8 days/ 7 nights in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Val d’Orcia
Join internationally published photographer Joel Wolfson and his wife Barb (Naturalist and Instructor) as they take you on a first class creative journey through one of the most stunning regions on earth, the Val d’Orcia Tuscany. Joel distills his decades of experience into easy to understand concepts, both creative and technical. A very small group, the benefit of
two instructors, and the beautiful atmosphere are conducive to learning new ways to express the villages and countryside of Tuscany in your images.
Based in such a magnificent setting – this program is designed for both the photographer wishing to increase his or her skills utilizing Joel’s effective and progressive teaching techniques as well as for the traveler wishing to experience a fine vacation with deluxe lodging, excellent dining experiences, knowledgeable guides and visits to fascinating places. All of this in a small group to allow for maximum individual attention and a fabulous experience.
We’ll be staying in a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Val D’Orcia in Tuscany and taking photo treks to nearby villages, some only known by locals and some classics such as Siena, Montalcino, and Montepulciano, as well as photographing vineyards, olive orchards, architecture, people and the Tuscan countryside. Not to mention exquisite meals made by locals, famous Italian hospitality, and wonderful wine.
• Round trip airport transfers from Florence (min 2 people per transfer)
• 7 nights in a delightful bed and breakfast - Deluxe spacious rooms with private baths, twin or double beds, breakfast daily, minibar, hairdryers, Wi-Fi, SAT TV in all rooms.
• 5 multi-course dinners – at fine local favorite restaurants including wine
• Arrival reception and orientation
• Walking tours of charming historic towns and villages with local guides
• Vineyard tour and wine tasting
• Individualized instruction in the field and classroom progressively employing what you learn
• Classroom review, critique and discussion of images as you shoot them
• 5 Days field photo shoots/tours with instruction- including city and countryside locales*
• Free time to work and relax in this lovely retreat nestled in the hills of The Val D’Orcia, Tuscany- A Unesco World Heritage Site.
• Amazing surroundings, food and culture.
*Examples of locales we will experience and photograph include: Medieval cities and towns full of fantastic architecture, local farms, monasteries, olive groves and mills, vineyards and wineries including tastings; flowering fields dotted with poppies, cypress lined drives and magnificent estates and gardens.
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Joel Wolfson has been teaching photography since 1985 and enjoys sharing his experience and skills with his workshop participants. He conveys these in an easy to understand manner. Joel also loves to travel and thoroughly researches locations before organizing workshops and insists on very small groups to provide individual attention. Joel Wolfson, a Southwest native, is published internationally and his roster of notable clients include Newsweek, Elle, Seventeen, Houghton Mifflin, Family Circle, and corporate clients such as Apple, AT&T, 3M, United Airlines, Chase and Pillsbury. He is one of the pioneers of digital photography. His technical articles on digital imaging have been translated for use in more than 30 countries. Yet he is best known for his artistic images of nature’s fleeting moments as well as abstracts and unexpected views of everyday places around the globe.
“My goal is to capture with my camera what I experienced, not just document a scene. This is my standard for a successful image”
His love of photography started as a child peering overthe developer tray 
witnessing the magic of the appearing image as his older sister made prints in the darkroom. By age 13 Joel built his own darkroom, shot pictures and printed them when he wasn’t devouring every photography book he could find. Initially influenced by Ansel Adams, Joel learned the zone system and black and white “pre visualization.” Further inspiring Joel’s vision were painters Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso. And he had the good fortune to have as his mentors and work with, some of the world’s best photographers. He has devoted the 20+ years of his successful career as a photographer pushing the limits of the medium, continually expanding his talent for revealing the hidden, extraordinary moments in our world.
