"The moon begins its slow movement across the sun, a dark curve creeping in where there was only light, until the last sliver of sun narrows to nothing.
Then totality. The birds fall silent, as though someone has muffled the world. The horizon burns orange in every direction at once, a sunset with no sun to explain it, while overhead the sky turns a deep, unfamiliar blue-black. And there, where the sun should be, a black disc ringed in fire. Flares reaching out from behind the moon like the sun refusing to be fully hidden.
The air cools. Then, slowly, brightness creeps back in. The birds remember themselves, and within an hour the sky has closed back over, as if nothing happened at all. Except you were there. You saw it happen and you can’t quite believe what you witnessed."
Shooting The Total Solar Eclipse
On 2 August 2027, the Moon's shadow will again sweep across the Strait of Gibraltar and on to the southern tip of Spain, bringing one of the longest total solar eclipses most of us will ever witness. This isn't a brief flicker of darkness. In Tarifa, totality lasts close to five minutes, starting at around 10:47am with the sun sitting high overhead.
August is peak dry season in Andalusia, with cloud cover across the path typically running at up to 10 percent, some of the best odds of any total eclipse in recent memory. We'll base ourselves within the path of totality and build in a backup viewing location, so if the forecast turns against us on the morning itself. But the honest small print says that as this is a natural phenomena, I cannot guarantee weather will not impact viewing the eclipse, but the cards are stacked in our favour.
This tour is built around that one event, we'll spend time beforehand on technique: exposure bracketing, filters, composition with foreground interest, and how to actually enjoy the eclipse rather than spend it squinting through a viewfinder. As always, no single supplement.
The eclipse happens early during this trip with the rest of our time exploring the beauty of the Andalucian land and seascape.
Ronda
After the skies take centre stage, we head to Ronda, a town built on a gorge with a 100-metre drop straight through the middle of it. The Puente Nuevo bridge spanning that gorge is one of the most photographed structures in Andalusia, and for good reason. We'll shoot it at different times of day, including early morning when the light comes in low across the whitewashed buildings and the mist sometimes settles in the gorge below.
Beyond the town itself, the surrounding countryside gives us rolling hills, olive groves, and some genuinely dramatic light once the sun starts to drop. Ronda is also has one of the oldest bullfighting rings in Spain, and the architecture around the old town offers plenty of texture and detail work if you want a change of pace from wide landscapes.
Sevilla
With the eclipse behind us and a relaxed day back at base to let it sink in, we head out to Seville, bringing a different energy entirely. This is where we get into street photography and architecture side by side, from the Plaza de España with its tiled alcoves and canal, to the narrow lanes of the Santa Cruz quarter where the light does interesting things by mid-morning. The Cathedral and the Giralda tower give us scale and grandeur, while the backstreets give us the everyday life of the city, market stalls, flamenco bars, locals going about their day.
We'll cover both classic viewpoints and quieter corners away from the main tourist routes. Seville is also a good base for talking through people photography and how to approach street work respectfully, something that comes up naturally in a city this alive. Evenings here are made for photography too, with warm light and a slower pace as the city cools down.
Estepona and the Mediterranean Coast
From base we head down to the coast, spending time around Estepona for a stretch of Mediterranean light and colour. Estepona's old town is known for its flower-covered streets and murals, a proper contrast to the grandeur of Seville and the drama of Ronda. It's a good spot for slower, more considered shooting, working with colour, pattern, and the kind of detail that rewards patience.
The coastline itself gives us sunrise and sunset options along the Costa del Sol, with the Rock of Gibraltar visible on clear days and the coast of Africa sometimes just about in view too.
Cadiz
Cadiz is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, and it looks the part. Narrow streets open suddenly onto wide squares, the old town is ringed by sea walls and watchtowers, and the light off the Atlantic has a clarity that suits both architecture and street photography. Phoenician, Roman, and Andalusian layers sit close together here, sometimes in the same building, and there's plenty to keep a camera busy even before the sky does anything unusual.
Away from the eclipse window, the city rewards slower, more considered shooting. Golden hour along the sea walls, the market at its busiest in the morning, and the contrast between whitewashed buildings and dark ironwork balconies all give plenty to work with. Worth allowing time to walk the old town without a fixed shot list in mind, since a lot of what makes Cadiz photogenic is the way one street leads unexpectedly into another.
Practicalities and schedule
Running 31 July to 7 August 2027, this trip is built around a single astronomical event, so here's what to expect.
We keep groups small throughout, with no single supplement. Your guide is first aid-certified and with you for the full trip, not just the group sessions. We'll also be donating to Just One Tree as part of our ongoing environmental partnership, and following our Nature First approach wherever we're shooting.
On the eclipse itself, we build in a backup viewing location in case of last-minute cloud, and we'll cover eye safety and solar filters properly before anyone points a lens anywhere near the sun. If you're new to eclipse photography, don't worry, we'll walk through kit, settings, and timing well in advance so eclipse morning is about watching the sky, not troubleshooting your camera.
I plan to scout locations on a trip in February 2027.
Flights
London Luton to Malaga, 09.25 > 13.20
Malaga to Luton, 13.55 > 15.45
Current cost (19 Aug 2026) is £350 + bags
You don't have to book these flights, but please ensure you arrive at similar times for collection.
Your private villa accommodation
I have booked an amazing 7 bedroom villa with large swimming pool for our exclusive use. It is located in a rural national park area about 40 minutes from Malaga. There are 3 shared bathrooms. The villa is located just within the path of totality, but on this tour, we will locate a shooting location further south to extend totality duration and find a foreground landmark we can shoot against.
Food and drink
On this trip I have costed for all food to be included. Breakfast at the villa and lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
Send enquiry about Southern Spain Landscapes & Total Eclipse
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Photography Learnings
Over the duration of the workshop we will work on various photography subjects and elements, including:
Working with available light, Composition techniques, Appropriate camera settings, Exposure and use of the histogram, Depth of field and focusing, Shooting at sunrise and sunset, Street photography techniques, Use of filters, Use of tripod, Long exposure, Landscape techniques, Seascape techniques, Architectural techniques
Workshop highlights...
- Photograph the incredible total solar eclipse
- Photograph many of the highlights of Andalucia and beyond...
- Daily tuition from a professional photographer
- Daily photo reviews and critique
- Amazing exclusive villa with swimming pool
- Social time with other like minded photographers
- Experienced travel and landscape photographer, knows the best spots to shoot
Our workshop is for you if...
- You’re an amateur photographer of any ability who wants to improve your technical and creative skills
- You’re an advanced or Pro photographer looking to expand your portfolio with new and different images
- You’re a competitive camera club member and looking to create amazing winning images
- You want to spend a week with like minded photographers
Photography around Southern Spain
