Tuscany Photography Workshop
- 09 – 15 May 2020 4 places left
- 16 – 22 May 2020 Sold out
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Type of Tour: Landscape photography workshop
Max Participants: 6
Photographers: Marat Stepanoff
Fly-In/Out: Rome (airport Fiumicino)
Price: € 1,550
Introduction
Join me for a Tuscany photography workshop next Spring. In a trip that offers great photo opportunities beyond all expectations. Situated in Northern Italy, Tuscany is one of the country’s most photogenic destination.
Green rolling hills covered of colorful wildflowers, old tiny towns, misty mornings, and roads punctured with cypress trees. This is one of Tuscany landscape photography’s most iconic scenes.
The area around Val d’Orcia has attracted photographers and artists for years and it’s easy to see why. Tuscany is a beautiful landscape and you can’t help but be seduced by.
May is the best time to visit Tuscany. The grass has not yet been cut, poppies bloom, and early in the morning the valleys are filled with fog and create a mystical landscape. These are incredibly photogenic images.
I will take you to some of the best locations, and you can shoot a classic Tuscan landscape. During the photo tour, I will provide workshops and you can learn to process this type of landscape.
We base our photo tour in the heart of Val d’ Orcia in 10 minutes drive from some of the areas most iconic scenes like Podere Belvedere, Cappella di Vitaleta, Villa Gladiatore, Pienza, San Quirico d’ Orcia and the famous Cypress trees roads.
About our Tuscany photography workshop
Our photography workshop is designed to ensure that you can focus on photography while we take care of everything else.
We use all our experience and knowledge to get you to Tuscany’s most beautiful locations in the best lighted. We’re on hand to provide as much support, advice or guidance as you want.
Additional information
How to get there
Tuscany photography workshop started at the international airport Fiumicino at 12:00 a.m. We are meeting near the fountain in the airport and getting to our base by comfortable bus.
I advise you to arrive at the airport slightly early or the day before and spend the night in Rome.
You can reach Val d’ Orcia by yourself but it is a little problematic without a car.
Day of arriving is one of the workshop days and we have got a photo session this day.
Do I Need a car
I don’t know. We have an intense photo and cultural program. You will have a little free time. See the tour program. And all transfers during the photography workshop included in the tour price.
What is the temperature in Tuscany in May
May 73 °F (23 °C) 54 °F (12 °C)
Weather in Tuscany is good, with mostly sunny days and only a few rainy days as well. May is the best month to visit in Tuscany.
What clothing to bring
Rubber galoshes or Wellingtons. But I recommend galoshes because they are easy to take off before getting into the car.
In the morning the grass is wet from overnight dew. The soil in Tuscany is clayey. This is really very sticky clay.
Comfortable waterproof walking boots
While we won’t be doing any long hikes we’ll certainly be doing some walking over uneven ground and cobbled pavements in the city.
Windproof jacket and warm top
It’s a little chilly early in the morning before the sun has come up.
Waterproof pants
As I said, in the morning the grass is wet. Wear pants wet to the knees are not very comfortable.
What camera kit and equipment to bring
- A DSLR or mirrorless camera. Wide angle lens 16-35mm medium zoom 24-70mm and longer zoom 70-200 (300)mm. The most used lens will be 70-200mm. Also, a wide angle zoom will be very used. This focal length covered all that you need.
- Tripod. We’ll often be shooting in low light. And tripod will an absolutely essential piece of equipment.
- A cable release. A cable release allows us to press the camera shutter without touching the camera, which can cause movement blur during long exposures.
- Camera Backpack. A good backpack can really save your back, and backpack with sturdy hip straps can safely distribute the weight of your gear.
Do I need a computer
I have a laptop and you will see my workshop on the laptop screen. But I strongly recommend bringing your laptop. We will shoot in the RAW and you will need a computer with LR, PS or similar.
ITINERARY TUSCANY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Tuscany photography workshop has a standard schedule but it’s flexible and which day we visit each sure that we visit all of the locations listed below.
At this time of year, sunrise is before 6-00 and sunset around 20:30. I try to make periods of rest throughout the day.
The morning photo session will start at around 5:00. All participants should be located near the minibus or in the place specified by the guide. The evening photo shoot will start around 18-00 and finish after sunset around 20:30 – 21:30.
10:00 – 11:30 Workshop time.
The time between 11:30 and 18:00 is free time (unless otherwise specified).
Day 1
We meet you at Rome Fiumicino airport near the fountain at 12:00 a.m. We depart to the heart of rural Tuscany to shoot the last light of day and sunset at one of the nearby locations, perhaps the cypress trees or a poppy field overlooking Val d’Orcia.
And then leave to check-in at our villa. Right after we have delicious Tuscan dinner. Tuscany photography workshop is started.
Day 2
5:00 – 8:00 This morning we’re shooting one of the most famous Tuscany villas, Podere Belvedere, and Cappella di Vitaleta.
We’ll set off around 5:00 to make sure we’ve got plenty of time to set up and find a great composition before the best light. Hopefully, the valley will be covered in mist.
8:30 – 11:30 Then we return to the villa for breakfast and have a photo processing workshop.
Our post-processing sessions will be tailored to suit the different levels and requirements of our clients and can range from Lightroom basics through to Luminosity Masks and more advanced techniques.
12:00 – 16:30 We’ll head to the medieval town Montalcino to explore the atmospheric streets before having lunch in a local restaurant where you’re invited to try the famous Brunello di Montalcino wine.
18:00 After lunch, we’re off to the famous Villa Gladiatore, and before sunset, we drive to the San Quirico and shoot interesting landscapes.
Then we return to the villa for a gourmet dinner and a relaxed evening.
