Italian Riviera
Riviera Workshop sold out for 2009
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Presented by: 
September 14 - 19, 2009
6 days, 5 nights
Experience 6 truly beautiful days on the Mediterranean, exploring the coastal towns of the Italian Riviera. We’ll headquarter in charming Camogli (this is a favorite place of Luigi Barbano, our special guest and Italian pro photographer). Here you’ll rarely find American tourists, and you’ll be immersed in local flavor.
We’ll visit the famous Cinque Terre, five fishing villages that cling to the cliffs, connected only by train and hiking trails. We’ll photograph the the ideal port village of Portofino, and boat to the quiet monastery of San Fruttuoso. How about a little cliff diving if the weather’s warm? As a bonus we’ll start and end with time in Genova, the ancient naval center, and shop it’s unique old town and port.
This seaside location offers fresh seafood that might be remembered as much as the scenery. Luigi from his last visit: “I thought I was dreaming, eating the raw ‘bianchetti’ in Camogli... very small baby fishes, perfect with the Vermentino wine... I loved them! :-)”
Cost
$2150 per person
Includes tuition, 5 nights stay in Camogli with breakfast and all ground travel from Genova. (Airfare not included). Tuition is based on double occupancy. Add $300 for a private, single room.
Payments schedule for 2009
$500/person reservation fee (refundable for 21 days)
Half your balance is due May 1, 2009
Balance due June 15, 2009
Meet us in Genova
An easy train ride from Milan, we’ll meet Sept 14th to begin our adventure.
On the 19th, we’ll say goodbye in Genova. Or join us for 2 nights in Florence and a wonderful week in the hill-towns of Tuscany. (see Tuscany workshop Sept 21-26)
If you’d rather explore on your own, Drake will help you custom design the perfect itinerary ending in Venice, Rome Milan or Florence.
The Workshop
Classroom time will be limited to 2 hours each morning, with informal review and critique of the previous day’s work. If you’re shooting digital, bring a laptop to work on your own images as we discuss Photoshop tips and advanced workflow helps. We’ll explore streets scenes, people and landscapes...better light, stronger composition, digital enhancement and even...don’t be offended...the business of photography. Drake will share insights on photographing in Italy over the past 25 years, along with his portrait work. Photographers of any level will be inspired and grow in this rich setting.
Beginners Welcome
We’ll split the group during class hours, and offer basic photographic instruction to those not-so-experienced. But don’t be surprised if they go home with some of the best images!
Our workshop leader, Drake Busath, lived in Nothern Italy in the late 70’s. He returns every year to visit and photograph, from Sicily to the Alps. Drake has taught seminars to professional photographers in 8 countries from Europe to the Far East and Australia, and in most U.S. States. He operates 2 studios in Utah with 20 employees, complete with digital printing and finishing labs. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife Liz.
Special Guest Luigi Barbano is an Italian commercial photographer based near Torino. Luigi will show you how the locals eat well, enjoy life and work hard (only when necessary) sharing his Italian style and insights, along with his images and his sense of humor.
What They’re Saying
A day trip to tranquil San Fruttuoso Abbey with the sun reflecting on the beautiful teal blue water is a photographer's dream come true! This and an unforgettable lunch on the beach painted THE perfect day!
Comogli and San Fruttuoso are unbelievable places that have been frozen in time. Here one can capture the essence of old Italy while enjoying the warmth of the sun and all that the sea has to offer.”
Workshop Goals
You should have a blast with your camera. You should enjoy every second of it. Less “working with the camera” and more fun. We want to help photographers break free from ordinary, run-of-the-mill images, and instead create self-expressive images that say more about the artist and less about the place. We try to take you to the best places at the right times, and promise you will return home with your lifetime-best photographic images.
Content
Each day we’ll gather for on-screen review and critique the previous day’s photography. A little scary, but fun. Short lectures fill out the class time, which is limited to 2-3 hours a day because of our ambitious travel schedule.
Technical discussions will include: Fast and accurate methods for proper exposure, controlling depth of field, and choosing focal length for the desired effect. Also dynamic techniques for subject blur, camera motion and selective focus compositions. (Drake believes sharp focus is way over-rated).
We’ll talk a lot about lighting and design issues, composition, balance, scale and dimension. Also content or the absence of it, and how to create images that have a powerful affect on viewers.
Separate instruction will be scheduled for beginners, allowing serious amateurs and professionals to advance at their own speed. Instructors will available during our travel for one-on-one help with camera mechanics and aesthetic discussions.
Group Size is generally 10-15 photographers , plus partners. We find this size ideal, because there’s always someone new and interesting to talk to, and you don’t feel “married” to the class like smaller groups. We generally have a mix of professionals and amateurs and we love that diversity. We promise not to make you follow a guide when we travel. Instead, we “scatter” into the towns, allowing ample free time to photograph and wander.
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