Few landscapes are as instantly recognisable — or as rewarding photographically — as Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia. In spring, rolling hills glow with fresh greens, Cypress-lined ridges lead the eye through elegant compositions, and  wildflowers and dawn mist add extra atmosphere to the landscape. Working in the soft light of dawn and the warm sculptural light of sunset, we’ll photograph some of Tuscany’s most iconic locations, from the hills around San Quirico d'Orcia and Pienza to the famed Terrapille ‘Gladiator’ landscapes, vineyard country around Montalcino and the beautiful chapel of Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta.

Designed in the spirit of all my workshops, this is about far more than photographing celebrated viewpoints. With plenty of individual guidance, this workshop is intended to help you respond creatively to Tuscany’s remarkable light, atmosphere and subtle landscape forms, while also enjoying its hill towns, culture and cuisine - all included in the price! Alongside iconic locations, we’ll seek out quieter, less obvious places that reveal the deeper character of this extraordinary region.

Tuition and Travel

I will be on hand throughout each day to offer tuition, help and advice on all aspects of your photography. There will be plenty of opportunity for 1-2-1 tuition so that you leave with high-quality images of the beautiful Tuscan landscape. 

You will be transported to all locations by me using an 8/9 seat minibus with air-conditioning, so you can relax between sessions.

You will learn

• Composition and visual design
• Using foreground, middle distance and layered depth effectively
• Telephoto and wide-angle landscape techniques
• Intimate landscapes and creative interpretation
• Using viewpoints and focal length more effectively
• Photographing mist and atmospheric conditions at first light
• Fieldcraft, timing and reading conditions

Vistas of Tuscany and surrounding areas

Tuscany Cameos 

Mono/Infrared

During the middle of the day, the villages in and around Tuscany offer great opportunities for shooting in black and white for that timeless, classic look. For those with Infrared cameras, this is a great time of year for photographing the Tuscan landscape when foliage is at its best (this is purely optional if you own such a camera).

Accommodation

We will be based in a beautiful spa hotel within minutes of the best locations for sunrise. All rooms are fully equipped along with full ensuite facilities. All rooms are relaxing and cool during the hot hours of the middle of the day. A large buffet breakfast is included each morning. Each day we will have a light lunch in a local town or purchase food that we can eat on our travels. Tuscany is blessed with wonderful restaurants and we shall eat and drink at a different one each night to give you a full flavour of Tuscan cuisine!

Itinerary.

Typically, the format for most days will be as follows:

Soft light at the start and end of the day is what Tuscany is so famous for. Therefore, most mornings we will be up before sunrise to travel the short distance to photograph beautiful Tuscan scenes before and after the sun rises. After the 'Golden Hour', we'll head back to the hotel for breakfast. We will then head out to one of the many small towns nearby to photograph abstracts and cameos before having lunch at a local Tratoria (included). 

After lunch we'll head back to the hotel for a siesta of approximately 3 hours during the hottest part of the day. Later in the afternoon, we'll head back out to photograph lesser known viewpoints before heading for an ideal location for sunset.

After sunset, we will return to the hotel to freshen up before heading to a local restaurant for a well-earned meal and drinks - all included!

Camera Equipment

Here is a list of recommended equipment you should bring…

• Camera body and a selection of lenses that ideally cover wide-angle to telephoto - the higher the focal length the better!
• At least two camera batteries
• Tripod
• Lens cloth
• Camera bag capable of being stored in an overhead locker on a plane.
• 1, 2 & 3 stop hard graduated filters (optional but useful)
• Polariser (optional but useful)
• An infrared camera if you own one (purely optional)

Clothing

Expect temperatures to be cool in the morning and evening and hot (typically around 24 degrees) during the daytime.

• Warm padded jacket and jumper/fleece for morning and evenings
• Light clothing for during the day
• A light waterproof in case of rain
• Walking shoes/boots
• Sun-cap
• Sun-cream
• sunglasses

Fitness Level - Easy | Moderate | Challenging

A moderate level of fitness and balance is required for this workshop.  All locations are chosen for their fine views and safety. However, most towns we visit are situated on hillsides so expect moderate and very occasional steep inclines at times - although we will take these leisurely. My wife will be on hand for those who may be a little slow or less agile.

Getting there

By Plane

I am offering a collection/drop-off service from Pisa airport on the arrival and departure days. The journey to Val D'Orcia is approximately 2.5 hours from the airport and is included in the price. Thereafter, most travelling is less than 30 minutes from our base. Many airlines offer flights to/from Pisa airport each day. Full details about booking flights and collection/drop off times will be communicated well in advance of the workshop. Please do not book flights until I give the go ahead.

Payment must be made in full when booking a single day workshop (you will be sent an invoice). For residential workshops, a deposit of £500 is required (unless otherwise stated) and the balance paid 12 weeks before the course commences (20 weeks for overseas workshops).

If you, the client, cancel a booking any money you have paid (including the deposit) is non-refundable unless I can find a replacement to take your place after all other places have been filled. If a replacement is found an admin fee of £100 will be deducted from the refund. If I cancel a booking any payment received will be refunded in full. Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance in place. It is a term of the contract between us that you will obtain the appropriate travel insurance cover before you set out on the workshop. The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the workshop (whether in whole or in part), personal accident and injury, medical and repatriation costs, loss of baggage and personal money and belongings, flight cancellations and delays as well as your inability to arrive at the workshop destination due to fuel shortages and other such disruptions out of my control.

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, I regret I cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of my obligations under my contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of “force majeure”. In these booking conditions, “force majeure” means any event which I or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include, (whether actual or threatened), war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, epidemics/pandemics, fuel shortages and all similar events outside my control.

Please note, I cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to me by you concerning your booking prior to me accepting it, I could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if I breached the contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by myself where I am responsible for them, my suppliers. Additionally, I cannot accept liability for any business losses.

You will be allocated either a single room or a double/twin room for single occupancy. There is no single occupancy surcharge. Where double or twin rooms are available, they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of check-in.

Mark Banks Photography reserves the right to cancel any workshop. In the event of any cancellation, I will offer either a total refund or a place on an alternative workshop. If the alternative workshop is cheaper, I will refund the difference, and if it is more expensive, you will be required to pay the balance.

All applicants participate at their own risk and Mark Banks Photography accepts no responsibility for injury or damage done to their persons or property. It is recommended that applicants hold their own personal Public Liability Insurance.

The type of workshops I offer require flexibility and must allow for alternatives. For this reason, the outline itinerary and workshop description must be taken as an indication of what may take place on the workshop, and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Mark Banks Photography.

I do not accept responsibility or liability for death, bodily injury or illness caused to you during the workshop, unless arising from the negligent act and/or omission on my part or on the part of any of my employees (providing they were at the time acting within the course of their employment). Please note that any itinerary noted on the workshop description is subject to change due to weather conditions and/or the capability of participants.

By booking a workshop with Mark Banks Photography you are agreeing to accept all of the above conditions.