“First time in the Balkans. First time with Nikos. A great experience. While I knew him as an outstanding photographer, I discovered a gentle, honest person. He talks, does not assume. He shares his personal experience, without secrets. He is tough, but not rude. He does not overwhelms you with his skill. And what a wonderful travel companion! My only regret: having to unexpectedly leave a few days earlier”.

My feedback is very positive. First of all, the management of the booking and preparation for the workshop is helpfully assisted by your assistant Dimitri. Second, you have been a very nice and empathic person all around, and this means a lot because apart from photography we are all human beings and have human beings’ needs, therefore being around nice people is something that comes before, and really helps, learning and participating. Third, I feel that your editing sessions during the workshop, and all the general interaction with you and the other participants, have helped my understanding of photography. All in all, I have come back after the workshop with lots of new creative energy and ideas, and I believe this is all because of the unique environment of your workshop. Your comments of our work feel objective and are often revealing, and your advice is at once simple and effective. I cannot but very highly recommend your workshop to anybody that has interest in photography.

I met Nikos last April in Iran’s workshop for the first time.We traveled for ten days and that trip changed my perception of photography. He taught me how to go beyond the limits and break strict rules and let creativity inspire me to create my own photography style. After 7 months,I decided to participate in another workshop and Varanasi was a great choice for me. The city was the most amazing place I’ve ever visited and if it wasn’t for the workshop, I might have never gone there. We had enough time during the day to see the city and the special ceremony which was held in that time. And in the evenings,reviewing participant’s photos encouraged me to explore the city more in the next day.

I have previously attended a photography workshop with Nikos Economopoulos (Karpathos-Greece, Easter 2008) and it was the most beautiful ten consecutive days of my life. I asked to participate at the Varanasi workshop because I admire Nikos as a photographer and completely trust him as a person. I regretted it immediately after I signed up, because my fear of the unknown took over and I was about to call and cancel, despite all the shame that I would feel. Fortunately I did not do it. I got a whole lot out of this workshop. The daytime was dedicated to shooting, and during the evenings we were showing our day’s work. Niko’s observations and criticism were made in such a way that made us feel pushed forward, he has a way of encouraging you and making you put yourself in every image you make and feel confident about it. We never felt put down by a comment or a remark. There was an atmosphere of affection and solidarity all the way through. (He even helped me with my laptop..) Varanasi is magical..

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.

My first On the Road workshop was almost a year ago in Oaxaca, Mexico, from which I learned an immense amount. In this one (this time in Ghana), I learned plenty too, not only from Nikos, but also from very good and talented photographers, many of whom have attended several workshops in other places. Nikos is not only a great photographer, he’s also an open, direct, and natural mentor.

The workshop with Nikos, was a unique experience. He opened a new door to the world of photography for me. The tips he gave me were extremely useful and his advises clearly changed my photography approach. Finally I want to thank the whole group that made the experience unforgettable, and I am looking forward to taking part in my second workshop.

The workshop in Ghana was my first with Nikos. It was a great experience because Nikos is not only an excellent photographer and teacher, but also a really wonderful person to be with! In Nikos’ teaching methods I loved especially that he let everybody go his own way and let us www.ontheroad.grelop our own visions. He was not imposing his own style or anything else, so each participant was free to photograph whatever he or she wanted to. In the evenings we all met for long and very interesting editing sessions. Then Nikos went carefully through all the photographs we offered him, regardless if there were only a few or even a hundred. He gave each of us excellent feedback on our daily work in a direct and honest, but always very friendly way. With this we learnt how to avoid common traps or clichés, how to recognise easy tricks, and avoid making boring and badly composed pictures. So he carefully guided each of us and helped us day by day to improve our work. Thanks a lot for all this Nikos, you are a great inspiration and I already look forward to being with you again in another workshop! Thanks also to all the participants for the great time we had together!

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.

Thank you for another great workshop. During my week in Athens I believe to have again improved my photographic skills and at the same time was able to acquire important knowledge on how to take pictures in difficult situations, i.e. in this case taking pictures of people having to live under precarious circumstances and taking to the streets. Athens during the financial crisis struck me as a city of strong social distinction with poverty becoming strongly visible in the streets of some areas and on the other hand still keeping its friendly, sunny side for which it also stands. I finally ended up trying to show these contrast in my pictures  ̶ as it seemed to me that focusing on one side only would not show an equitable picture of Athens in the situation of the financial crisis. There is still positive energy certainly among the young. I enjoyed the evening sessions with the other students in the workshop as always pleasant and informative. I am looking forward to the next workshop I will be able to attend.

Thank you very much for a great yet challenging week in Marrakesh. Being ‘On the Road’ with you helped me to understand what the street photography is all about. This workshop allowed me to discover photography once again. Your advices and suggestions helped me in choosing a right direction for my future photographic journey. Time spent with other participants and possibility to see their work helped me to understand how much photography dependents on personality. In fact it inspired me to be a better person. I am sure I will see you again…

I did not know what to expect from a Greek maestro who lives and travels half the year in his cool VW T3. From the first hour of meeting Nikos in Pristina, my perspective on human relations and photography changed. His no-nonsense approach, opinions and advice delivered always with respect, kindness and often times, humour plus his wealth of life and photographic experience taught me to be free, take risks, challenge the norm and focus on making a compelling and difficult photo instead of fiddling with technical issues. What is also priceless, is his personal interest in the places and people we visited. Without his thoughtful commentary on the historical and cultural background to frame the environment we were in and his interesting friends who joined us during the week, it would have been a totally superficial tourist visit to Kosovo. I can’t wait to join him again.

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.

The workshop with Nikos was a great experience and a wonderful event. The evening reviews were inspiring as Nikos proved to be not only a gifted photographer but also a patient teacher and reviewer. He truly possesses the didactical skills to explain what elements are required in building up a good photograph. Naturally the workshop was frustrating at the same time as one comes to realize what skills are required in order to perform photography at this level. Nonetheless, it is definitely learning process that I want to experience again, so I’m studying my agenda and Nikos’ website to try to decide when I can sign up again.

Cuba was my third workshop with Nikos. Not only is he inspiring, patient, and always awakens joy in taking and discussing pictures, but Nikos is also a great companion and friend! Nikos to me is like a lighthouse showing the right path when being lost on the high seas – both in www.ontheroad.greloping my photographic intuition and most importantly in approaching and interacting with people. I am looking forward to be again on the road with Nikos!

(…) This sounds so cliché (…), but this workshop has changed my life! The 35mm has not left my camera and I am really enjoying composing in a way that is more interesting. (…) A few things that you said about my photography really shocked me but shocked me more to realise that you were right… still amazes me that you have made an observation that was so right from looking at my photos alone. Thanks.. In terms of feedback, I think the workshops in the evening were really enjoyable, especially being to learn from other participants’ work and your comments of them. Your help with interesting things to do prior to the workshop was also very helpful. The only thing that I would ask is for you to be even harder with your critiques and provide perhaps some sort of direction as to where each one of us could go…through each evening discussion as well as at the end of the workshop. I think your guidance to each of us is very valuable and we could do with more of it, well I could at least. (…) Not sure where photography is heading for me, but I have been loving every moment of it so far! I have learnt more in Beirut than I have in the last 2 years!

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.