Leica Camera and Lonely Planet to host photography excursions

Truly, a picture speaks a thousand words and what better way to capture them, than with a picture. German camera manufacturer, Leica Camera has partnered with travel-guru Lonely Planet is now offering experiential photography tours for those looking to master the art of travel photography. Beginning July 2011, participants are invited to discover five North American cities with a Leica camera in hand. During these special Leica Akademie workshops, individuals are taken across the country to capture must see spots and off the beaten path local favourites, while receiving photographic knowledge from the experts in exclusive, real world shooting situations. Host cities include San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; New Orleans, LA; Savannah, GA and Los Angeles, CA, and were selected based on Lonely Planet’s “Top Ten Places to Visit in 2011” as well as the book USA’s Best Trips: 99 Themed Itineraries Across America. Each excursion will be guided by a Lonely Planet author who brings with him/her a wealth of insider information and first hand tips. While discovering Savannah’s Forsyth Park Fountain or strolling in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district, participants can interact with an experienced Leica instructor, ensuring creative and personal images through the sharing of insights and techniques. Additionally, each participant can submit their best images taken during the workshops and get a chance to be featured online and for possible inclusion in future Lonely Planet guidebooks.

Lonely Planet’s Leica Akademie workshops can prove beneficial to participants of varying skill, interest and experience level. While amateurs can explore the world of point-and-shoot photography with Leica’s complete line of compact cameras – the X1, D-Lux 5 and V-Lux 2 and the just released V-Lux 30, experienced photographers have the opportunity to utilize Leica’s flagship M9 rangefinder camera along with the entire portfolio of M lenses including the latest Super-Elmar-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH. and the world’s highest-speed aspherical lens, the Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH. The workshop costs $249 and each participant receives a $50 Leica voucher to be used toward the purchase of a Leica product from any North American Dealer, a 30 per cent discount on a future purchase at LonelyPlanet.com and a copy of the book Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography, to keep their adventure in travel photography going.

For additional information or to sign up, visit www.leicaakademie.com or email Akademie@leicacamerausa.com.