Day 3
5:00 – 8:00 Before sunrise, we get to the ancient Roman village of Bagno Vignoni and shoot old streets and term. Right after, we get on a new location in a few kilometers from Bagno Vignoni. It is the second photo spot this morning.
10:00 – 11:30 After breakfast we have a traditional processing workshop.
14:00 – 21:30 Today we’ll visit Sorano and Pitigliano, two tiny but amazing towns in the Tuscany.
These Etruscan towns, hewn in tufa rocks. We spend here all day have lunch and the sunset shoot. Finally, return to our villa for dinner.
Day 4
5:00 – 8:00 Sunrise shoot in Val d’Orcia at green rolling hills near Pienza. And after, shoot in Pienza. It’s a tiny but very beautiful town. There are streets without tourists and beautiful architecture.
10:00 – 11:30 Processing workshop and rest.
11:30 – 16:00 We drive in Monticchillo and Montepulciano. We will walk around the city and have lunch.
17:30 Start from the villa. Sunset shooting at Crete Senesi.
Day 5
5:00 – 8:00 We will start the morning on the walls of Pienza. Then we will go down and get to the Villa Gladiator.
10:00 After breakfast we have a processing workshop and rest.
11:30 – 16-30 In the afternoon we will go to Radicofani and Abbadia San Salvatore. It’s two of the small towns in Tuscany.
18:30 We might choose to head to Cappella di Vitaleta to shoot it up close from the cereal fields in front.
Day 6
5:00 – 8:00 Sunrise shoot in Val d’Orcia at a different location from the previous days; Belvedere farmhouse, Cappella di Vitaleta or another.
Once again we’ll set off around 5:00 to set up and find a great composition before the best light.
During our photography workshop, it may not be very good weather and we will want to take pictures of some locations again.
10:00 After breakfast, we have the last process session. We will select the best photos and collect a portfolio. You will receive presets and instructions on how to edit your photos at home.
11:30 Excursion to one of the wineries of Tuscany and wine tasting.
18:00 In the evening, we will shoot near one of the towns and continue our evening photo session in Montepulciano.
Then we will return to our hotel for a farewell dinner.
Day 7
This is the last day of our photo tour.
5:00 – 8:00 This morning we will travel to the places we like and take pictures of it.
10:00 After breakfast at the hotel, we pack the luggage and leave to the airport.
13:00 Workshop will end at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Summary
Our goal is to bring you to the most beautiful places in Tuscany and give you the opportunity to get excellent images, learn new techniques and gaining skills during the workshop.
We’ll determine your level of photography and what you want to photograph.
Two shooting sessions per day mean that participants will be able to see and photograph the maximum number of beautiful locations. We will shoot not only in the field. Shooting medieval architecture will enrich the portfolio.
We carefully pick the dates of our seminars to make sure that we are here at the best time of the year. In Tuscany, the beginning of May gives us the best opportunity to take an image.
There is lush green grass through the hills and the temperature difference between warm days and cold nights, which allows fog to form in the valleys.
Our schedule is very flexible. We will be in the center of all these fantastic places. They are located very close to each other, which means that we can adapt to the weather and pick for shooting the best time.
The image editing process is one part of our photography workshop. The skills of the participants and their knowledge of post-processing methods vary greatly. But this is not a problem.
Since we can share the experience with each other and pass it on to beginner photographers. In our photo workshop, you will learn the basics of editing a RAW file in programs such as Lightroom, to more advanced techniques, such as using layers and brightness masks in Photoshop.
Tuscany is not only beautiful landscapes and photographs. The cuisine is a vital part of any trip to Tuscany, and eating with friends, sharing stories and a bottle of wine is an integral part of our workshops.
We strive to make your stay here in the beautiful landscape of Tuscany an unforgettable experience. A trip in which, in addition to getting great shots from amazing places, you can also enjoy great food and great company in a very special place.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN DURING TUSCANY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
In the Field
- Camera basics, buttons, menu, wheels.
- Aperture, Shutter speed, ISO. What are they for, how they affect the photo.
- Camera settings for landscape photography.
- Landscape photography equipment.
- Lenses, focal range.
- Shooting modes (aperture and shutter priority).
Composition overview. - Long Exposure Photography Workshop.
- Perspective Blending Workshop.
- Focus Stacking Workshop.
Process
- Raw files processing start to end.
- Blending exposures using Lightroom/ACR.
- Luminosity mask techniques for blending and editing.
- Color and saturation adjustments.
- Panorama stitching.
- Creative effects for added drama (ie. Orton effect, light bleed, etc).
- Sharpening for Web.
Pricing:
- Total price: 1.800 € per person twin share (breakfast, all transfers, workshops, etc.).
- Single supplement: 350 €.
- Registration deposit: 500 €.
- Maximum Number of Participants: 6.
- Payment in Full: 90 days prior to the workshop starting date.
Difficulty:
- Easy
Included in the price:
- All transfers.
- Lodging.
- Breakfast.
- Instruction and master classes by two professional guides.
Not included in the price:
- Airfare.
- Wine and Alcoholic beverages.
- Lunch.
- Visas (if applicable).
- Single supplement (350 €).
- Insurance.
- Excursions with a professional guide.
After you signup, we’ll send you a recommended camera gear and packing list. Please pay special attention to things that we say are absolutely required.
Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus €300 service fee.
75 days or more: 75% refund
60 days or more: 50% refund
Less than 60 days: no refund
Disclaimer
I highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance if your domestic government medical insurance will not cover you whilst you are overseas.
The tour is always dependent on weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. I spend Tuscany photo tour in May. This is the best time to shoot. But I can not guarantee good weather.
Question, request? I’ll respond as soon as I can.
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