Under the Tuscan Skies: Photograph Tuscany with Harold Davis
October 22 – October 29, 2016 (eight days and seven nights); $4,895 per person (single supplement $675). Click here for Reservation Form (PDF).
Imagine photographing the autumn vistas under the Tuscan skies! Where fertile land meets the patterns of traditional farming we will photograph olive groves and cypress trees. A deluxe, renovated antique farmhouse will be our home base as we experience great Italian cooking and the fellowship of talented photographers.
While we photograph, we will be surrounded by the intimate details of the working farm, which produces organic olive oil and wine. If it is chilly, we will move in beside the word-burning stove, otherwise we will discuss philosophy and photography on the veranda under the Tuscan skies.
This destination photo tour will begin with a guided exploration of Florence. The next day, we’ll move on to the weird antique skyscraper towers of San Gimignano. We’ll explore the strikingly beautiful hill town of Volterra, the ins and outs of Sienna, the Val ‘Orcia countryside, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, and more.
The workshop will be enhanced by the hands-on guidance of master photographer Harold Davis, who will focus on the earth and sky of Tuscany in black and white and color, and help each participant to create their best work in an inspirational location.
Here’s what some participants in past Harold Davis destination photo workshops have to say:
- “Had an awesome time with Harold and the workshop participants. Itching to go back.”
- “A once-in-a-lifetime experience that I plan to repeat!”
- “Harold has great skill, without the ego of most master photographers. Travel arrangements were perfect.”
- “One thing I really liked about the photo tour that Harold set up is that we had plenty of time to photograph in the best locations, and really prioritized when the light would be good.”
- “You two did a great job at researching, organizing, and leading this trip.”
- “Again, thanks for a wonderful trip and a big thank you to Phyllis for everything that she did!”
- “Harold is genuine, generous, and gracious – he has a world of knowledge and expertise that he loves to share – his wonderful books show his monumental talents and skill set, and his workshops shows the depth of his connecting with others in a very real and personal way.”
Where: The group will meet at the Hotel Balestri in Florence, a boutique 4-star hotel on the banks of the Arno River not far from the Ponte Vecchio.
After exploring Florence, we will transfer by private coach to Agriturismo Marciano in the heart of Tuscany. Agriturismo Marciano is a deluxe, renovated ancient farmstead that the group will have exclusively for the week. The ancient Marciano farmhouse dates to the 1700s. Today, the family-run farm is a green oasis surrounded by vineyards and olive trees—the expression of a serene country lifestyle, and genuine traditional organic farming practices.
When: Saturday October 22, 2016 (leave US October 21) to Saturday October 29, 2016 (seven nights and eight days).
Group Size and non-photographers: This exclusive, small photo workshop tour is limited to ten participants. Non-photographer significant others are welcome, but will count towards the total (so there will be no more than ten people).
Cooking lessons, and a syllabus in vine growing, wine making and wine tasting are available for non-photographers with advance notice (and subject to additional cost).
Day-by-day itinerary:
Code: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner—Itinerary subject to change.
