A vibrant colonial town more than 400 years old, San Miguel de Allende is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. The streets are rich in color, aroma, and sound, with the endless drama of Mexican life evident around every corner.

Our time in San Miguel coincides with one of the city’s most important historical traditions: the celebration of its patron saint, San Miguel Arcángel (the archangel St. Michael), which begins Friday, October 2. During this exhilarating three-day festival, people sing and dance in the streets all night long while mariachi bands play. Pilgrimage-makers from other Mexican towns join locals to honor the saint with parades, dances, and special performances, the most significant being La Alborada, which represents the fight of San Miguel against Lucifer.

In anticipation of the festival, we spend our first two days firing up our artistic juices and preparing for the unique challenges of capturing quick action at nighttime. Nevada offers a deep dive into technical, practical, and creative techniques for making images that transcend cliché. As we discuss ways to approach and photograph people, we cover strategies for working in all kinds of environments and lighting conditions, using natural light as well as fill-flash. We also engage in group and individual critiques.

Join Nevada for adrenaline-filled fun and once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, perfect for photographers who can handle late nights!