Tag Archives: Italian Photographic Workshop

Gordes-Provence
Built on the foothills of the Monts of Vaucluse, facing the Luberon, Gordes is one of the most well known hilltop villages in the region, and one of the most beautiful in France. Its houses and buildings of white stone root themselves into the sharp cliff of the mountain, its labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets delights visitors and provide photographic opportunities.
The Luberon was one of my favorite shoots with W Stephen Johnson Gwyn Marschall Williams Jane Wilhelm Robert Parry Elizabeth Clasgens and Deborah Bondar bringing enthusiasm and laughter to the the hilltop villages and lavender fields.
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Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Aperture, Color Efex Pro 4, Focus Stacking, Gordes, Luberon, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Photoshop CC, Provence Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz In Focus, Topaz Labs
There is still time to for the adventurous photographer to join me on this workshop to Pisa and the Cinque Terre

Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Field of Miracles is a walled 8.87-hectare area located in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, recognized as an important center of European medieval art and one of the finest architectural complexes in the world. The Field of Miracles is considered sacred by the Catholic Church. The square is dominated by four great religious edifices: the Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistery, the Leaning Tower and the Monumental Cemetery. Partly paved and partly grassed, the Piazza of Miracles is also the site of the New Hospital of the Holy Spirit, which houses the Sinopias Museum and the Cathedral Museum.

Anyone Gelato by the Leaning Tower
The name Piazza dei Miracoli was coined by the Italian writer and poet Gabriele d’Annunzio who, in his novel Forse che sì forse che no (1910), described the square as the “prato dei Miracoli,” or “meadow of miracles”. In 1987, the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Leave a comment | tags: Cinque Terre Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Field of Miracles, Italian Photographic Workshop, Leaning Tower, Lightroom, Photoshop, Pisa, Pisa Baptistry, Pisa Cathedral, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs
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
One of my favorite images in Venice to photograph is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, commonly known simply as La Salute, is one of the largest churches of Venice and has the status of a minor basilica. It stands in a prominent position at the junction between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco on the lagoon.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice
When I am on location shooting with clients the two questions I am asked the most are why I pick a location to shoot and why I return to many of the same locations over the years.
The answers to both of these questions are simple. Foregrounds matter! The locations provide some of the most exceptional foregrounds a photographer can capture no matter what the weather conditions. This allows each group to come home with images that can hang on their wall. Often when we are shooting in the morning and evening the magic happens and we capture some of the best sunrises and sunsets that I have ever seen.
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Leave a comment | tags: Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Topaz Labs, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Caffe Florian, Doge's Palace, Gondola, HDR, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lightroom, Nik Software, Panoramic, Photographic Workshops, Rialto Bridge, Santa Maria della Salute, Topaz Clarity, Topaz labs, Venice Carnival Photo Workshop
Early morning mist and cypress trees in the Val d’Orcia create breathtaking images that have keep bringing me back over the years. This region is has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site which will help ensure that this area will stay natural and not be overdeveloped.

Morning Mist Val d’Orcia
This June I will be staying with the group in a small village that has ancient mineral springs used by the Romans and the Etruscans before them. There are a couple of spot left and I hope you can join me.
Tuscan Photographic Workshop Tour
June 18 – June 23 2016
$950.00/ Limited to 8 Students
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Leave a comment | tags: Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Italian Photographic Workshop, Lens Correction, Lightroom, Photographic Workshops, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Tuscany, Val d'Orcia
The Jury process is one of the biggest parts of the Art Fair business. Often clients think that we just show up, set up our tents, and start selling our work. However, in order to be selected for a show, we have to compete against many talented artists for a space to display our work.

Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre
Earlier this morning I was going through my work, looking for those magic images that would get me into the shows.
This image, from Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre, that I photographed while teaching a workshop is one of those images that I think will stand out in the jury process. I will be teaching a workshop this summer (June 23-28, 2016) in the Cinque Terre and Pisa, Italy and revisiting this location to see if I can improve on this image. Sometime the difference in an outstanding image is the sky and sometimes it is the techniques we learn.
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Leave a comment | tags: Cinque Terre Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Cinque Terre photo workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lightroom, Manarola, Manarola, Nik Software, Photoshop CS6, Riomaggiore, Topaz Clarity
Angel Oak is one of my favorite Charleston locations and I am looking forward to seeing her again.
In the morning I am flying to Charleston to start shooting and do a little image scouting before the workshop starts.

Angel Oak- The Oldest tree east of the Mississippi
For a list of upcoming Workshops click here
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Labs | posted in Adobe CS6, Angel Oak, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz BW effects 2
Bob Parry a friend and photographer from the Cleveland area won a couple of nice awards with two images that he captured during the Charleston and Pisa Italy workshops.
Cleveland’s west side photo club had an intra club competition with the Chagrin Falls photo club. The subject was “reflections” so I had to search through files to find some photos I hadn’t used before. I could submit 4 to my club for a pre selection as the club was limited in the number of photos we could submit and all 4 of mine we included. Two of the four were selected as second place earning 24 out of 27 points. The two that won second places are the reflection of tower of Pisa which was done on your Tuscany workshop I think in 2011 and the other was the red bridge from your Charleston I think in 2009?

Oriental Bridge, Charleston

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Cyprus swamp, Charleston

Cottonwood reflection on the Virgin River in Zion
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Photographic Workshops, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest 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