Saturday Oct 22, 2016 (D)
- Arrive Florence and transfer on own to Hotel Balestri (or similar)
- 2PM: Hotel Balestri check-in
- 2:45PM: Group meeting in hotel lobby
- 3PM Guided walking tour of Florence
- 7:30PM: Welcome dinner (del Fagioli or similar)
Sunday Oct 23, 2016 (B, D)
- 10AM: Transfer by private motor coach to San Gimignano
- 11AM – 1:30PM: Explore San Gimignano with Harold and guide; lunch on own
- 2:00PM: Transfer by private motor coach to Agriturismo Marciano
- 3PM: Explore the farm at Agriturismo Marciano with guide
- 7:30PM: Welcome dinner (Agriturismo Marciano)
Monday Oct 24, 2016 (B)
- Breakfast (included) at Agriturismo Marciano
- 10AM: Image review, workshop technique session, local photography
- 12:00PM: Transfer to Siena
- 12:30PM: Lunch on own in Siena
- 1:30PM: Guided walking tour Siena
- 4:00PM: Individual photography, dinner on own
- 8:30PM: Return transfer to Agriturismo Marciano
Tuesday Oct 25, 2016 (B)
- Excursion via private motor coach to Volterra
- Guided tour of Volterra
- Photography and lunch on own in Volterra
- Return transfer to Agriturismo Marciano
- Dinner on own at Agriturismo Marciano or in Siena
Wednesday Oct 26, 2016 (B)
- Morning: Image review and post-production session
- Individual photographic assignments
- 11:30AM Transfer to Montepulciano by private motor coach
- Lunch on own
- Explore Montepulciano on own and with guide
- Dinner on own at Agriturismo Marciano or in Siena
Thursday Oct 27, 2016 (B)
- Transfer to Pienza by private motor coach
- Explore Pienza with guide
- Lunch on own in Pienza
- Guided tour by private motor coach of the Val ‘d’Orcia countryside
- Dinner on own at Agriturismo Marciano or in Siena
Friday Oct 28, 2016 (B, D)
- Transfer to Montalcino by private motor coach
- Explore Montalcino with guide
- Lunch on own in Montalcino
- Transfer to Siena by private motor coach
- Explore Siena on own; individual photo assignments
- Return transfer to Agriturismo Marciano
- 7:30PM: Celebratory Farewell dinner at Agriturismo Marciano
- Image review
Saturday Oct 29, 2016 (B)
- Transfer by private motor coach to Florence (stops at airport, train station, city center) for return travel to US or further adventures in Italy
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Cost: $4,895 (single supplement $675). Click here for Reservation Form.
Inclusions: One night lodging at the Hotel Balestri (or similar) in Florence, six nights lodging at the Agriturismo Marciano, all breakfasts (7), meals as indicated, private excursions as indicated including licensed guides and admissions, expert photographic instruction and guidance with Harold Davis, and service charges.
Exclusions: Airfare and transportation to Florence, airport transfers, meals except as indicated, admissions except as indicated, private viticulture or cooking lessons, wine and spirits, travel insurance (which is highly recommended), and personal items such as souvenirs.
To Register: Please send us an email expressing interest right away; a completed registration requires a $1000 deposit and Reservation Form, and a copy of your passport page.
Travel arrangements: We’re happy to work with you to advise you regarding travel arrangements. Additional nights at the Hotel Balestri in Florence before or after the workshop can also be arranged (subject to availability).
About Harold Davis: Harold Davis is an internationally-known digital artist and award-winning professional photographer. He is the author of many bestselling photography books including The Way of the Digital Photographer (Peachpit Press, awarded as a Top 10 Best 2013 Photography Book of the Year by Photo.net). Harold Davis’s most recent book is Achieving Your Potential As a Photographer: A Photographer’s Creative Companion and Workbook (Focal Press). His Photographing Flowers (Focal Press) is a noted photography “classic,” and is rated the Best Guide to Flower Photography byDigital Photographer Magazine.
In addition to his activity as a bestselling book author, Harold Davis is an Adobe Influencer, a Moab Master printmaker and a Zeiss Lens Ambassador. Harold Davis’s work is in collections around the world. It is licensed by art publishers, in annual reports, and has appeared in numerous magazines and many publications.
Harold’s black and white prints have been described as “hauntingly beautiful” by Fine Art Printer Magazine, and his floral prints have been called “ethereal,” with “a purity and translucence that borders on spiritual” by Popular Photography.
Recently Harold Davis’s work has been exhibited in venues including Photokina in Cologne, Germany, PhotoPlus Expo in New York, the Gallery Photo in Oakland, California, the Arts & Friends Gallery in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Awagami Gallery in Japan.
Harold Davis has led destination photography workshops to many locations including Paris, France; Spain and Morocco; and the ancient Bristlecone Pines of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.
Harold’s popular online course on Craftsy.com, Photographing Flowers, has thousands of students. His ongoing photography workshops in partnership with institutions such as Point Reyes Field Seminars, the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California, Maine Media Workshops, and the Heidelberg Summer School of Photography are continually in demand and popular.
According to Rangefinder Magazine, Harold Davis is “a man of astonishing eclectic skills and accomplishments.” You can learn more about Harold and his work at his website, www.digitalfieldguide.com.
