie Stewart - Myanmar tour particpant |
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