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Lee Frost Photography

TUSCANY AND CINQUE TERRE

Fully Booked

After leading my first combined Tuscany and Cinque Terre workshop in May 2023 (which was a great success!), I have decided to return in September 2024.

The first 3 nights will be spent in Cinque Terre...

Only 1 1/2 hours drive from Pisa airport, Cinque Terre is a string of ancient fishing villages on the rugged Ligurian coastline. The are 5 villages (hence the name!) - Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. In each, colourful houses spill down steep terraces to harbours filled with fishing boats and beautiful aquamarine sea. We will be based in the most picturesque village - Manarola - and we will explore and photograph all 5 villages using the excellent railway that connects one village with the next. The train are frequent, and run from early in the morning until late at night.

In each village there is at least one classic viewpoint, which we will take advantage of either at dawn or dusk when the light is at its most beautiful. But great shots are also to be had by wandering the narrow streets, capturing details and cameos that all help to reveal the character of this beautiful region.

The next 5 nights will spent in Tuscany....

The vast majority of photographers visiting Tuscany head there during spring and avoid the rest of the year. However, late summer has much to offer too. There are fewer tourists (or photographers!), the landscape is barren and brown, adding a ‘lunar’ feel to images (great for abstracts), and mist-filled valleys are still commonplace, along with vibrant sunrises and sunsets, stormy weather and dramatic skies. Another great bonus for visiting Tuscany in late summer is that the days are shorter than in spring. Sunrise is around 7.00am and sunset around 7.00pm, compared to 5.30am and 8.30pm in May, so we can rise at a more civilised time but still enjoy many hours of photography each day.

From our base just outside the ancient hill town of San Quirico d’Orcia (itself a great place to wander around, camera in hand), we’ll explore in all directions and discover the most beautiful scenes in Tuscany – rolling hills, sculptured cypress trees, winding roads, crumbling farmhouses, magnificent villas (including the villa in the closing scenes of the movie Gladiator), picturesque villages and historic towns and cities such as Pienza and Montepulciano. If times permits we’ll also travel further afield to the amazing hill towns of Pitigliano and Sorano.

Our days will be full, starting before sunrise and ending after sunset (weather permitting) so we can take full advantage of the best light of the day. There isn't a fixed daily itinerary for this trip as we take each day as it comes in terms of the weather and light and choose locations accordingly. I'd much rather we visit fewer locations and spend quality time at each one, rather than race around Tuscany trying to tick everything off our wish list then being disappointed with the results. Quality is far more important than quantity when it comes to landscape photography!

Advice on flights will be sent out once enough bookings have been taken to make the trip viable. Lee will also send out information on suggested photographic equipment, clothing etc, approx 2 months before the trip.

  • At A Glance...

  • Deposit / Price

    £250.00 / £2,400.00

    Sharing Discount - £200.00

  • Date

    25th September - 03rd October, 2024

  • Included

    Accommodation in en-suite rooms at Hotel Residence Casanova for 5 nights with breakfasts, and 3 nights at Ca’ de Gianchi Verdeblù in Manarola, Cinque Terre, on a room-only basis, airport transfers for suggested flights, transport during the trip, tuition from Lee Frost.

  • Excluded

    Flights to/from Pisa, breakfasts in Cinque Terre, lunches and dinners during the entire trip, insurance, photographic equipment and materials.

  • Fitness Level

    Moderate

  • Location

    Italy

  • Max Group Size

    6