Bologna

A Photo Workshop for Foodies

Bologna Photo Tour for Foodies

Bologna | Foodie Capital of Italy

Bologna | May 3-9, 2024

$4500 | 6-10 Guests

Bologna is for foodies.  It’s called “La Grassa” (the fat one) for a reason.  Think tortellini, lasagna and rago alla bolognese.

Many great photographers call Bologna their favorite Italian city for its colorful architecture, miles of arcades covering bustling sidewalks.  Perhaps also because it’s a place a photographer can escape mainstream tourism and and be immersed in a vibrant and metropolitan town.

You’ll eat at a variety of restaurants and taste wines of the region along with famous delights of the Emilia Romagna region: prosciutto, parmigiano and balsamico.

For the second part of the visit we move our headquarters into the countryside to explore the rustic side of Romagna and meet chefs  you’d likely never find on your own.

Partners are welcomed on this tour, designed as a relaxed holiday where food meets photography.

Bologna Italy Workshops map

Pre-Workshop: We recommend you arrive a day or two early to acclimate to the time zone.  You can fly directly into Bologna or choose nearby Florence airport for an easy entry.   Venice is also just an hour or two away by train and makes a fun extension to your travel afterward.  We’ll be happy to suggest hotels and travel tips for your pre and post workshop days.    

Photo Workshop

In the field, you’ll be offered daily suggestions for street photography and urban fine art techniques.  You’ll also be given short assignments along with printed material to help you remember what you’ve learned.

In addition, daily image reviews will allow you to see what others are doing and to share your ideas with the group.

Culinary Tour

You’ll visit some small producers of  Emilia Romagna specialties ie, balsamic, prosciutto and cheeses from the region.  This gives you an opportunity to meet local folks and make some interesting portraits along the way.  Finally, Gabriele will treat you to his favorite typical trattorias and osterias where you can eat and drink like a local.

Group Time and Free Time

We gather to review images 2 or 3 times during the week.  This gives you a chance to see what the other guests are seeing and it sparks ideas.  It also allows us to offer suggestions and show Lightroom and Photoshop tips to enhance your work.

Non-Photographer Partners… Don’t worry, all instruction sessions are optional so you won’t feel captive.  We build in plenty of free time in fascinating places so you can explore on your own or just people watch from a sidewalk cafe.

Daily Schedule

Day 1  Bologna

Walk the town with Gabriele who has published multiple books on Bologna

Street shooting discussion and a fun assignment

Free time to dive in to the porticos of Bologna

Briefing at the hotel about our food and foto agenda for the week

Welcome dinner

Overnight: Bologna

Day 2   Modena / Reggio Emilia

AM   Day trip to the foodie region of Emilia

Taste local products and photographing locals along the way

PM    Modena for a walk in the historic center of town, Bologna’s medieval rival

Continue to Sorbara for a visit to an historic “acetaia”, producer of balsamic vinegars so famous in this region.

Dinner under the arcades of the acetate with typical Modena dishes

Overnight: Bologna

Day 3   Bologna

Walk and photograph in the “old market” of Bologna’s historic center

Lunch in the oldest Osteria of the city

Free time to explore Bologna, armed with Gabriele’s suggestions for fascinating churches, towers and galleries

Dinner at a local favorite Trattoria

Overnight: Bologna

Day 4   Ravenna

Check out and drive to Ravenna, one of Italy’s most important historic and artistic sites

Visit the local market and Byzantine monuments famous for mosaic

PM   Visit Sant’Appollinare in Classe

Check in to charming La Locanda di Bagnara

Dinner in nearby Bagnacavallo at the Osteria in Market Square

Buona notte

Overnight: Bagnara

Day 5   Brisighella

Drive a short distance to see the towns of Faenza and smaller Brisighella

Stroll  and photograph with free time for lunch in Brisighella

Visit the village of Dozza with it’s murals and castle

Wine tasting at the Regional Enoteca in the Dozza Castle

Dinner at well loved Ristorante La Scuderia

Overnight: Bagnara

Day 6    Imola / Sasso Morelli

Short drive to the town of Imola, home of our intrepid host Gabriele, to spend time in the open market meeting friends and working on our street shooting skills (and shopping skills)

Lunch at Trattoria La Sterling, a favorite of the locals

Drive to Sasso Morelli to visit the gardens of Villa La Babina

Farewell dinner at Ristorante La Locanda

Overnight: Bagnara

 

 

Day 8    Workshop and Review

AM   Workshop wrap up with more tips and tricks

On-screen review of your stunning images!

Return to Bologna, then on to Florence for those staying there.  Arrive Florence by 3PM

Arrivaderci!

Gabriele Angelini_Italy Photo Workshops

Gabriele Angelini

Guide / Instructor

Our long time partner Gabriele Angelini is an Italian photographer and publisher who makes his home in Imola, near Bologna.

His passion for street photography is infectious and it’s a pure pleasure to shoot alongside him.   The first thing you’ll notice is his big smile and his unbridled enthusiasm for every place we photograph.

Gabriele is also excited to share his native cuisine, that the Emilia Romagna region, the heart of classic Italian cuisine.  He’s lined up a very special cooking, eating and learning experience for us.

Gabriele taught history of photography at the University of Bologna (founded 1000AD) and shares his studied insights with us as we travel.  Read more…

Instructor (with 5 or more guests)

Randy Collier Italy Workshops

Randy Collier, M.Photog, CR

Randy Collier is a fine-art photographer and an exceptional instructor.  A professional studio photographer for 30 years, he’s now free to roam the earth and coach aspiring photographers.

Recent ventures include opening EarthLight Gallery in Park City, Utah, and Master Your Workflow, a digital coaching business for photographers. 

Randy has been key to the growth of Italy Workshops,  instructing for over a dozen years at workshops in Italy and France.

