Burma with Steve McCurry Workshop Review by Lisbeth Monéton

Our first photography workshop of 2020 took place in Burma with Steve McCurry as the workshop expert. Passionate Photographer Lisbeth Monéton was one of the participants and tells about her experience traveling on this Better Moments workshop.

I have just returned from an amazing 9 days experience: the Better Moments Burma workshop with Steve McCurry. 

We were a small group of 9 people; seven women and two men in the age range of 30 – 60 years. It was encouraging to be surrounded by different yet passionated photographers all day long.

Fisherman at Inle Lake| Photo: Lisbeth Monéton

Lisbeth Monéton

A life changing photographic experience

Working so close and intense with Steve was a life changing photographic experience.

Learning how to approach the local people on the markets, on the street, at their work, in the monasteries etc. was a challenge and a skill that most of us didn’t master before we started the course, but with guidance from Steve, the three talented local guides and not the least Christian (founder of Better-Moments), we rapidly replicated their techniques.

I feel that my photographic skills have improved tremendously. I now see things in a photo that I didn’t notice before. I have learned how to build up a photo with several layers and movements. We watched Steve preparing a scene with the right back ground, the right light and colors. Just by watching him working, we learned a lot. He also gave us valuable feedback on our photos taken during the workshop as well as review of our previous photos.

From Mandaly to Inle Lake

We started in Mandalay and visited several temples and monasteries, the fishmarket, the stone carving area as well as the riverside. We had an early morning shooting at the U Bein Bridge with its beautiful colors at sunrise. We sailed on the Irrawaddy river to the famous town Mingun and photographed, amongst other, the world’s biggest wall brick build pagode Pahtodawgyi, which was destroyed by an earthquake.

After five days in Mandalay, we took a plane to beautiful Inle Lake, with its 200 floating villages. We had a fantastic early morning, shooting the one-leg-rowing Intha fishermen when they started out their day. We visited the weekly market in Kalaw, where you can also get a stylish haircut and visit the dentist. We photographed the famous Long-Neck women, visited a Silk, Cotton and Lotus weavery, a black smith and silver manufacturer.

A voyage to remember

Besides visiting lots of interesting places in this beautiful country, with its ancient culture and history, its kind and gentle people as well as its delicious food, I experienced 9 days full of photographic highlights. A voyage I will never forget and and I am looking forward to participate in other well organized and exciting Better Moments workshops around the world.  

Visit at the dentist at the market in Kawla| Photo: Lisbeth Monéton

Child Monks | Photo: Lisbeth Moneton

At The Blacksmith | Photo: Lisbeth Moneton

The next Better Moments Burma workshop will take place in 2021.The dates will first be announced to our newsletter list. If you aren’t signed up yet, you can do so here.

Head to the workshop page to learn more about our adventure to incredible Burma.

More about Steve McCurry? Click here!