Category Archives: Rome photo workshop
Yesterday I was going through images to see what might work for the Art Fair jury process and the this early morning image of the Castle of Angels popped out. I had processed the image a while ago and it has been in the back of my mind for some time. I think the B&W version will make a nice jurying image.
The image has a little noise in it and used Topaz DeNoise 6 to eliminate the noise.

Castle of Angels – Rome

Castle of Angels – Rome
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Topaz DeNoise is designed to let you shoot anywhere in any light and still get crisp, clear and noise-free images. Specializing in extremely noisy high ISO images, DeNoise removes distracting image noise while preserving image detail, giving you the image you wanted without the noise you don�t.
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Leave a comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Topaz Labs | posted in Adobe CS6, Castle of Angels, Italy, Lightroom, Rome, Rome photo workshop, Topaz BW effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz DeNoise 6
This Sunday I fly to Italy to start teaching the Spring 2015 workshops and I am getting excited. The second class will be in Tuscany south of Florence with its cypress trees, vineyards, wheat fields and wonderful rolling hills.

Tuscan Vineyards processed using Lightroom and Topaz Clarity
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Lightroom, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
Robert Perry captured this fun image of Janice Maguire during one of our daily gelato breaks in Rome.

Giolitti’s my favorite gelateria in Romes
Mint or menta in Italian! (my favorite gelato), Giolittis! (my favorite gelateria), in Rome (my favorite city)!!
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
$20 off Topaz B&W Effects allows for stunning black and white conversion and contains unique features like authentic grain and darkroom inspired effects. The discount will reducing the price to $39.99 for the month of March. The coupon code is: MARBW click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Rome photo workshop, Topaz Labs | posted in Bridge of Angles, Castle of Angels, Giolitti's gelateria, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Rome photo workshop
Wondering the side streets of Rome you will find wonderful shops and cafes where you can spend a few minutes to have a bottle of water and enjoy the beauty of Ancient Rome with your fellow travelers.

Rome Cafe processed with Topaz B&W Effects
All of these cafes in Europe will allow you to rest and use their facilities for the price of a bottle of water.
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
$20 off Topaz B&W Effects allows for stunning black and white conversion and contains unique features like authentic grain and darkroom inspired effects. The discount will reducing the price to $39.99 for the month of March. The coupon code is: MARBW click here
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Adobe CS6, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Lightroom, Photographic Workshops, Rome photo workshop, Topaz B&W Effects 2, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
When shooting in close for macro or close up images it is often difficult bringing everything into focus even at f/22 or f/32. The depth of field of an image will often come up short and leave parts of the image out of focus. This is when focus stacking becomes useful. This image was focused manually starting at the point closest to the lense and work my way into the image taking 4 exposures at different focus points. After taking the four exposure I blended them in Photoshop bringing the whole image into focus.

Focus Stacking in Photoshop CS6
The image below focuses on the flower pistil closest to the lens. I took 4 exposures at different focus points leaving the corners at the top soft to help draw your eye into the image.

1st of four focus exposure
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Adobe CS6, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Focus Stacking, Michigan Photo Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Rome photo workshop, Smokey Mountain 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
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Topaz ReStyle is $20 off its original price of $59.99 (reducing the price to $39.99) coupon code ‘FEBRESTYLE’ click here
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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
Yesterday I had the opportunity to work with JBrad Lewis on a few of the images he captured during my Novembers Southwest workshop. We used Adobe Lightroom developed module to process his image. Lightroom has a fantastic develop module and its cataloging system to organize my workflow is amazing and over the last year it has become my starting point for working on images. Lightroom’s lets you work with a thumbnail of your images instead of the full image storing metadata of the changes and making my workflow lighting fast. When I work with my images in CS6 program the larger files slow me down. Not having to wait for files to open saves me time to go out and do a little more shooting.

Antelope Canyon – Southwest Workshop
The unprocessed image looks good out of the camera but a few Lightroom adjustments makes it a award winning image.

Antelope Canyon Raw unprocessed image
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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
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4 Comments | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James | posted in 2013 Italian Photographic Workshop, Adobe CS6, Color Effex Pro, Digital Photo Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Roman Curia, Roman Fourm, Rome photo workshop, Uncategorized
Pisa, Chianti and Rome
Oct. 24-31 2012
$795.00, Limited to 8 Students

Chianti Farmhouse in the Mist
Pisa famous for its Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli is a great place to spend our first day capturing images. In the Heart of the Tuscan region we’ll be capturing images while staying in the Chianti countryside that boasts impressive Etruscan roots, with time for wine tasting a cooking class and some Photoshop work. 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 is a training video at my website 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.
Workshop Information
In these workshops we will capture landscape images that excite and move, images that trace where the mind has been and form a unique vision that will last a lifetime. These workshops are about applying new skills learned daily and sharing our collective knowledge to take that next step in a supportive environment. We hold a deep passion for the places we travel to, and will help you explore how to create the images that continue to inspire. What takes time to create, time respects, good images don’t just happen. Most often, our best images lie just beyond our greatest failures. We believe through photography and an open mind the best is yet to come.
Paul James is a published, award winning photographer from Southeastern Michigan who offers the best in personalized photographic instruction on every level; whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned veteran. Paul takes great pride in his work, and this translates to some great teaching techniques. He has vast experience in both the artistic and technical aspects of photography; he is adept in Digital, Medium and Large format Cameras, which includes a large range of camera brands and models. He welcomes photographers of all formats and skill levels; however, this class will be geared for the digital photographer.
Brief Itinerary:
Day One–5pm get together in Pisa to go over equipment and if time allows Photograph at sunset.
Day Two–Photograph at sunrise in Pisa and drive to farmhouse in Chianti for afternoon and sunset.
Day Three–Five: Photograph at Sunrise and Travel to Rome for afternoon and evening images.
Day Six–seven: Photograph at sunrise and sunset and when the light is right.
Day eight: Photograph Sunrise and go over final thoughts before saying goodbye or taking guided tours with Steve and Grazia where we will be capturing more images.
• 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!
A Journey shared is truly a Journey remembered
The October 2012 Florence Tuscan and Roma photographic workshops trips were a great success. Each groups came home with some wonderful images and some wonderful memories. I have been posting some of the new images on the website and hope that you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed taking them. Many thanks to my two wonderful friends Steve and Grazia who helped make the Rome workshop very special. For anyone traveling to Roma for a holiday, taking one of their personalized day tours is a must.
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Leave a comment | tags: European Images, Florence Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul James, Rome photo workshop, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Chianti Italy Photo Workshop, European Images, Italian Photographic Workshop, Italy, Paul James, Photographic Workshops, Rome photo workshop, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Uncategorized, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
Madonalla near the Compo di Fiore In Rome

- Madonna watching over the streets of Rome
Madonalla’s have been protecting the residents of Roma since the Middle ages. When I am walking the neighborhoods before sunrise on my way to a the early mornings location shoot or on my way to dinner after the last light of the day and see a Madonalla I feel protected. TodayRomeis one of the safest cities to walk but it is ancient and walking cobblestone streets that Saint Peter walked 2000 years ago makes the mind wonder to times when there were barbarians around the corner. Seeing a Madonalla gives me a inner feeling that I am safe and being looked after while I am under her watchful eye.
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Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Modanna, Rome, Rome photo workshop, Rome Photographic Workshop | posted in European Images, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul James, Photographic Workshops, Rome photo workshop, Uncategorized