LAVENDER IN PROVENCE

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER SOLLI KANANI

COUNTRY: France PHOTOGRAPHY: Landscape LENGTH: 5 days DATES: June 27 – July 1, 2027 MIN/MAX PARTICIPANTS: 8/12

There is something quite special about standing in the middle of a lavender field at dawn. The rows run toward the horizon, the fragrance hangs thick in the air, and when the first light touches the blossoms, the whole field shifts from grey to the deepest purple. To me, the lavender fields around Valensole are among the most beautiful things a photographer can capture – for just a few weeks each year the plateau is transformed into a sea of color, and every dawn and dusk offers new light over the fields.

Solli Kanani

Join us in Provence and photograph the seemingly endless lavender fields around Valensole – a sea of purple under the soft summer light of southern France.

What is it that makes Provence one of Europe’s most dreamlike destinations for a photographer?

Perhaps it is the light. The Provençal summer has a light few other places can match – warm, clear and yet soft, especially during the golden hours around sunrise and sunset. When it meets the rolling rows of lavender on the Valensole plateau, the landscape is transformed into a photographic paradise where color, fragrance and form merge into one.

Over five intensive and inspiring days you will travel with photographer Solli Kanani – Swedish by birth, but based in France for many years and deeply familiar with the country’s light and landscapes. Together you will visit carefully selected locations where the iconic views meet hidden gems, hand-picked to give you the best possible conditions for creating powerful images.

You will be based in the area around Valensole, the heart of lavender country in Provence, and photograph when the light is at its most beautiful – at dawn, when the morning air is still cool and the fields rest in stillness, and at dusk, when everything is bathed in a warm, golden glow. Between sessions, hands-on photographic guidance in the field is interwoven with talks, image reviews and editing. Whether you are an experienced photographer or just beginning your journey, you will get support in finding the right composition, using the light and bringing your ideas to life.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

The lavender fields around Valensole – Provence’s iconic lavender plains, a sea of purple in perfect summer light, drawing photographers from all over the world.
Lavender at dawn – photographing the fields at sunrise, when the light is at its softest and the colors at their deepest – and you often have the place all to yourself.
Dramatic sunsets – we capture the warm Provençal evening light during several sunsets.
The village of Gordes – one of France’s most beautiful villages, perched on a rocky outcrop, with fantastic views over the village’s terraced stone houses and the Provençal landscape.
The morning market in Riez is an authentic Provençal experience rich in photo opportunities.
A visit to a lavender distillery – we experience how the essential oil is extracted from the lavender, a unique insight into one of Provence’s most tradition-rich crafts.
The unique light of southern France, which transforms the lavender fields into a photographic paradise and gives the images their special character.
Carefully selected photo locations, chosen for the best possible light and composition at every session.
Photographer Solli Kanani takes part throughout the entire tour.
Talks, image editing and photographic guidance by Solli Kanani.

BOOK HERE

COUNTRY: France PHOTOGRAPHY: Landscape LENGTH: 5 days DATES: June 27 – July 1, 2027 MIN/MAX PARTICIPANTS: 8/12

LAVENDER IN PROVENCE

PHOTOGRAPHER SOLLI KANANI

There is something quite special about standing in the middle of a lavender field at dawn. The rows run toward the horizon, the fragrance hangs thick in the air, and when the first light touches the blossoms, the whole field shifts from grey to the deepest purple. To me, the lavender fields around Valensole are among the most beautiful things a photographer can capture – for just a few weeks each year the plateau is transformed into a sea of color, and every dawn and dusk offers new light over the fields.

Solli Kanani

Join us in Provence and photograph the seemingly endless lavender fields around Valensole – a sea of purple under the soft summer light of southern France.

What is it that makes Provence one of Europe’s most dreamlike destinations for a photographer?

Perhaps it is the light. The Provençal summer has a light few other places can match – warm, clear and yet soft, especially during the golden hours around sunrise and sunset. When it meets the rolling rows of lavender on the Valensole plateau, the landscape is transformed into a photographic paradise where color, fragrance and form merge into one.

