• Penelope



    Workshops for 2011

  • Lakes Como, Orta & Maggiore

    Date: September 18 - 24, 2011

  • Tuscany Photo Workshop

    Date: September 25 - Oct. 1, 2011

  • Piemonte & Italian Riviera Photo Workshop

    Date: May 31-June 7, 201

    Off the Beaten Path with Local Pro Luigi Barbano

  • Riveira 2009










































































































Italy Workshop Reviews


"Thank you so much for the trip to the Italy Lakes area. Kathy and I enjoyed it tremendously. Even more than our trip with you two years ago into the Tuscany area. The classes were very beneficial for us and over the last two trips, you and your staff have helped us a great deal to learn to see the beauty in everything. We felt like we learned a lot on the first trip, but our pictures the second time were much improved from the first trip.

For example, we now look at light entirely differently now - through hair, trees, sparkling on the water, and we now realize there are a very few moments at sunrise and sunset where the world is most beautiful. We used to be post card picture takers and traditional tourists. No more!

Not only have we benefited on a personal basis, but we are able to take more meaningful pictures, with which we are able to entice our customers to purchase our products (garden decor items, such as gazebos, etc.). We take pictures of all our installations, and because of our increasing knowledge of photography, we are able to encourage our customers to add the same features in their yards or on commercial property after seeing these pictures. It also helps us with our advertising, since we can utilize the same pictures as a source for ads as well.

Thanks again - and looking forward to the next trip!"

Jim and Kathy Lillywhite
Tuscan Garden Works 2010









"The Italy Workshop is weeks behind me and I am STILL very much enjoying and using what I learned in my intense 9 days with you. I left home with some good basic skills in using my camera but I returned home feeling like my camera was part of my body! I felt my skill level took a giant heap forward in both TAKING photos well and post production skills! I loved learning from you 3 Pros. You taught me new ways to make my camera produce works of art. I felt you wanted to pour out all the knowledge I could absorb. Every night I was so tired but extremely pumped at all I had learned about "seeing" and shooting photos ---including thinking outside the box sometimes to create photographs the way I wanted to express my Italian experience. Studying with some of the BEST could be intimidating yet I found Drake professional in every way AND extremely approachable. I loved having Randy there to teach post production. I learned Lightroom 2 before coming but Randy stretched my abilities in basic areas that gave me a huge jump forward in my presentations. I loved learning from the other participants photos. You were always celebrated regarding your work and given suggestions to make it better.

My husband very much enjoyed himself too even though he did not do the photography. He loves art history so he was happy to explore on his own while I was busy learning. I am more of a village person so I actually preferred our rural setting. I just loved that we focused on small hill towns that were quaint and easy to walk. Also you got to wander off by yourself knowing that you would bump into others easily all day. All of the villages we went to had their own personalities so I'm not sure if there was a very favorite. The festival at San Gimignano was a great perk! It really threw me into the spirit of being in a very different place that is drenched in history. lt all came alive.

I really loved all our time "in class". I just could not get enough of your lectures--portraits were great and so useful. l guess I will have to go again to get Jamie's expertise!! Another favorite moment where I said "pinch me" was the early morning shoot---- Sunrise, field of horses, deep colors coming alive on the horizon. What's not to love? You just can't fail. I have come home with literally thousands of photos that I am giddy proud of! People comment to me that I "probably took some great pictures" and I laugh and tell them that I have dozens and dozens of winners. I'm not bragging about MY ability but on the learning that I received that made it all possible. Thank you so very much Drake, Randy & Jamie for taking me to the next level in enjoying and making beautiful photographs!!"

Pam Oman
2010









Italy Workshop Reviews


Sy Snarr
Salt Lake City, Utah

"There have been some experiences in my lifetime that have such a profound effect on me, I know I will never forget them. One of them was this past June in Tuscany with you. A few of us had left in the van to photograph the sunset in a small village above the farm where we were staying. When we got there and started walking through this small town, the aroma of honeysuckle vine was everywhere! It was the most wonderful aroma and filled our senses! It was so quiet there - I felt like we were in some magical place! We went to the top of the village and stood on a ledge and watched the most incredible sunset come and go. I remember thinking to myself - "I never want to forget this moment and how I feel right now." I think of that night often and how incredible it was to be there and experience such a perfect, beautiful night! Thank you! For sharing your talent, time, enthusiasm, and knowledge with me. I feel so blessed to have been able to experience "Italy with Drake"!!



Tim & Nancy Layton
Alpine, Utah

"The workshop is a spectacular way to learn to see the world from a different perspective and to be taught by the real experts. The workshop greatly enhanced our powers of observation and gave us the skills to process our work at a much higher level and enjoy our work more."





Samir Yahia
Troy, Alabama

"This workshop was a delightful experience. I enjoyed being in the company of wonderful people in a splendid setting. We were free to shoot at our own pace and our level of experience without constraint. The critique sessions were very helpful and constructive. With Drake and Randy I understood the true essence of photography: creative imagination and passion combined with the sense of observation. In reality,you are constantly competing against yourself like a true artist or a passionate golfer. Photography is indeed a wonderful art of expressing yourself with light and lenses.

Shooting photos in the wonderful villages of beautiful Tuscany was most inspiring. We were witnesses to the real Italian life surrounded by centuries of art and history under the warm Tuscan sun.

My favorite and most unforgettable experience was my visit to the Abbey of Sant 'Antimo near Montalcino. The spiritual impact of this romanesque place of worship is immense in its beauty and simplicity.

The workshop was well balanced and organized. I felt comfortable and welcome."





Kristine Hardeberg
Gjovik, Norway

"This workshop gave me lots of inspiration to keep taking better pictures, I definitely feel more confident than before the workshop. I loved the "Village Experience" approach to seeing Italy. It was quieter and more "real" than the crowded touristy places. My favorite experience of the week was interacting with the locals and getting a true "behind the scenes" look at Italian life. I loved this group, it wasn't too big and quickly became well functioning, easy to talk to anybody, a safe place to learn and fail without getting too self-conscious."



Phyllis Lastrapes
Baton Rouge, Louisianna

"The advice we were given as photographers, and the unique sites we visited affected me photographically. It was interesting to view the images of the other workshop members as well. I very much enjoyed the village experiences. They were valuable as they were not typical "touristy" sites with large groups. A favorite experience of the week was visiting San Gimignano. The area was quaint, the people friendly and the sites were very nice. I believe the experience was exceptional, the Italians warm, and the group friendly and kind. "

Busath Photography