Castle of Angels and Bridge of Angels Spring 2015 Italian Photo Workshop

The Castel Sant’Angelo is the fortress near St. Peters where Popes took refuge when Rome was under siege.  Now, as in ancient times, you cross over the impressive Bridge of Angels which spans the Tiber River to enter to the Castel Sant’Angelo.  When I am out photographing early in the mornings with my groups, when most of Rome is still sleeping, it is easy to envision being in ancient Rome.  It is always a treat capturing images in these ancient places before the tourists and locals appear on the streets and remind us that is not 350 AD.

The hotel accommodations I have made for the 2015 group traveling with me to Rome is near the Vatican and a brief stole from the Bridge of Angels.

Castle of Angles and Bridge of Angels

I captured this image of the Castel Sant’Angelo at an aperture of F11 and shutter speed of 3 seconds. The color image was processed in Lightroom and Topaz Clarity. The B&W images I processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Castle of Angles and Bridge of Angels

Anyone visiting Rome and interested in getting to know the city intimately I would recommend taking a personalized tour with Steve and Grazia Andre http://enchantingrome.com/ . Their knowledge and love of the city has always amazed me and delighted my clients.

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Award Winning Nighttime images of Rome and Pisa without Post Processing

Congratulations to Robert Perry from Cleveland who captured these two night images during the October 2012 Italian Photo workshop. The Lakewood Photographic Society competition was for nighttime photography. Robert had a busy work schedule after returning and entered thes two images as they came out of the camera without any post processing and won a first and third place in his local Camera Clubs competition.

1st place image in nighttime photography.

Roman Forum

In the digital age where everyone uses software to process images there are a lot of people who think that software can fix any image and make it an award winner, this is seldom the case. Why not capture each image using good composition and proper exposure that can win awards without processing and then if there is time use the software in Photoshop and Nik Software to make them into even better images.

3rd place image in nighttime photography

Leaning Tower – Pisa, Italy

2013 Lucca, Greve and San Gimignano in Tuscany with our final day in Rome

Lucca, Greve and San Gimignano in

Tuscany with our final day in Rome

Oct. 23-29 2013

$775 / Limited to 8 Students

Moonrise over the Curia, Roman Forum

Lucca an ancient Etruscan walled city 20 miles north of Pisa is a great place to spend our first day capturing images. Pisa has an International airport and is a major train hub which makes it an easy entry and exit location. The Etruscan city’s were taken over by the Romans when there influence spread first through Italy and then the known world.  In the Heart of the Tuscan region we’ll be capturing images while staying in the Chianti countryside with time for wine tasting a cooking class and some Photoshop work. San Gimignano built by the Etruscans and known for its skyscraper towers that were built by wealthy merchants during the Renaissance. Ancient Rome beckons to be photographed from the Vatican to the Colosseum and so much more. Our field time will be spent on composition and proper use of light. We will spend some time processing images using Photoshop and Nik Software to help you with your processing skills. There are training video at my website and tutorials at my blog that you will be able to reference when you are processing images at home. Our goal is to teach you how to capture   beautiful images and explore how to create the images that continue to inspire.

• Learn tips and tricks used by the professionals to create impressive photographs.
• Discover new viewpoints, interesting details which might be overlooked, see the
world photographically.
• Learn to sense the direction of light and how to capture the magic moment.
• Improve your photographic technique.
• Learn your camera and how to get the most out of it.
• Have fun!

Brief Itinerary:

Day One: 4pm get together in Lucca, Italy to go over equipment and if time allows Photograph   at sunset.
Day Two: Photograph at sunrise in Lucca then relax over breakfast before heading to Chianti.
Day Two– Five: Photograph at sunrise and sunset in the Tuscany, Italy and when the light is right.
Day Five: Photograph at sunrise in the Tuscany, Italy then relax over breakfast before heading to Rome for afternoon and sunset images.
Day six: Photograph Sunrise in Rome and go over final thoughts over breakfast before saying goodbye.

Rome is an Ancient city full of history and after breakfast I would recommend taking  a small group tour with Steve and or Grazia after breakfast on October 29 to learn some of Rome’s history. There knowledge of  the history and architecture in Rome is always a treat.  http://enchantingrome.com/