Category Archives: Tuscan Photo Workkshop
Tuscan Photographic Workshop Tour June 18 – June 23, 2016
San Gimignano in the Mist
The best photographs are often accompanied by the memories that are attached to the image. Your own personal metadata is what makes your images and traveling so important.
This was a wonderful morning image that I captured in 2013 in Sangimino, Italy and is one of my favorite memories.
What makes it my favorite is the smile it brings to my face when I see it. We had arrived and could see the village in the soft morning light before sunrise. Everyone knew it was going to be a great shot. Once I parked the van, everyone dashed of a few steps ahead of Jan and I. Craig, Charlie, Steve, and Bob headed off into the tall wet grass to try to find a vantage point to shoot from and Jan gave me a look that still makes me laugh every time I see this image. There was a little farm road that went up and off to the left of the wet grass, it took Jan and I to this great (and dry) vantage point. As we watched the light change we captured this wonderful sunrise. The men eventually came out of the wet brush and onto the farm road to capture Sangimino from what I think of as Jan’s vantage point.
A journey shared is a journey remembered.
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Leave a comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Florence, Lightroom, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop CS6, San Gimignano, Siena, Topaz Clarity, Topaz In Focus, Topaz Labs, Topaz labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Vineyard, Val d'Orcia, Wheat fields
Sunrise anywhere on the planet is always a great time to start shooting. The rain and mist mixed with this morning’s soft light in Michigan would have made for great location shooting. With a little luck we will have a variety of weather for the Italian and French workshops coming up in 6 weeks.
Awakening – Montepulciano, Italy
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Leave a comment | tags: Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre photo workshop, Florence, Focus Stack, HDR, lavender fields, Lens Correction, Lightroom, Montepulciano, Perspective, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop, Provence Photo Workshop, San Gimignano, Selective focus, Siena, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Vineyard, Val d'Orcia, Wheat fields
Florence is a terrific place to start an Italian adventure. It was built by the Romans and transformed by the Renaissance into one on the great art capitals of the world. There are still a couple of places left on the Tuscan workshop.
Duomo Florence
Florence, Italy
Our first stop in Tuscany will be San Gimignano, a small walled village an hour north and Siena, it is famous for its medieval architecture and towers that rise above of all the surrounding buildings offering an impressive view of the city from the surrounding valley.
After our morning shoot in San Gimignano, we will be heading to Siena to explore this wonderful medieval village where Leonardo da Vinci enjoyed spending time.
After Siena we will be staying in the Val d’Orcia which is the wheat belt of Tuscany. The Val d’Orcia is an hour south of Siena with the Bagno Vignoni on its west side and the ancient Roman village of Pienza on its east. In the Heart of the Tuscan region we’ll be capturing images, with time set aside to soak in the hot mineral waters of the Bagno, a little wine tasting, and a cooking class for anyone who is interested. We will spend some time processing images using Photoshop’s Lightroom and Topaz and Nik Software plug-ins to help improve your processing skills.
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Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Florence, Paul Christopher James, San Gimignano, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Tuscan Villa, Tuscan Vineyard, Val d'Orcia, Wheat fields
I was nominated by Theresa Antes to participate in a 7-day #challengeonnaturephotography Val d’Orcia (day 3) this valley is where we will be staying during the June 2016 workshop http://european-images.com/photographic-workshop-tours.php If you’re enjoying these photos, click on the challenge hashtag and see other amazing images from photographers around the world. I’d like to invite Robert Parry to join the fun — post a photo each day for seven days, include the hashtag #challengeonnaturephotography in your post, tag me, and invite someone else to post as well
Morning Mist Val d’Orcia
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Leave a comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Topaz B&W Effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Val d'Orcia, Wheat fields
This morning I spent some time with Deborah Bondar going over Lightroom’s workflow, processing this image she captured in the Val d’Orcia. Lightroom is a great program where you can take a raw image off your card and in less than 10 minutes you can turn it into a wall hanger.
From June 18 – June 23 2016 I will be teaching a workshop in the Val d’Orcia when the wheat field will be golden in the early morning and late afternoon light.
This is an amazing location where we can capture images and drink in the Tuscan lifestyle. We will be spending three night at an old Roman bath in the middle of the Val d’Orcia. Hope you can join me!
Val d’Orcia – Tuscany Italy – processed in Lightroom
Val d’Orcia – Tuscany Italy – uprocessed
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Leave a comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Lightroom, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop, San Gimignano, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Harvest, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Val d'Orcia
Today is an exciting day!! I am on my way out the door to the airport and after a long flight which will include a few naps and a little reading I will arrive in Italy. Venice has become an old friend and it will be great sharing her with new friends and to photograph her in the afternoon and evening light. What a Great Day!!
Evening in Venice Processed with Topaz B&W Effects 2
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Leave a comment | tags: Rome photo workshop, Topaz BW Effects 2, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Caffe Florian, Doge's Palace, Gondola, Lightroom, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop, Topaz B&W Effects 2, Topaz Labs, Vaporetto, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Vernice Carnival
Tomorrow I fly to Venice to settle in before the workshop starts. It will be wonderful walking the old familiar streets and checking out where the scaffolding has been taken down and where it has been moved to. Venice is in constant repair and there are images that I have waited patiently for the renovations to be completed before I can capture them. For this image of Santa Maria della Salute I waited patiently for close to 10 years before the renovations were finished and the scaffolding was taken down. It was worth the wait!!
Santa Maria della Salute
Photography has given me an appreciation of the moments that I spend waiting for the exceptional light that each day gives us.
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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1 Comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Lightroom 5.7, Photographic Workshops, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Santa Maria della Salute, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Vaporetto, Venice Cafe, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
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
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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
The last couple of days have felt like spring and I have been looking through some of my floral images from last May that I have been wanting to process. In Topaz B&W Effects I was able to create a beautiful Infrared B&W with a negative edging border from the color image file. The right software can be extremely helpful when you return from a shooting trip because there is never enough room in the camera pack to bring all the equipment.
Spring Poppies processed with Topaz B&W Effects to create an infrared image
The Color image is the Raw image with just a bit of healing on a few darks spots on the Poppies.
Unprocessed file of Spring Poppies
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Michigan Photo Workshops, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Lightroom 5.7, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Poppies, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Topaz B&W Effects 2, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Zion National Park
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
