Michael Cartwright Photography
Málaga: Light, Colour & Culture – Photography Workshop
FULLY BOOKED - Join the waiting list by clicking BOOK NOW
Join me for a 3-night photography adventure in the heart of Málaga, Spain, where we’ll explore the interplay of light, colour, and culture in one of Europe’s most photogenic cities. From the historic Alcazaba fortress to the vibrant street art of Soho, this workshop is designed to help you master light, refine composition, and develop a strong storytelling approach.
We’ll shoot sunrise cityscapes, golden-hour architecture, lively street markets, and stunning coastal views—all while immersing ourselves in the authentic atmosphere of Málaga. With a small group of 6 photographers, you’ll receive personalized guidance and plenty of time to develop your style.
This trip is perfect for photographers of all levels, whether you're passionate about travel, street, architecture, or landscape photography.
Málaga is a city of stunning contrasts, where golden Mediterranean light meets historic architecture, vibrant street life, and breathtaking coastal views. It offers a rich mix of photography opportunities, from the Moorish beauty of the Alcazaba to the bold street art of the Soho District, the bustling Atarazanas Market, and dramatic coastal landscapes. With over 320 sunny days per year, Málaga provides ideal lighting conditions for photography, especially in September when the summer crowds fade, but the weather remains warm and perfect for shooting.
Temperature: Expect warm but comfortable conditions, with daytime highs around 26-30°C (79-86°F) and pleasant evenings around 18-22°C (64-72°F).
Flights & Travel
✈ Flights from Teesside International Airport (MME) to Málaga (AGP) via Ryanair.
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Flight Duration: Approx. 3 hours
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Luggage Allowance: Includes a 10kg carry-on bag + personal item (small camera bag).
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Convenient Departure: Avoid the hassle of long-distance travel by flying directly from Teesside, perfect for those in the North East.
Accommodation – Hotel Eliseos
Your stay will be at Hotel Eliseos, a well-located hotel right next to Málaga’s historic bullring, just a short walk from the Alcazaba fortress, Malagueta Beach, and the Old Town.
✔ Private single occupancy en-suite rooms with air-conditioning.
✔ Walking distance to key photography locations.
✔ Rooftop terrace & pool – perfect for relaxing after a day of shooting.
✔ Free Wi-Fi & nearby cafes for reviewing and editing images.
Single rooms are included in the workshop price, with the option to upgrade to a double room for extra space. The single rooms are small but more than adequate for a goood nights sleep and you can upgrade to a larger room if you wish. Breakfast is not included as it's better for us to eat after sunrise and we may be some distance from the hotel. You can have breakfast in the hotel if you wish for just 6 Euros (at the time of writing). The city is awash with great cafes and restaurants.
Photography Locations & Itinerary Highlights
Throughout the trip, we will explore a mix of urban, landscape, and cultural photography locations, ensuring you capture a diverse range of shots.
Plaza de la Merced & Picasso’s Birthplace – A historic square with charming Andalusian architecture and bustling street life.
Alcazaba & Roman Theatre – A Moorish fortress with stunning textures, perfect for golden-hour shooting.
Castillo de Gibralfaro – The best panoramic view of Málaga, ideal for sunrise cityscapes.
La Malagueta Bullring – Symmetrical architecture with a rich cultural backdrop.
Atarazanas Market – A street photography haven, capturing market vendors, fresh produce, and colourful stalls.
Soho Street Art District – Bold, modern urban photography, featuring large-scale murals from world-renowned artists.
Malagueta Beach & Lighthouse – Long-exposure seascapes and sunset silhouettes.
With a small group of participants, you’ll receive personalized guidance and plenty of shooting time at each location.
What to Bring – Suggested Kit (10kg Allowance)
With a 10kg carry-on allowance, it’s important to pack light but efficiently. Here’s what we recommend:
Camera Body – Mirrorless or DSLR (compact options preferred for travel).