Over five intensive and inspiring days you will travel with photographer Solli Kanani – Swedish by birth, but based in France for many years and deeply familiar with the country’s light and landscapes. Together you will visit carefully selected locations where the iconic views meet hidden gems, hand-picked to give you the best possible conditions for creating powerful images.

You will be based in the area around Valensole, the heart of lavender country in Provence, and photograph when the light is at its most beautiful – at dawn, when the morning air is still cool and the fields rest in stillness, and at dusk, when everything is bathed in a warm, golden glow. Between sessions, hands-on photographic guidance in the field is interwoven with talks, image reviews and editing. Whether you are an experienced photographer or just beginning your journey, you will get support in finding the right composition, using the light and bringing your ideas to life.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

The lavender fields around Valensole – Provence’s iconic lavender plains, a sea of purple in perfect summer light, drawing photographers from all over the world.
Lavender at dawn – photographing the fields at sunrise, when the light is at its softest and the colors at their deepest – and you often have the place all to yourself.
Dramatic sunsets – we capture the warm Provençal evening light during several sunsets.
The village of Gordes – one of France’s most beautiful villages, perched on a rocky outcrop, with fantastic views over the village’s terraced stone houses and the Provençal landscape.The morning market in Riez is an authentic Provençal experience rich in photo opportunities.
A visit to a lavender distillery – we experience how the essential oil is extracted from the lavender, a unique insight into one of Provence’s most tradition-rich crafts.
The unique light of southern France, which transforms the lavender fields into a photographic paradise and gives the images their special character.
Carefully selected photo locations, chosen for the best possible light and composition at every session.
Photographer Solli Kanani takes part throughout the entire tour.
Talks, image editing and photographic guidance by Solli Kanani.

BOOKING

PROVENCE

For a photographer, Provence is more than a destination – it is a place where light, color and form come together in a way few other landscapes can offer. At the heart of the region lies the Valensole plateau, a rolling upland where the lavender stretches out in seemingly endless rows toward the horizon. From late June until a couple of weeks into July, the fields stand in full bloom, coloring the landscape deep purple.

Light is the key here. In the early mornings, a soft, almost dreamlike light falls over the fields and the atmosphere is still. As the sun rises, the colors deepen, the rows of lavender cast long shadows and the whole plateau comes to life. In the evening the magic returns, as the warm evening light sweeps across the fields and colors the sky. It is a landscape that rewards those who wait for the right moment.

Around the lavender fields, classic Provence awaits: medieval villages perched on rocky outcrops, rolling hills, the sound of cicadas, and small distilleries where lavender oil is still extracted according to tradition. Together, this makes Valensole and its surroundings one of Europe’s most rewarding destinations for a summer photo tour.

ITINERARY

June 27 – July 1, 2027

OBS! The itinerary is adapted to the weather, the light and the state of the bloom – all to maximize the photo opportunities.

During the tour, several theory sessions will be held in which Solli shares her knowledge – from idea to finished image: how to tell a story, read and use the light, build your composition and enhance your images in post-processing. Throughout the days in Provence she is with you all the way – in the field, during the talks and at the image reviews – to help you grow as a photographer.

DAY 1, (JUNE 27) – WELCOME TO PROVENCE
We meet at Nice airport around midday, where you are welcomed by Solli Kanani and a host from Zoom Photo Tours. From there, a roughly two-hour bus journey takes us to our accommodation in the area around Valensole. After check-in and some time to settle in, we gather for a briefing on the tour program and on how best to work with light and composition in the lavender fields. We share an early dinner together before heading out for the evening’s first sunset shoot in the fields, when the warm Provençal light is at its most beautiful. (D)

DAYS 2–4, (JUNE 28 – 30) – PHOTOGRAPHING THE LAVENDER
Over three intensive and inspiring days we make the most of the best light, photographing the lavender fields both at dawn and at dusk, when the colors are at their deepest and the locations often stand empty. In the early mornings we head out to carefully selected fields for the sunrise and return for breakfast, and in the evenings we are out again for the sunset in the warm Provençal light. We move between different hand-picked locations, always seeking the best possible light and composition.

