About

Join Manuello Paganelli for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Photography Experience A Global Cultural Exploration 

As a former photographer for ESPN, Forbes, GQ, LIFE, TIME, Men's Journal, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Stern and Reader's Digest magazines I’ve spent decades capturing the world’s most compelling people and stories—from the White House, to very posh locations, to the most remote villages, photographing those quiet human moments that never made the headlines but are the most significant elements in shaping our lives.

Over the years, friends and even strangers have asked me to lead photo workshops—drawn to the way I capture people, places, and isolated moments during my documentary travels. I’ve hosted a few, and the response has been overwhelming. Now, I’m ready to open this experience to a wider audience.

I’m inviting you to join me on a series of photo workshops across our planet that are more than just a trip. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience—a deep dive into visual storytelling, cultural, social and gastronomical immersion.  Under my guidance you will learn how to observe and be able to capture the world in a comfortable way through your lens in ways you never imagined.

Whether you are a professional, amateur photographer or don't have much photo experience this is the right place to be. It doesn't matter if your equipment is a DSLR, film camera, Holga camera or your phone, I’ll teach you how to elevate your photography with insights, and techniques so when you click the shutter it will come from your heart the -just as I’ve done for decades.

You’ll learn not only how to take technically sound images, but how to think like a photojournalist and a travel documentary photographer. You’ll develop the ability to anticipate a moment, frame it with intention, connect more deeply with your subject—and build powerful, honest narratives with your photos.

If you want to take your photography deeper—beyond the pretty photos, beyond the cliché—and return home with images that truly resonate, then this is the workshop for you. 

But it doesn't happen magically. Mastering a high level of photography, like anything worthwhile, will depend on how much effort and motivation you put in it. My job is to direct you, challenge you, and push you to reach that next level. If you are ready, then let’s make unforgettable images—together.

 

What Makes Our Workshops Different:

 

  • Real-world expertise: I’ve worked in some of the most visually and emotionally demanding situations on the planet. You’ll learn how to handle light, motion, and meaning with confidence.

  • Cultural depth: We won’t just visit places—we’ll experience them. My approach is immersive. You’ll meet locals, explore traditions, and gain access most tourists never get to see.

  • Personal mentorship: I keep the group small so I can give each person focused attention—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned shooter looking to push your creative limits. I will also have a local photographer helping the students.

  •  Working with Real People: During my workshops we don't hire local models to pose. When we do use models, it’s only for specific lighting class—either in studio or on-location portrait sessions, where you’ll get hands-on experience working with strobes, available or controlled light.

  • Inspiration and adventure: We chase the moment.  Every day is a mix of planned shoots, spontaneous discovery, and moments that remind us why we fell in love with photography in the first place. This is not a photo tour. It’s a cultural,  and photographic adventure—rich with education, real-world shooting, critique sessions, and shared discoveries.

 

 

Photographers

Manuello Paganelli North America, United States

Bio: Manuello Paganelli was born in Santo Domingo and grew up in Italy and Puerto Rico. He went to school in Tennessee and planned to become a missionary doctor then his last year of college he read a magazine article about Ansel Adams. A few days later he called him and that is how his friendship with Adams began. His first photo break came soon after when he landed a job at the Chattanooga Times and after a couple of years he went to freelance for national and foreign magazines in Washington, DC.

In 1989, when North American citizens were not permitted to enter the island, he began to explore and document Cuba,. In 1995 he had his first Cuba photo gallery show and that same year earned him a fellowship grant by the Virginia Commission for the Arts. On reviewing his exhibit Frank Van Riper of the Washington Post wrote "Manuello Paganelli's Cuban photographs are a brilliant window on a land and people too long hidden from North American eyes, Working in the tradition of Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank, Paganelli brings an artist's eyes and a native son's sensibility to his superb photographs." Following his first visit to Cuba, magazines and leading newspapers began to send him to the island.

