Tuscany 2013, Day 05

Hilltop Views

There is a beautiful pool where we are staying. Of course, during the workshop, we do not have time to enjoy it, but Arnie thought of a way around it.

Everyone was challenged to make an interesting and compelling photo in the pool area.

It was fun to watching people stalking different views, trying different angles, seeking different perspectives.

Arnie told them that they could not enjoy our picnic lunch until they had done their shots.

After people had pretty much left, I found this view that captured my eye.

It was lovely to sit in the shade of the umbrellas on the breakfast terrace, munching on cheeses and Tuscan prosciutto, fruits, etc.

But it was time to head to the hills. There is a classic Tuscan scene that everyone loves to photograph. We stopped at the location so everyone could see the layout, but the light was not yet right. We knew it wouldn’t be, but it gave us time to visit a wine and olive farm and make some photos there. Pierro remembered us from our last visit, and the family welcomed this group, too.

In the shade of a terrace, I found these two Calla Lilies, one past prime, the other with a blemish. I really liked the way they interacted with each other.

We took the group to another location with Cypress trees dotting the hilltops. This year, the tractor tracks added

Tuscany 2013, Day 04

Back into the Countryside

There are a number of classic Tuscan scenes, and it is tempting to photograph just them. The famous zig-zag road comes to mind, and it is unique. When we first arrived, it was sunny with great shadows.

I was down in a field with one participant, pointing out potential hazards, and as soon as everything was set up, the clouds came in, along with some rain. Not bad rain, but still rain, and any interesting shadows were gone for the nonce.

We told our group to be patient, as there were plenty of other things to photograph. For me, it was the back side of this building.

Textured and colorful in a muted sort of way, it spoke of age and history.

I worked with another member of our group on wonderful plant pots hanging on the wall.

“Signora?” I called.

“Si?”

And in my fractured Italiano, I asked permission to photograph. After all, we wanted to photograph private property, and it was only polite to ask first.

While our student was working on a shot, I grabbed this one. I liked its simplicity and gentleness.

The sun came out, and we urged out group to head back to do their shots of the ziggy-zaggy road, as I sometimes call it. Arnie should have gotten a great shot from his position, and after critiques, we’ll see what the others did.

Our next stop was a chapel up the hill. It is small and charming, and there is a little cemetery. Some walked up the hill, while Arnie and I moved the cars. I pulled into the parking area under a magnificent old tree, got out, and went to open the gate. It would not open. It has always been unlocked.

A car came by, and I flagged it down. An English couple was in it; they were staying at a small inn up the road.

“Yes, my husband tried it, too,” explained the lady, “which was a surprise, because our host said it was always open.”

Well, not today. Quickly, we scrambled to head to another location.

As one of the people in my car said, “This is like storm chasing.”

The light was getting better and better, and we hurried to get to one of our favorites plugged into the GPS. Would we make it in time?

Yes, and it was well worth it. The sun came through an amazing cloudy sky and produced an effect I have not often seen. It was

Tuscany 2013, Day 03

Off to my favorite ruins

A few years ago when Arnie and I first scouted this part of Tuscany for our workshop, we came upon a dirt road with fields beyond that looked interesting me. Now understand that Arnie was sophisticated and grew up on the paved streets of Chicago, while I was the country bumpkin who learned to drive on back dirt roads, sometimes no more than two tracks.

“You want me to turn down there?” Arnie exclaimed with a few other choice phrases.

“Yes. Clearly it is used a lot.”

“But by what, and where will we turn around?”

“If the farm trucks can get back out, I am sure we can. Besides, you’re an excellent driver. You’ll manage just fine.”

So, challenged and very begrudgingly, he turned down the two-track lane. We crested a hill, and came upon beautiful ruins in the midst of wheat fields. Over the years with crop rotation, the fields have changed color and texture, but the location, the ruins, and the views remain.

Arnie was hooked, and we spent a long afternoon photographing there. Each year we return, and it is one of the first places Arnie wants to take our groups.

To get to this area from our borgo, there are a lot of twisty roads. It reminded me of the some of the roads on Mt. Etna in Sicily but with a far different landscape.

Some of our group wanted to learn how to do panoramas, and I have a favorite spot for them in this location. The light wasn’t right yet, so we did other shots. I always like this scene. Every year, the hills look different, and the patterns of the tractors change.

The light was getting better, but still not yet quite right for our panoramas. The red clover, however, glowed in the foreground.

Finally, the lowering sun started to give real definition to the undulations of the hills. We reviewed the steps for making a successful panorama, and click, click, click …