Between the photo sessions we mix in a variety of photographic experiences. One morning we document Gordes, one of France’s most beautiful villages, dramatically perched on a rocky outcrop and with a magnificent viewpoint over the landscape. Another day we document the charming village of Riez and its lively morning market, an authentic Provençal experience amid a bustle of colors, scents and local life. Lunches in Gordes and Riez are paid individually on site.

We also visit a lavender distillery, where we see how the essential oil is extracted from the lavender and gain insight into one of Provence’s most tradition-rich crafts.

In between, we alternate hands-on guidance in the field with individual feedback and group image reviews, where you learn how to read the light, build your composition and enhance your images in editing. Beyond the photography, this is also a chance to develop creatively in a small group of like-minded photographers, sharing experiences, inspiration and knowledge. On our last evening together we gather for a shared farewell dinner. (B, D)

DAY 5, (JULY 1) – LAST LIGHT & JOURNEY HOME
We rise for one final sunrise in the lavender fields, capturing the morning light one last time before we finish. After breakfast we sum up the days together and transfer to the airport. You travel home with a memory card full of unique images, new insights and a creative energy that lingers long after the trip. (B)

DIGITAL FOLLOW-UP – DATE TO BE AGREED WITH SOLLI
Once you have had time to edit your images from the tour at your own pace, we hold a digital follow-up session a few weeks after returning home. You will receive feedback on your best images, and the session concludes with Solli selecting the course’s winning image, which goes straight to the final of Zoom’s “Picture of the Year 2027” competition, with the chance to win a gift card worth SEK 5,000.

Here you can read more about the program in Provence

OBS! The itinerary is adapted to the weather, the light and the state of the bloom – all to maximize the photo opportunities.

During the tour, several theory sessions will be held in which Solli shares her knowledge – from idea to finished image: how to tell a story, read and use the light, build your composition and enhance your images in post-processing. Throughout the days in Provence she is with you all the way – in the field, during the talks and at the image reviews – to help you grow as a photographer.

DAY 1, (JUNE 27) – WELCOME TO PROVENCE
We meet at Nice airport around midday, where you are welcomed by Solli Kanani and a host from Zoom Photo Tours. From there, a roughly two-hour bus journey takes us to our accommodation in the area around Valensole. After check-in and some time to settle in, we gather for a briefing on the tour program and on how best to work with light and composition in the lavender fields. We share an early dinner together before heading out for the evening’s first sunset shoot in the fields, when the warm Provençal light is at its most beautiful. (D)

DAYS 2–4, (JUNE 28 – 30) – PHOTOGRAPHING THE LAVENDER
Over three intensive and inspiring days we make the most of the best light, photographing the lavender fields both at dawn and at dusk, when the colors are at their deepest and the locations often stand empty. In the early mornings we head out to carefully selected fields for the sunrise and return for breakfast, and in the evenings we are out again for the sunset in the warm Provençal light. We move between different hand-picked locations, always seeking the best possible light and composition.

Between the photo sessions we mix in a variety of photographic experiences. One morning we document Gordes, one of France’s most beautiful villages, dramatically perched on a rocky outcrop and with a magnificent viewpoint over the landscape. Another day we document the charming village of Riez and its lively morning market, an authentic Provençal experience amid a bustle of colors, scents and local life. Lunches in Gordes and Riez are paid individually on site.

We also visit a lavender distillery, where we see how the essential oil is extracted from the lavender and gain insight into one of Provence’s most tradition-rich crafts.

In between, we alternate hands-on guidance in the field with individual feedback and group image reviews, where you learn how to read the light, build your composition and enhance your images in editing. Beyond the photography, this is also a chance to develop creatively in a small group of like-minded photographers, sharing experiences, inspiration and knowledge. On our last evening together we gather for a shared farewell dinner. (B, D)

DAY 5, (JULY 1) – LAST LIGHT & JOURNEY HOME
We rise for one final sunrise in the lavender fields, capturing the morning light one last time before we finish. After breakfast we sum up the days together and transfer to the airport. You travel home with a memory card full of unique images, new insights and a creative energy that lingers long after the trip. (B)

DIGITAL FOLLOW-UP – DATE TO BE AGREED WITH SOLLI
Once you have had time to edit your images from the tour at your own pace, we hold a digital follow-up session a few weeks after returning home. You will receive feedback on your best images, and the session concludes with Solli selecting the course’s winning image, which goes straight to the final of Zoom’s “Picture of the Year 2027” competition, with the chance to win a gift card worth SEK 5,000.

