Shot at a vineyard in Chianti.
One of my annual workshop, I conduct every year was in Tuscany, Italy. I have to say that it was one of the best workshops I’ve been to since 1984 when I conducted my first one at the Maine Media workshop. Although several had taken my online class with the BPSOP, and some had taken my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops, several people had just read about it on this blog.
We based out of Siena and traveled to various locations in and around this medieval town. I had arrived a few days in advance so I could scout all the locations with Katka, the woman who lives in Prague and produced not only the one I just finished in Tuscany but the one in the Czech Republic as well. Without her expertise my workshops would not have happened; certainly not as smooth and professionally run.
Katka took me to several locations where I used my Sunpath program and my Morin 2ooo hand bearing compass to determine which ones I should take the class to at sunrise and/or sunset. When the workshop participants arrived, they were picked up in Florence and driven to Siena. After a get together over wine and cheese, we were all set and ready to shoot in the next morning’s sunrise.
For the next five days we shot at other medieval towns, as well as vineyards in Chianti and of course fabulous late afternoon and early morning landscape opportunities scattered around the region.
It was a full class and I have to say that it was not only a great time meeting and working with all of them, but the level of work was and is impressive for people that are not professionals. Their work actually surpassed a lot of working pros I see out in the commercial and corporate world.
Walking up to the top of towns like Volterra and Pienza was quite an exercise, but the class took it in stride and never faltered. The payoff was well worth it as you’ll see in the following slideshow of their work. You’re sure to be as impressed as I was when we had class every day to discuss and critique their work shot the previous day.
Enjoy the show!!!
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com and follow me on Instagram. Check out my workshop schedule at the top of this blog.. I’ll be working on my next for 2023 somewhere in Europe so be sure to watch for it. My workshop in Tuscany filled in five days so when the time comes, don’t wait too long to sign up.
The class with me in the middle.
JoeB
Joe,
Wow, you guys (and gals) really nailed some great photos from your time here in Italy!! Looks like Katka finally found her field of poppies to shoot, and the twisty road shots really came out well!! Enjoyed scouting this with you guys, and look forward to more adventures next year!! Kudos to everyone!!
CIao
Bryan
Hope to see you next year, somewhere in europe for my next “Springtime” workshop.
JoeB
Awesome photography!! You really got the core of this country. I can tell you were also shooting in the best light conditions. I guessed you missed lots of good food at diner time for that. You also got really lucky with the old lady hanging to dry her bed sheets instead of her underwear!
Valeriano,
Yes thanks, Lots of great photos that I didn’t show because there were just too many of them. What made the light so good is that the entire week it rained a little or it was always threatening so there were great skies mixed with sun. Much better than it being clear all the time.
JoeB
I can tell. You got a rainbow too. I got a shot of the same curvy road in Monticchiello, back in 2006 or so. I shot it early in the morning, while backlit, with a red car passing by. Unfortunately I didn’t take care of the lens flare. It would have been a great keeper.
I tried many times to get it again every time I went there, but didn’t get so lucky again, nor I own a red car to make it.
Valeriano,
It’s never the same when you go back.
JoeB