My experience in Beirut, participating in a photography workshop with Nikos was not only BRILLIANT and AMAZING, it was something more! The daily editing sessions were key to learning more not just about my own work and what direction it might take, but I learn’t so much from everyone else too and what you taught us in those sessions. I now look at a photograph with critical eyes and less emotion, I want the photo to tell me a story, in and of itself. I compose differently, I use my camera more effectively (I think &amp hope) everywhere I look I am trying to compose a photograph, not just when I feel it intuitively but when it might not be the ideal situation photographically. I am more patient with myself and the elements around me. But something that I took away from the workshop in Beirut, you said it a number of times but especially towards the end of the week. You said “Take pleasure in what you photograph” and that is exactly what I am doing more so than ever and I am loving every moment of this new enlighten journey I am embarking on with my camera!

Two words about something I don’t understand. About something that has been in me for over a decade. A tale that I had made up in my mind (…) In September 2009, I packed two changes of clothes dress and two cameras and came to Istanbul. Expectations? Countless. Reservations? Even more. ‘Fairy-tales do not exist’ I said to myself. But what I experienced in a week was more than I ever expected or even imagined. (…) I have been in a photographic frenzy ever since. I carry my camera with me all the time, everywhere. (…) Can no longer do otherwise.

Ethiopia’s workshop has been a wonderful experience for my photography.
Nikos guides you on a very precise path: one camera, one lens, one format between black and white and color, and focus on the image. Just relax, react to what you see, without too much thought or preparation.
This may sound obvious, but it was not for me at the beginning: I’ve passed from confusion, feelings of inadequacy, to be more and more confident and able to enjoy the process, and it’s been amazing for me to see my pictures improve day by day, become more interesting and less ordinary.
Niko’s passion is contagious, he’s able to criticize very precisely and firmly but always in a positive and constructive way.
I still have l a long way to go, but I can only thank Nikos for giving me back enthusiasm and directions to improve my photography.
I really look forward for the next workshop with Nikos!

It all sounds not enough when I think of the incredible two weeks that I spent traveling with Nikos to Nepal and India. Those two weeks were filled with beautiful moments captured by all the participants, all inspiring each other and supporting our effort and common goal. We all bonded beautifully and hopefully created life-long friendships. The workshops are demanding but it is through the effort and hard work that we achieve results that we can be proud of. Nikos pushed each participant to create the best work possible and I think that the results speak for themselves. I returned home feeling inspired, stronger as a photographer and as a person. I look forward to traveling with Nikos to Ethiopia and india in 2015!

Nikos is a wayfaring man. He takes you on a journey which is neither comfy nor sluggish, but encourages you to witness the foreign and encounter your own limits. This way of traveling with the camera forces you to participate with the world around you and in the evenings during the workshop your participation will be putted to the test, if you have sweated enough. On some days life gifts you with one or two good photographs, but on some not a single one. So the next morning you’ll head out again and demand your luck. And at the end of a week or two with Nikos you make your way home safe in the knowledge that you have achieved and experienced something unique.

Addis Ababa was my second workshop with Nikos. I came back for two reasons: One, because I know he is a great teacher who brings out the best in you. He gives you honest and relevant feedback which helps you www.ontheroad.grelop more as a photographer in a week than you would normally in a year. Two, because he is a great guy also on a personal level, and he really knows how to make a group work together and have fun at the same time. Plus did I say most of his workshops takes place in exciting and exotic locations, with more motives that your mind can process? I am already looking at how soon I can go again..

The expertise and clear vision of Nikos criticism is the best gift for any photographer attending his workshops. The last few years I had lost motivation for photography and all i was hoping from this workshop was just to awake my “eye” and to feel the magic of the photographic process. The “mission” was more than accomplished! Until the end of the workshop i felt falling in love with photography again and got the thrill of grabbing my camera and go photograph the action. Nikos guided me through this process and with his generosity shared precious “secrets” of big photographers. The end of the workshop meant a new start to my photographic projects. I continue photograph the city and feel the influence of this workshop on my work. THANK YOU! I am really looking forward to the next photographic workshop with Nikos!

Ok..it was really my pleasure to meet you and be part of the Damascus workshop.. A really nice experience and a good start for myself and my photos. The workshop has encouraged me to become better and learn more … In the one week I learned from your comments and your suggestions what I should look for and what to avoid. You gave me directions for finding my own style and to experiment on that. Now being back inCyprus, believe it or not, I feel like a “new ” person. I know this might sound strange but the one week that I spent time with myself and my camera and later having your comments about my work made me fall in love once again with the world of photography, keep taking photos, love the people and try more.

Ethiopia was my 4th workshop and i feel like it is already more than a workshop but seeing a good friend, travelling around and having good time. It’s more like learning more about life not only photography. So if anybody still have doubts about attending one, go, be yourself and let Maestro show you what you actually are.

It’s all about sensibility, involvement, balance and control. This is mostly what I have learnt from Nikos workshop. From my day-to-day photos, Nikos directed my feelings and revealed what is the best in me. I started to be more conscious about what I was photographing, what I should photograph, what approach I should apply and what new direction I should explore. I have learned that getting close to people is the key, searching for the right setting and capturing the action at the right moment are essential. Nikos workshop is highly rewarding for those wishing to progress and confront themselves with street photography. Nikos workshop is a powerful human experience where I have met other interesting friendly photographers from different backgrounds, cultures and objectives in life. Nikos outspoken, honest critical look and simplicity, as personal qualities, make the workshop unique and very valuable for anybody wishing to move to next level in photography. Thank you Nikos for your true sympathy.