Lenses:
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Wide-angle lens (16-35mm or 16-24mm prime) – Perfect for cityscapes & landscapes.
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Standard zoom (24-70mm) – A great all-rounder for street & travel shots.
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Light telephoto (70-200mm) – Ideal for portraits & details.
Tripod – Essential for sunrise, sunset, and night photography.
ND Filters – For long-exposure water shots at Malagueta Beach.
Spare Batteries & Memory Cards – Expect long shooting days.
Lightweight Laptop or Tablet – Optional for on-the-go editing.
Pro Tip: Wear comfortable shoes, as Málaga is best explored on foot! We'll take plenty of breaks along the way and you can drop in and out of photography sessions as you wish.
Workshop Pricing & Booking
£895 per person (Single Room included)
£995 per person (Double Room Upgrade)
Deposit: £195 to secure your spot – Balance due 8 weeks before departure.
Testimonials
I have just returned from a trip to the Arctic Circle arranged by Michael. The best I can say is that this was a trip of a life time! The tour was friendly with lots of laughs. Michael, Scott & Joe passed on their knowledge freely. Nobody was left out, there was something for everyone to do and along with the photo opportunities we had great fun on snowmobiles at midnight on a frozen river going from Finland to Sweden, a dog sled ride through a frozen forest , reindeer sled ride and so much more.
Would I recommend Michael Cartwright Photography?? Hell yes!! A trip I will never forget & many new friends made.
Mike Cook
Over the last 18 months I have been on a number of courses, workshops and photography holidays with Michael Cartwright and his team Scott Bonner and Joe Fletcher. Over that time my photography skills have really improved with their generous and friendly help and support. I have learned so much and met some great people along the way. The latest holiday in Arctic Finland / Sweden has been the icing on the cake. Well organised from start to finish with a range of activities and challenges. It was the most wonderful experience and I have some photographs that I really like. Huge thank you to the team and I can wholly recommend Michael Cartwright Photography!
Gill Davidson
Michael has a unique ability to take complicated subject matter and deliver it in a simple, passionate and infectious manner. He has taken me on a journey with his workshops from ‘extreme novice’ that was absolutely clueless to a confident enthusiast. I will be eternally grateful for all of Michael’s efforts in going the extra mile throughout my learning journey. He is a credit to his profession and he sets the standards for the rest of his industry to follow. Oh, and he is a thoroughly likeable chap too!
Stephen Smith
Great weekend away and I’m really pleased with my photographs! Thanks for a fantastic workshop, everything was first class, including the hotel, the food and the weather! I really enjoyed learning about different ways to compose my photos for a more professional feel. The workshop was well planned and was extremely informative and interesting. The fact that Michael kept a close eye on everybody's progress was an extra bonus. Thanks Michael
Uma Mannan
Both myself and my husband have been friends of Michael's for many years now during which time we have been on numerous photography trips with him!
We have thoroughly enjoyed every single trip from the Lake District, Paris, Budapest but my absolute favourite was the trip to Finland, we may not have been lucky enough to see the Northern Lights but what a fantastic adventure it turned out to be!! Each trip has been made extra special with the fabulous group of people that we have had the pleasure of making friends with, aside from that there is of course the excellent opportunity to take some amazing photographs of simply stunning scenery and architecture. The trips are always well organised and thoroughly thought through from beginning to end, as well as coming away with some truly amazing photos you will for sure meet some lovely people and make fantastic memories......
Jayne Stephenson
I attended my first camera course as a complete beginner, I didn’t even know how to turn the camera on! The initial course was perfect for me, very well explained throughout and left me wanting to know more. Michael and the team are brilliant teachers, they are all very patient and we have a lot of laughs along the way. Since learning how to use my camera I have progressed on to landscape workshops and now class myself as being very confident with my kit. I’ve joined Michael on many occassions and would definitely recommend these workshops!
John Conlin