View Randy’s work

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Camera Should I Bring?

Any camera is acceptable, including smartphones. Automation for the beginner can make the trip fun and stress-free and, at times, increase creativity.

Should I Bring a Computer

Participants who are very comfortable with their computer are encouraged to bring it along. Editing your images during the week can enhance your learning experience. We currently use Adobe Lightroom CC for our on-screen reviews sessions. You will learn new LR editing methods and workflow shortcuts during classroom reviews and critique. Even if you’ve used Lightroom, we highly recommend brushing up before the workshop by watching the free tutorials available on Adobe.com. If you are not fluent downloading and managing digital images, you might consider leaving the computer behind and just focusing on camera work. You can still submit images daily for review, and perhaps find more time to learn about your camera and develop a discerning eye. (Not to mention sleep happily while others are editing into the night) Observer Participants may be beginner photographers, attending all instruction and field trips, but not required to submit photos for critique. This is a fun way to learn without pressure. You’ll still photograph the same things and we’ll still want to review your work on the back of your camera and offer individual instruction in the field.

All Skill Levels Are Welcome

Beginner and Intermediate Photographers

Our goal is to simplify and de-mystify digital camera options.  The first step is turning off most of the automation on the camera.  Short, daily field lessons will then add one simple technique at time. Soon you’re able to concentrate on composition and lighting rather than buttons and menus.  

 Any camera is welcome (yes, even smartphones!). Non-photographer partners are welcome to sit in on all discussions and participate at their own level of interest. (Beginners often make some of the best images of the tour.)

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“I learned as much in a week with you two as I learned in two semesters of photography classes.” Read More

-Jeri Petersen | Tuscany

Advanced Photographers

As an advanced photographer you’ll be encouraged to:

  1. Build your portfolio, adding strong images every single day of the trip.
  2. Focus on style development, lighting and composition.
  3. Work in “concentrations” to produce a collection of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project.

You will return home with a body of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project that will express your personal style, as opposed to a random collection of travel photos.

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” I was delighted to end the week with not only hundreds of excellent images but nine new friends as well.” Read More

– Jim Pierotti CRA, 30 yr. pro photographer | Tuscany

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“Every detail is thought of when you travel with Drake and his team! The accommodations, food, transportation, communication and tour sites were all fantastic. “ Read More

– Amy Hansen | Salt Lake City, UT

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“I felt we were truly blessed with amazing workshop staff. Drake and Joel are gifted photographers who spent every waking moment looking for good places for us to shoot as well as giving us individual attention when we were out in the field. “ Read More

-Bonnie White | Salt Lake City, UT

Bologna “Foto & Foodie” Tour Dates

Bologna |  May 3-9, 2024


Meet:  Bologna, Italy*

Depart: Bologna, Italy

Group Size: 4-10 guests

$4500 / Participant (double occupancy)
$450 / Single supplement private room

Included:

Travel

All ground and water travel is included.

Hotels

Accommodations are included.

Meals

All breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 special dinners.

Workshop

Photo Workshop tuition and Cooking Class


Not Included:

*Also not included are crowds of tourists, slow moving tour guides and lectures on the history of plague 🙂

Payment Schedule

  • A reservation fee of $500/person will hold your spot
  • The balance of payment is due 120 days prior to your workshop/tour

Cancellation fee schedule 

  • Reservation fees are fully refundable for 10 days after booking
  • After ten days, reservation fees are non-refundable but may be applied to a future workshop event.
  • Cancellations less than 120 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 25% of the total workshop cost.
  • Cancellations less than 60 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total workshop cost.
  • Cancellations less than 30 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 75% of the total workshop cost.
  • No partial refunds will be given for unused portions of a workshop.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel  insurance to protect your investment.  Here are two places to shop for a free quote online:

Travel Guard

Allianz Travel Insurance

Hotel Rooms

We use hotels rated 3 or 4 stars, always with private bath. Rooms are assigned in order of reservations received, so early signup is recommended. Ask about premium rooms if you would like to upgrade for an additional supplement charge.

Single Private Room Supplements

Fees are based on double occupancy. Single supplement may be added for participants who wish to have a private room to themselves. Supplements vary depending on the hotels used.  If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room with another participant, please let us know and we’ll do our best to match you with a roommate.

Photographic Release

Italy Workshops reserves the right to photograph and film its trips in entirety. Participants should be aware that images of them may be used for promotional purposes or joint marketing efforts with third parties, without remuneration.

Liability Release

You will be required to sign a liability release before the workshop / tour begins.  This is a standard form required by all tours companies, releasing  Italy Workshops of liability for injury or loss.

If a workshop gets cancelled

Italy Workshops reserves the right to cancel any trip for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup, logistical problems that may impede a workshop, hotel closures or acts of God.

Refund of all fees paid shall release Italy Workshops from any further liability. Italy Workshops is not responsible for any expenses incurred by workshop participants in preparing for a cancelled workshop. In the case of insufficient signup to make a workshop feasible, notice and refund will be sent 120 days prior to the workshop.

Pre-Workshop Extension

FLORENCE Extension 

Florence_Ponte_Vecchio_Drake_Busath_Italy_photo_workshopsMay 9-12, 2024  | 3 nights

$2150/person

$250 single private room supplement

Experience Florence without lines or crowds.  Get right to the best locations at the best time of day.  Let us show you some great little secrets  and still enjoy plenty of free time to do your own thing.

Included:

  • Transportation from Liguria to Florence
  • 4 star hotel in the historic center
  • Welcome and farewell dinners
  • All private transportation
  • All entrance fees
  • Guided time for the best perspectives at the right time of day
  • Free time to shop and sight-see

    Gabriele Angelini_Italy Photo Workshops

    Your guide Gabriele Angelini

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