For me as a professional photojournalist, to be with Nikos takes me back to photography where surprise and curiosity are key elements, instead of telling the story as specific as possible – as many editors seek today. Working in a fast moving newsflow, photojournalism needs surprise to stop readers, and Niko’s photography does exactly that. It intrigues us and plays with our imagination. It moves us from the world of realism to the world of surrealism.
And a workshop with Nikos is a vital reminder of photography at its best: to show us the world in a way we don’t see it ourselves. And to be formulated by a teacher, not only extremely talented, but also a friendly and charismatic travel companion.
I’m already looking forward to my next workshop with Nikos Economopoulos.

I had the chance to participate in one of Nikos Economopoulos’ photographic journeys-workshops. The unique and very particular way that he has in guiding you without giving you recipes, while respecting your personal worldview, turns the whole photographic experience into a broad aesthetic and intellectual experience, as well as pure joy. Within just a few days, I discovered that the chaotic world around me has balance and poetry.

The workshop was a great experience for me and I indeed agree that it brought together people who otherwise probably would have never met. And for me, that is what life is all about! (…) The number of people participating in the workshop was perfect. I think the small group is essential to having the opportunity to sit together and give enough time to each person to evaluate and discuss his or her photos. I liked the right mix of freedom and direction. (…) I really feel that I got to know the many faces of the city with its many diverse photographic opportunities. I think presenting other photographers’ work and meeting local photographers contributed to the quality of the workshop. Your honesty and way of critique was constructive and helpful. I feel that I walked away from the workshop with specific ‘phrases’ that I will think about in the future when photographing. (…) Overall, while it might be quite obvious, I learned that photography is very hard work and that you have to take many pictures to have only a few good ones. In the past, I think that taking lots of crappy pictures often discouraged me to go on. This workshop taught me what to look for and what elements in a shot make a good photograph. I also think that I became more comfortable to connect to people through photography. Before this workshop I sometimes felt that I was in a way ‘stealing’ pictures, but when you share a cup of tea with some fishermen and they let you photograph them it feels that our paths have crossed and both sides gave something to the moment/experience. I was inspired to learn more about photography and then focus on a specific project where I can photograph with a specific aim.

First of all I would like to thank Nikos and the participants very much for the workshop in Istanbul. The learning experience of the workshop was absolutely immense. It was participant-centered, and this provided not only close supervision but also great space for creativity and room for www.ontheroad.grelopment. Further, I have really enjoyed meeting with Nikos and the other participants. For me meeting with Nikos was like ‘downloading wisdom’ from a master photographer like himself but the challenge lied in reflecting that wisdom on my photographs. In addition, I think participants added much to my experience with their diverse approaches to photography and they were great company. Given his credentials, I think Nikos is very modest while professing strongly his mastery secrets and has a very nice personality. I feel privileged to have been a part of this whole experience and hope to get together with them sometime in the near future at another workshop.

Joining Nikos’ workshop has become a yearly must-do event for me. Why? Because his workshops are, for me, the ideal way to travel, if you’re serious about photography. Nikos always offers a destination that promises to be photographically interesting. He ensures we get to immerse ourselves in the place. There’s always someone who has done the ground work, and yet the itinerary remains casually open and flexible. On top of that, he has a way of challenging you to perform better and improve, but never to the point of creating competition. So far, in the three workshops I’ve attended, the participants have been a generous, agreeable, and encouraging bunch, which really is the effect Nikos’ personality and method of mentoring. Finally, in Uruguay, we had the uncommon experience of seeing some of Nikos’ images shot during the workshop, as well as some unpublished work, which left us in awe. That was special.

Thank you for the workshop, overall it was great and I look forward to joining you somewhere else in the future. In terms of feedback, particularly at my beginner level, I was often seeking more and more direction and information from you and as you probably realise, I would continually ask for more and more information as the days went on. Apart from that however, it was a great experience and an overall (apart from the food) good trip.

In just one week much of the information I had accumulated in a previous photo course, just clicked and started to make more sense. I loved your workshop. You made me see Istanbul and it’s people very differently. I cherish the opportunity to find out the stories behind some of your great works. Plus I discovered with amazement the incredibly humble and warm person behind the fascinating photographs that I had grown to admire. And as a bonus, you introduced us to Ara Guler who even signed books for us. Thanks, looking forward to seeing you again. From now on will always be looking for flying crocodiles..

“I travel to photograph”, Nikos says. This statement made me rethink my purpose for travel. Not only do I want to see and be in the moment, I now strive to capture those feelings in a still image as well, so that I may later find pleasure in viewing it. This is my takeaway from Nikos’ workshop. He has given me a new perspective on travel and a new way to photograph and derive pleasure from it. It’s been some time since our group parted ways in Iran, and yet my thoughts are still suffused with notes from discussions with Nikos. The challenge now, it seems, is how to get into workshop mode and produce quality images without Nikos around. It’s tough. Whether it’s your first workshop or your fourth, Nikos’ methods will challenge you to level-up. Accept his teaching with an open mind, plus a dose of humility, and you will be rewarded with discernment of what is a good photograph, and what is mediocre. I look forward to being On The Road again.