Testimonials ~ 2008

Sue & Gordon from Australia:

“I do feel bad not getting back to you earlier to thank you as both Gordon and I had a great time with you on your Latin Quarter Curios tour. We found it a fantastic introduction, not only to taking much better photos, and seeing things we may not normally notice, but also to Paris itself. You helped us to feel more confident using our cameras while showing us the beauty of Paris. And to top it off we now have some terrific photos of Paris that we certainly wouldn't have if not for your help!

The holiday seems like ages ago but it has whet our appetites for more, we just need the economy to spring back!”

Dirk from Beeskow, Germany:

“The tour with you was absolutely great. I think we had a lot of fun together. I could take home a lot of suggestions and experiences. You have shown me nice, quiet places in Paris outside the touristical mainstream.

I have visited often you homepage. It is nice, I like it. But I need a little bit more time to look at and to read everything.

It was very important for me to change our experiences concerning photography. Once again: Thank you very much for all.

I would like to do the next photo tour with you in Beeskow !!!”

Maureen from Wexford, Pennsylvania, USA:

“Sab is a traveler, a writer, a poet, a painter, a photographer, a man with several lives and loving his current one deep in the state of helping others capture images of what he loves – the Paris scene. Indeed, he made the scene and reinvented it for us.”

“He is full of playfulness and insight, novel perspectives and quirky charm.”

“Why is it that travel magazines, lavish with tips and sumptuous photographs leave us so empty? Because they are gauzy tributes to the faux magic and trying so hard to be sincere. Instead, traipse around with Sab for a couple of hours, hear about his life, go to a local bookstore, which is clearly a hangout for him, hear him chat with a friend, meet a dog and throw a ball, sneak into a courtyard surrounded by dance studios with a belly dancer learning to isolate her top from her bottom and hear him talk about his own dance class attempt that no doubt had him smiling with glee.”

“When you are either too nervous to hold the camera to your face because the lens gets in the way of the beauty or when you are swamped with the emotion of a war monument, Sab is a thoughtful guide – helping you make sense of what you witness.”

“And finally, thank you. Wish I could just ring you, say I’d meet you at the bookstore and head out for gunpowder tea then a romp through the modern art.

Teresa from Levittown (Long Island), New York, USA:

"As an amateur photographer who has been to Paris 3 times prior I wanted to see the less "famous" details of the city.  Sab took me to just such places where I was able to capture my kind of images and incorporate his insightful suggestions.  Because of that, my pictures have a new clarity of vision for me and hopefully the viewer."

"I also have to thank him for giving me tips on the usage of some of the bells and whistles of my camera that I had no prior experience with...using them now I am able to take better technical and artistic shots."

"The tour was a perfect balance of photographic "event", history lesson, comfortable stroll with a new friend, and seeing photography and Paris with new eyes.  Thank you Sab, for the highlight of my trip!"

David from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK:

"Great day out made even better for just being the two of us – Sab pointed out ideas and angles that might have passed me by otherwise.  The day was aided by great weather / sun / shadows which added to the outing and quality of the shots taken.

Great knowledge of the areas walked – (Montmartre).  I returned the next afternoon and took more but with the benefit of the previous day.  Highly recommended."

See more of David's photos

Testimonials ~ 2007

Frank from Philadelphia, USA:

"I took the Montmartre Paris tour in November 07, and had a great time. It was just me and Sab so he had a lot of time to help me compose my shot and explain the area and its history. We had similar Nikon cameras so he also showed me a few tricks on how to use some of its features which I have never used before."

"Its amazing how quickly Sab could find an interesting angle or subject to take pictures of where I would have never even noticed it. I was so glad I found his tour when I was booking my Paris trip."

"If you like to travel and like to take pictures, I feel its so important to know how to take a good photograph no matter what type of camera you have. Thanks Sab!"

Jason from Phoenix, Arizona, USA:

"Unbelievable! A single day that I will never forget! Highly, highly recommended!

"My study was in Italy actually. But I  arranged a long layover in Paris as I really wanted to include her. When I had discovered that I was the only person on Sab's tour for that evening, I told him a bit about myself and asked if he could redirect the tour to whatever he thought I may be interested in seeing/photographing.

"WOW, did that work out nicely! Sab turned out to be brilliant and very accommodating. He put so much more into the tour than was even required. Those who see the photos here at home have a hard time believing that this was all done in one day. Then I tell them the tour didn't start until 4pm and they surely think I'm telling stories! If you have an opportunity to extend/customize your photo tour, I highly recommend it. Sab makes a point in showing you how to really 'see', not just photograph. If you can't see the shot, you can't get the shot. Therefore, you begin to see things that you would have never normally given a second look. Sab helps you to view things as an artist, but the 'postcard' shots are still available if you want to shoot like that as well.

"Next tip - Do this first BEFORE you vacation begins. I went to many other towns in Italy after my experience with Sab. I would have never taken the kind of photos I did if I had not had the lessons. In fact, there were many places (churches) that didn't allow photos. Yet I was still looking at things as a photographer. It was commented many times by my group that I pointed out things that they just passed right up. One person began to consistently ask me, 'what do you see here?'.

"Now as I am home, my photos are amazing me every time I look at them. Book quality... I mean sell-able! This single trip with Sab has truly changed my life as an artist as my 'eye' has not stopped and I plan to continue to improve as I see such an importance in doing this for my own creative growth. For you can't paint it if you can't 'see' it."

Joanna from Toronto, Canada:

"Just took a peek through some of your blogs and am reminded of what a fabulous photographer you are!  Thanks for posting so many great & inspirational pictures online... it's so great to be able to see the work you're doing!

"I recognized 2 photos on the blog that I think you took on our tour in Montmartre (kind of cool!)  I guess your camera must have been working at the beginning of the tour! (The pics from mid Sept are the ones I recognize).

"Anyway... just stopped by to say hello & encourage you in your art and your work - amazing!"

Marsha from New York, USA:

"Sab, the tour was an inspiring learning experience with guidance not only on wonderful 'things' to take photos of, but different ways to approach a particular photo to make it different from a 'front on' shot.  (Also, help with my camera and terminology.) 

"As we discussed, perhaps art can't be taught, but it can be unleashed!  I'm looking forward to having another session."