“Leisure learning”
Here’s the transcript:
A ‘learning holiday’ offers an intimate glimpse into a region and its culture along with an opportunity to get creative.
Roopa Venkatkrishnan was keen on combining her love for wildlife and travel with a penchant for picking up new skills but didn’t know how to go about it – until she came across a mention of Toehold Travel & Photography in a magazine. “My husband had a passion for photography and he got interested in the concept of having experienced photographers assist and guide one during a holiday,” says the 48-year-old Mumbai-based entrepreneur who has been on five photography trips with Toehold in the past three years.
Toehold, which has offices in Pune and Bengaluru, has been clubbing travel with photography for the last five years. The team designs trips that generate several photo opportunities and allow you to explore the place with a professional photographer. “We help our guests extract the photographic potential of the place,” says Jayanth Sharma, co-founder and director, Toehold. The dates of the trips are usually published on the website. “For instance, we will be doing a Big Cat Week in Masai Mara and Samburu, Kenya, in December this year,” Sharma says. One can opt for group tours or personalised vacations. Sharma usually gets a lot of enquiries from families for such tours, especially those with teenage children. The company conducts 70-80 trips a year.
“The photographers who accompany you guide you at every step – from how to handle the equipment to composing a picture and the kind of lighting needed,” says Venkatkrishnan.