Category Archives: Rome Photo Workshop
When Spring comes to Charleston the wisteria brings wonderful splashes of purple to the landscape. With this image I wanted to use the selective focus technique to sharply focus on the wisteria and leaves in the foreground while leaving the background soft and out-of-focus. To capture this image I focused halfway into the wisteria trying a variety of f stops and found that F/13 worked the best keeping the foreground in sharp focus while giving the background a dreamy soft look.

Charleston’s Wisteria – processed with Topaz Clarity
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Rome Photo Workshop, Selective focus, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Wisteria
My friend Steve from Salt Lake City spends a lot of time photographing in the southwest where he has captured some amazing images. The composition and light in the image below that he shot in the Eastern Sierra Nevada if truly exceptional.

Eastern Sierra Nevada
Location workshops are not just for beginners. Steve has taken my Italian workshop to eliminate scouting time and fine tune his skills. When on location with other photographers it is great sharing the locations and light with others that share the same passion for landscape. There is always something new to learn.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Rome Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Tuscan Photo Workshop
Bighorn sheep are on the shy side and it is hard to get them to pose. Last fall I was lucky and capture a few images as I watched these beautiful animals traversing the rocky terrain with a balance that amazed me. Watching them scampering along the rocks was just fun and still brings a smile when I see the images.

Bighorn Sheep of the Southwest

Bighorn Sheep of the Southwest
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Michigan Photo Workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Bighorn Sheep, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Lightroom, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Rome photo workshop, Rome Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour, Zion National Park
The architectural influences brought home to this island city in northern Italy by the merchants of Venice made it a city that every photographer should experience. From the 13th through the 17th century it was the wealthiest city in Europe and today when walking the labyrinth that is Venice, you can enjoy the art and design put into buildings and palazzos along its narrow walkways. Although still beautiful, Venice no longer has the great wealth necessary to maintain its thousands of palazzos and is a city in Elegant Decay waiting to be captured by photographers.

Venice Palazzo
In late April when Venice is in its spring bloom I will be teaching and capturing images. Hope to see you there.
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop CS6, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Rome Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
The streams and waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains are great to photograph any time of year but when the Mountains are in their fall colors it is magical.

Fall in the Smoky Mountains
When working along the rivers I usually want to create a fluid movement and sharp focus through the image. When the light is a little brighter light a Neutral Density filter will give me a longer exposure. In low light conditions I can usually create this effect with a 3 or 4 second exposure without having to use the Neutral Density filters.

Man and Nature
For me watching the clients capturing images and having fun is the best part of teaching at any of the location. When capturing images whether you shooting a candid portrait or landscape timing is everything. You can see the enthusiasm in Steve’s face for the image he has just taken.

Having fun along the River
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Adobe CS6, Cades Cove, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fall Colors, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Greenbrier, Gregg Cabin, Gregg-Cable house, Lake Michigan Lighthouse photo workshop, Little River Road, Michigan Photo Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, River time exposure, Rome Photo Workshop, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spring Smoky Mountain Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
The hood ornaments of cars has have fascinated me since I was a kid and going to car museums is a fun way to bring back a little nostalgia while I photograph these works of art.
The Gilmore car museum on the west side of Michigan has one of the country’s best collection of antique cars and I am looking fwd to visiting the Gilmore which will be one of the stops on my Lake Michigan lighthouse workshop this August.

Gilmore Car Museum
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Florence Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lighthouse Photo workshop, Michigan Photo Workshops, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Barns, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Gilmore Car Museum, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lake Michigan Lighthouse photo workshop, Michigan Photo Workshop, Michigan Photo Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Rome Photo Workshop, Slot Canyon Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain spring photo workshop, South Haven, South Haven Lighthouse, Southwest Photo Workshop, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Zion National Park
For me January is a cold month in Michigan but it is also one of the only times in the year where I have time to work on Images for the Art Fairs and plan the location workshops which helps keep away the winter blues. This is the image I have as a screen saver that helps keeps my spirits high. It is not one that I took myself yet, it is an image from an apartment that I will be staying in with clients while teaching the Tuscan workshop May 4-8 2015 It might just be the thing to shake off those mid winter blues.

Apartment we will be staying at for the Tuscan workshop
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Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Ann Arbor Art Fair, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spring Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Val d'Orcia, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
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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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Adobe CS6, Bridge of Angles, Cades Cove, Castle of Angels, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Lightroom 5.7, Michigan photographic workshops, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop CS6, Roman Curia, Roman Fourm, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Rome Photo Workshop, Saint Peters Rome, Slot Canyon Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain spring photo workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Val d'Orcia, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
The spring wildflowers in the Smoky Mountains bring splashes of color along the rivers, streams and meadows. The main focus for capturing images during the Smoky Mountain workshop be larger landscapes of the wonderful meadows, mountains, rivers and waterfalls but we will also spend time on the small niches that bring color and character to the landscapes.

Wildflower close up captured during the Spring Smoky Mountain Workshop
This little cluster of wildflowers made a wonderful composition for a close up along a river that we were photographing last spring. I used Topaz Clarity to make this image pop and then used a vignette to bring the attention to the center of the Composition.
Hope that you will be able to join me for the Spring Smoky Mountain Workshop!!
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Cades Cove, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Dogwoods, Greenbrier, Gregg Cabin, Gregg-Cable house, Italian Photographic Workshop, Little River, Little River Road, Ogle Cabin, Rime Ice, River time exposure, Rome Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spring Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tremont, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, White Rainbow, Wildflowers
Christmas is wonderful but it can be a little sad after all the festivities are over so I hope you can join me at the Caffè Florian in Saint Marks Square in Venice for the afterglow party in April.

- Afterglow at the Florian
After processing this image in Lightroom 5.7 I brought the image into Topaz Adjust 5 to brighten the image and make it a little more festive.

Byrons Caffe Florian – Before
If you have the proper exposure you can make an image sing!!
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Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Caffe Florian, Doge's Palace, Gondola, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Piazza Navona, Rialto Bridge, Rome, Rome Photo Workshop, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour, Vernice Carnival, Vineyards