Normandy’s Historic Landscape with Hans Strand

14 – 17th October 2023

Location: Normandy, France

On this trip to Normandy, we combine landscape photography with exciting history, all under the guidance of Hans Strand, Hasselblad Ambassador and landscape photographer. As well as a historical guide who will tell us the story of D-Day.

Normandy is perhaps best known as the site of D-day, the historic invasion and the beginning to the end of World War II. But Normandy also offers a stunningly beautiful and photogenic landscape.

Normandy’s landscapes have plenty to offer, beautiful beaches and historic sites. During the trip Hans will take you to a number of photo locations and give you tips on how to capture the image in the best way. Normandy is largely associated with D-day, the invasion of June 6, 1944.

You will be able to document the dramatic coastline with Gold and Sword Beach, the beaches where the British forces landed, Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, the two bloodiest beaches at the time of the invasion, the famous Pegasus Bridge and Pointe du Hoc with its bunkers and where you can still see craters from where bombs were dropped. We will also visit gripping war cemetery with their white crosses and the village of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, famous for the church tower where an American paratrooper was trapped. The programme also includes a visit to some interesting museums.

Highlights:

Normandy’s amazing landscapes.
The hilly beaches near Longues-sur-Mer.
Gold, Sword, Omaha and Utah landing beaches.
Arromanches with the artificial “Mulberries” ports.
The German Cannon battery at Longues-sur-Mer.
The American War Cemetery at Omaha Beach.
Two British war cemeteries, Bayeux and Ranvill.
Pointe du Hoc, Pegasus Bridge and Sainte-Mère-Eglise.
Overlord Museum and Airborne Memorial Museum.
Lectures and workshop from photographer Hans Strand.
Participation from a historical guide.
A field report with pictures from the participants will be published in Amateur Photographer

Normandy Itinerary

Please note: Since we are on the Atlantic coast, the weather can change very quickly, from rain and storm to sunshine in the same day. The order of the places we visit will therefore be decided based on the weather and what photographic opportunities available on a given day.

Day 1 (14/10) – Paris to Bayeux

In the morning we will gather at Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris where we are met by Hans Strand and a host from Zoom Photo Tours. From the airport we have about 220 km to the village of Bénouville where a local history guide will meet us.

Located in Bénouville on the banks of the river Orne is the Pegasus Bridge. This was the code name of the bridge that was first to be secured by allied gliders in the early morning of D-Day. Adjacent to the bridge is the ”Café Gondrée”, which was the first French house liberated on D-Day. This is where we begin our historic photo tour by hearing the story of the Pegasus Bridge in connection with lunch at Café Gondrée.

After lunch, we will take pictures of the bridge followed by the British War Cemetery in Ranvill with 2,235 graves, after which we proceed to Sword Beach one of the two British landing beaches on D-Day. The main objective of the landing at Sword Beach was to quickly reach and capture the key city of Caen as well as the nearby airfield in Carpiquet. A total of 30,000 British soldiers landed, 700 of whom were killed or wounded. Juno Beach is located between Sword Beach and Gold Beach and was called ”the Canadian beach” as Canadian soldiers had the task to take it. In the first hour of landing, the Canadian Forces suffered losses of about 50%.

We continue thereafter to the city of Bayeux where we check in at Hotel Campanile Bayeux which will be our base during the trip. We end the day with dinner at a nice restaurant in Bayeux. (B, D)

Day 2-3 (15-16/10) – Photography along the coast

We will drive along the coast and photograph many of the historical sites related to D-day as well as the beautiful coastal scenery. We will eat lunch along the way (not included and paid for on site). We will have dinners in Bayeux. The last night of the trip will be a nice farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 4 (17/10) – Bayeux to Paris

The next morning we will be photographing Bayeux War Cemetery where more than 4,000 soldiers from the British Commonwealth are buried. After checking out we will also visit La Ferme De La Sapiniere which produces calvados and various cider varieties. Here we will taste the vineyard’s various products with a chance of buying some of them. We will then depart for Paris for a flight home in the evening. (B)

Price: USD $2,250/ £,1 850

What’s included?

Transportation according to the programme.
Accommodation with a share in double rooms in the presented hotels. (Single room supplement: USD $275/£230)
Meals according to programme (indicated by B= breakfast, L=Lunch, D=dinner).
All photo activities according to programme.
Historical guidance during the trip.
Fee of admission to various museums.
Participation from photographer Hans Strand.
Lectures and image discussions
Image processing and image criticism.
Travel documents and practical travel information before the trip.
Hotels and other local taxes.

Excluded: Flights to and from Paris. All expenses of personal nature like drinks, laundry etc. Cancellation & travel insurance.

Transport to Paris on your own. You should not arrive in Paris later than 10.30 on 14/10 and not book your return trip earlier than 18.00 on 17/10.

What should I bring?

A DSLR camera.
Telephoto zoom lenses up to a 200 mm.
Wide angle lenses, at least 24 mm.
Sturdy tripod.
A laptop computer with editing software.

A more detailed equipment list will be provided in the information material you will receive prior to the trip.