PHOTOGRAPHER

SOLLI KANANI – Landscape and food photographer

Solli Kanani is a international landscape and food photographer who has been based in Paris for over 15 years and also has a photography studio in Italy. She became a Nikon Europe ambassador in 2023 and is currently a BenQ ambassador, with clients including ZEISS, Adobe, and UNESCO. Originally from Lund, Sweden, she took up photography seriously after moving to Paris in 2009, and particularly enjoys shooting long-exposure coastal landscapes during the winter months. She leads workshops, gives talks for leading brands in the industry, and runs a YouTube channel about food photography. Several of her images have been shortlisted in the World Food Photography Awards and exhibited at venues including Paris City Hall and Nikon Plaza in Paris.

For more info:
Portfolio: https://studio.solli-kanani.com/
Webb: www.solli-kanani.com/
Instagram (landscap): www.instagram.com/solli_k
Instagram (food) : www.instagram.com/sollikanani_studio/

Presentation of photographer Solli Kanani

PHOTOGRAPHER Solli Kanani

SOLLI KANANI – Landscape and food photographer

Solli Kanani is a international landscape and food photographer who has been based in Paris for over 15 years and also has a photography studio in Italy. She became a Nikon Europe ambassador in 2023 and is currently a BenQ ambassador, with clients including ZEISS, Adobe, and UNESCO. Originally from Lund, Sweden, she took up photography seriously after moving to Paris in 2009, and particularly enjoys shooting long-exposure coastal landscapes during the winter months. She leads workshops, gives talks for leading brands in the industry, and runs a YouTube channel about food photography. Several of her images have been shortlisted in the World Food Photography Awards and exhibited at venues including Paris City Hall and Nikon Plaza in Paris.

For more info:
Portfolio: https://studio.solli-kanani.com/
Webb: www.solli-kanani.com/
Instagram (landscap): www.instagram.com/solli_k
Instagram (food) : www.instagram.com/sollikanani_studio/

HOTEL

HOTEL VILLA CASTELLANE****

PRICE, FACTS & BOOKING

PRICE

Price per person: USD 3.200

The price includes:

All transport according to the program.
Accommodation in a shared double room at the presented hotel.
Meals according to the program (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
All activities according to the program.
Participation of Solli Kanani throughout the tour.
Talks and image editing with Solli Kanani.
Participation of a host from Zoom Photo Tours throughout the tour.
Travel documents and travel information before the tour.
VAT and hotel taxes.

The price does not include:

Transport to Nice.
Single room supplement: USD 850
All costs of a personal nature, such as drinks with meals.
Cancellation protection and travel insurance.

TRANSPORT

Travel to Nice is not included in the price. You should arrive in Nice no later than 12:00 noon on June 27, and you should not book your return journey earlier than 16:00 (4 pm) on July 1.

If you wish to book an extra night either before or after the course, we are happy to help arrange this.

You are welcome to call us on +46 (0)70 180 90 99 or email us at info@zoomphototours.com. You can also mention it in the booking form when making your booking.

FACTS

Target group: Landscape and nature photographers of all ages who want to develop their photography. To get the most out of the tour, we recommend some prior photography experience.

Min/max participants: 8/12

Other: For more information about Zoom Photo Tours, terms and conditions etc., see the “Other” section of our website.

Exchange rate: EUR 1 = USD 1,15 (as of July 7, 2026)

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Your camera.
Lenses: 24–70 mm) and 70–200 mm or similar.
A tripod.
A laptop with either Photoshop or Lightroom installed.
A camera bag that can hold your camera equipment, a packed lunch and extra clothing.