When his photos started showing up in those publications and industry photo journals, it was the first time since 1959 that most US citizens were able to learn and get their first glimpse of life in Cuba. In 2016 after more than sixty trips to Cuba, he ended his Cuba project and his first monologue Cuba A Personal Journey 1989-2016 was published. In the early 1990s he started work on his Black Cowboys series and in 2009 part of his documentary was featured during the opening of the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles, California and in 2012 it was shown in St Petersburg, Russia at the prestigious Manege Museum. 

In 1994 he started to document Native Americans all across the Americas. During the fall of 2020 he started working on an ongoing project in the Midwest capturing farmers, fishermen, firemen, hunters, cowboys and some of the locals in small towns.   He works mainly with black and white film and his fine arts is at the Weston Gallery in Carmel, CA. His art is at the permanent collection of the Manage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.  He resides in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California where he spends his time with his dog or practicing martial arts. His award-winning work has graced the covers and pages of magazines such as: Forbes, GQ, LIFE, Men’s Journal, Newsweek, PEOPLE, TIME,  ESPN, Sports Illustrated,  Stern and Der Spiegel.  



Cuba: A Personal Journey 1989–2016 — $200

This book is sold out and out of print, and used copies are rare. For a signed copy, please contact me directly via email. info@internationalphotoworkshops.com

 

Nicholas Tinelli South America, Argentina

Nicholas Tinelli is a professional photographer based in Buenos Aires, specializing in Travel, Documentary, Portrait, Architecture, Aerial, and Commercial Photography. Of Italian origin, he has been living in Argentina for over a decade, a journey that has allowed him to build a strong bond with the country, its culture, and its people. This dual identity enriches his vision, blending European roots with a deep appreciation for Argentina’s traditions, landscapes, and communities.

For him, photography is a lifelong passion and a journey of self-discovery. Through his lens, Nicholas seeks to capture not only iconic landmarks and vast landscapes but also the subtle, everyday details that tell powerful stories.

His work reflects patience, observation, and a deep connection to the world around him. From the golden glow of sunrise over Buenos Aires streets to the raw emotion in a portrait, every image becomes a testament to his way of seeing and interpreting the world. Beyond its artistic nature, photography has been Nicholas’s bridge to cultures, communities, and people across the globe, reinforcing his belief that the craft is as much about connection as it is about image-making.

His travel imagery is represented by AWL Images, a world-leading agency specializing in premium-quality content for magazines, guides, and calendars.

His photographs are featured in the Atlas of Humanity Project, an initiative that celebrates the beauty and diversity of ethnic groups worldwide. 

Through his multifaceted career, Nicholas Tinelli has established himself not only as a photographer but also as a storyteller, mentor, and creative professional dedicated to capturing the essence of people, places, and cultures across Argentina.

Beyond his fieldwork, Nicholas treasures the moments spent with his young son and family, where the simplest routines often turn into cherished memories. He also enjoys the company of close friends, valuing laughter and meaningful conversations as much as the adventures of photography. In his quieter hours, he often turns to books, feeding his curiosity and finding inspiration in stories, history, and new perspectives. And whenever possible, he goes to the tennis court, where the rhythm of the game helps him relax and unwind.

Diana Mrazikova America, Cuba

Diana Mrazikova is a photographer, journalist, documentary filmmaker born in Slovakia and has been based in Havana, Cuba, since 2015. She studied photography and multimedia communication at UCLA in Los Angeles, and completed postgraduate studies in documentary filmmaking at the International school of Cinematography and Television (EICTV) in San Antonio de Los Baños, Cuba. Before moving to Cuba, she was based for almost 10 years in Africa, working as a photographer and documentary filmmaker for various humanitarian organizations (UNICEF, Plan USA, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Johns Hopkins University, CCP, USAID, and the International Red Cross) in Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Benin. Her lifestyle features and photographs have been published internationally in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, OK! Magazine, and other magazines around the world. She has won numerous international awards (World Photo Awards) for her work, and her photographs of Africa and Cuba have been exhibited in the United States, France, Senegal, Cuba, and Slovakia. Diana is currently finishing a photo story book on Cuba called “Cuba - the island that gets under your skin.”

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