Snap A Place on “Desert Islands Digital Memories” Photography Course

Snap A Place on “Desert Islands Digital Memories” Photography Course

Learn travel photography skills from an expert and capture powerful scenery and breathtaking wildlife moments on camera

Enthusiastic photographers or beginners with a passion to learn, get cameras at the ready, as Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara has launched an unrivaled three night, two day landscape and wildlife photography course from 18 March 2010 to 21 March 2010.

Hosted by Kris LeBoutillier; assignment photographer who has worked with National Geographic’s Traveler and Adventure magazines and the Discovery Channel. The two day photography course will provide a rare opportunity to learn the craft of photography in the morning and evening light to capture the natural beauty and striking wildlife of Sir Bani Yas Island on camera. The resort which is situated on Sir Bani Yas Island, the Royal Nature Reserve established by the late ruler and founder of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is surrounded by rich wildlife and picturesque landscapes providing the ultimate back drop to perfect your photographic eye.

After celebrating its one year anniversary, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, is running a competition to win a place on this exclusive photography course. Entrants are invited to submit their favourite desert scenery and/or wildlife image by uploading it onto the competition section on the following website www.natureclick.net by Sunday the 28th February 2010.

Kris LeBoutillier and Anantara will then review all entries and select the winning photo to be announced on the 7th March 2009 on the website. One lucky winner will win a three night stay at the exceptional Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara. The three night stay will include breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner at The Palm restaurant, as well as a unique two day photography course with Kris LeBoutillier.

During the interactive workshop Kris will take the participants through a two day seminar dedicated to landscape, wildlife and travel photography. The mornings at the resort will be spent out “on location” shooting landscape and wildlife pictures. Whilst the afternoons will be spent critiquing work and going on additional shoots involving everything from the sands and ocean vistas, to the rare Oryx that call the island home.

So that no one misses out on this once in a lifetime artistic experience, the “Stay and Click” packages can be booked online at www.anantara.com. For individuals there is a special rate starting from just AED 6550++ including the two day photography course and three nights with breakfast, lunch and dinner in The Palm restaurant. There is an additional AED550++ for a 2nd person sharing the room for three nights but not participating in course.

Double room rates at the exclusive rate of AED8,600++. The rate includes the two day photography course based on two participants sharing one room for three nights with breakfast, lunch and dinner in The Palm restaurant.

Note: For the two-day workshop, photographers must have a digital SLR camera, lenses and all cables along with a laptop computer and editing software.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn from a skilled professional and take advantage of the idyllic location and supreme facilities that Desert Islands Resort & Spa offers.


About the Photographer: Kris LeBoutillier

Kris LeBoutillier has worked with a wide variety of magazine clients including National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Adventure and National Geographic Books. His photographic assignments have taken him around the world: from the beaches of southern Australia to the high mountains of Kashmir. His photography portfolio can be seen at www.kriswerksphoto.com. He has authored several books with Marshall Cavendish publishing: His most recent, On the Iron Rails of the Orient, was his photographic essay about train travel from Thailand, through Cambodia and Vietnam, ending in Lhasa,Tibet.

In addition to photography and writing, he is a photography workshop producer and instructor with his workshop company, F8 Workshops Pte. Ltd. www.f8workshops.com


About Anantara
For hundreds of years throughout Thailand, people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveller. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means 'without end', symbolising this sharing of water and the heartfelt hospitality that lies at the core of every Anantara experience.

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas initially opened in the seaside town of Hua Hin and on Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, and in the Golden Triangle in the country’s north. In the world-renowned destination of the Maldives, Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli are a 30-minute boat ride from the capital Male.

Anantara Seminyak debuted in April 2008 in the most fashionable district of Bali – the Island of the Gods. Late 2008 saw the opening of Anantara Phuket, situated in the serenity of Mai Khao Beach, Thailand, followed by Desert Islands on Sir Bani Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, and Anantara Si Kao which lies on the secluded Changlang Beach area south of Krabi, Thailand.

Anantara Baan Rajprasong in Bangkok opened its doors in April 2009 to become the first serviced suites property for the Anantara group, while Qasr Al Sarab opened in October 2009 in the legendary Liwa desert near Abu Dhabi. In November 2009 with the unveiling of Anantara’s second Koh Samui hideaway, the Chinese-inspired Anantara Lawana nestling the island’s famously long Chaweng Beach, Anantara Koh Samui became known as Anantara Bophut.

2010 will see a trio of new properties welcoming guests across Asia and the Middle East to further enhance Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas’ enviable worldwide portfolio. Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives is poised for its grand opening in July 2010, to be joined by Anantara Al Madina A'Zarqa in Oman and Anantara Sanya in China towards the end of the year.