Tag Archives: Venice Photo Workshop
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
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.
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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
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
Early in the morning and later in the evening the ancient cities have very little foot traffic and are wonderful time to capture images. After our sunset shot of San Gimignano we went into town for a nice dinner and on our walk back to our hotel the piazza was empty which gave everyone the opportunity to capture great images of this piazza which is usually crowed.

San Gimignano processed with Topaz Clarity
When I am teaching on location my main focus is making sure that everyone in capturing great images and learning their camera. Going to great locations makes my job easy and having so many wonderful people travel with me has enriched the time that I spend traveling.
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Lightroom 5.7, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, San Gimignano, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Topaz Labs, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
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
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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
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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
For Valentine’s day I thought I would share a couple of the heart images that I have taken while on location shoots.

When Two Hearts Meet – Southwest Workshop
When I hiked out to capture this Butte for sunset I found these two hearts made from volcanic rock that a couple of romantic hikers made for each others in this out of the way place. I am always touched when I find art in out of the way places that only a lucky few will ever see. I hope all my friends and family get to spend quality time with loved ones.

Heart Light – Southwest Workshop
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Michigan Photo Workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Heart Light, Lightroom, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop CS6, Pink Slot Canyon, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Two Hearts, Upper Antelope Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Valley of Fire, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour
Spending a day photographing the rivers in the Smoky Mountains is a great way to study movement while capturing great images. Every few feet you will find different patterns in the swirls and flow of the river. By working with different shutter speeds you will find what work best for you.

Rivers Flow
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Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Michigan Photographic Workshop, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Time exposures, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Venice Photographic Workshop Tour