Perhaps the most photogenic mountains in the world for a photo workshop, the Dolomites are just a 2-hour drive from Venice, in northeast Italy. This part of Italy is infused with a strong Austrian influence, so you’ll enjoy the blended flavors of Italian-Austrian foods and wines, along with the hospitality of Alpine mountain lodges.
Two nights in high, mountain lodges are broken up by luxurious hotel stays in the valleys.
Activity Level: This trip involves some moderate hiking although guests can opt out of any or all hikes and still enjoy lodges with beautiful patio views and restaurants.
Pre-Workshop
We will meet up at the Venice Marco Polo airport. After the workshop we’ll return you to Venice where you can continue your travels.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 | Queen of the Dolomites
10:00 a.m., meet up at Venice Marco Polo Airport.
Travel by minivans from Venice to Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Queen of the Dolomites.”
On the way, stop for lunch and a local guided walk of the mountain village of Cibiana di Cadore and its famous murals.
Check into 4-star Hotel de la Poste.
Welcome dinner in Cortina.
Day 2 | Head in the Clouds
Gondola up to mountain lodge Rifugio Scoiattoli.
Photograph the majestic 5 Torri and Tofana di Rozes.
Short hike (1 mile, easy trail) to Rifugio Averau for an elegant lunch.
Free time to photograph.
Optional hike to Rifugio Nuvolau (climb 1 mile to 2,575 m).
Dinner at Rifugio Scoiattoli.
Rifugio Scoiattoli and Rifugio Averau, mountain lodges with spectacular views.
Day 3 | Peaks and Stars
Sunrise on the Cinque Torri mountain range.
Travel through breathtaking mountain passes to photograph Passo Giau and Passo Falzarego.
Along the way stop for a commanding view of Cortina in its idyllic valley setting.
Nightscape shoot at Passo Giau (optional).
Sty at Villa Argentina Hotel (3-star) or similar hotel.
Day 4 | Closer to God
Traverse the Dolomites heading east rolling through gorgeous valleys and passes along the way.
Bustling mountain town to Bressanone, a mix of Austrian and Italian culture and foods.
The Odle group of peaks in the Val di Funes tower over the tiny chapel of San Giovann, built in a meadow of wildflowers.
Gourmet tailgate picnic and watch the sunset on the village and church of Santa Maddalena and the Odle mountain group.
Stay at 4-star Hotel Grüner Baum & Spa.
Day 5 | Mirrored Mountain Lakes
Relaxed morning in Bressonne for shopping and sampling some local flavors.
Mountain Lake of Lago di Braies for an easy walk or take a rowboat for a spin.
The quiet little Lake Antorno provides mirrored views of the surrounding peaks.
Stay at Grand Hotel Misurina.
Day 6 | Majesty of Tre Time di Lavaredo
This day is dedicated to hiking the circuit around the famous Tre Cime (3 towers) of Lavaredo.
Easy trails take us lodge to lodge, so guests can stop comfortably along the way (minimum 2 miles/max 8 miles).
The views all along this trail are superb! This is a MUST for every landscape photographer.
An evening Jeep trip takes us to the fantastic views at Rifugio Bossi on Monte Piano.
Stay at Rifugio Boss (mountain lodge).
Day 7 | Battlegrounds, from First World War to Star Wars
Walk trenches and tunnels used in the “Most Treacherous Battle of WW1”, on Monte Piana where 14,000 soldiers died.
Soak in the surrounding mountain vistas where the latest Star Wars was filmed.
Lunch along the scenic road to Lago Misurina.
Finish the day back in beautiful Cortina d’Ampezzo, site of the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Stay at 4-star Hotel de la Poste.
Day 8 | Editing Workshop and Review
Workshop with tips specific to mountain landscapes.
On-screen review of your stunning images.
Return to Venice Marco Polo Airport (around 4 p.m.).
Arrivaderci!
The Workshop
Our curriculum has been tweaked and pruned over 18 years to offer you only the essential tools you need. We recognize that we only have a week with you… no time to impress you with our expertise or bore you with technical trivia.
Workshop Sessions
Classroom time (one-hour sessions) is devoted to reviewing your daily images on-screen and offering helpful suggestions. In the field, our discussions center around better composition and finding great light. And of course, answering your technical questions and helping you master your own equipment.
Workshop Leader
Drake Busath, the originator of Italy Workshops, has 30 years experience living and traveling in Italy. Drake speaks Italian and has guided hundreds of photographers of every skill level to favorite regions all over Italy.
He will share what he’s learned over 35 years photographing Italy and encourage you to identify and develop your own personal style while in Italy. More about Drake
Staff
Trip Manager
A trip manager accompanies each group with 8 guests or more. This person anticipates all our travel needs as a group (i.e., restaurant reservations, ferry tickets, gelato, snacks for your room, etc.).
An experienced trip manager allows the instructor to instruct full-time instead of chasing down logistics. This is your guarantee of a safe and smooth week of learning.
Special Guest Instructor
We make it a point to invite friends with special talents as guests on the workshops, so you never know who you’ll be rubbing shoulders with.
World-class photographers who have joined us include landscape specialist and gallery owner Randy Collier, portraitists Michael Taylor and Tim Walden, editing software guru Kevin Kubota, landscape and wildlife expert Dennis Hammon, editorial photographer Jeff Allred, nightscape specialist Royce Bair, Italian pro Luigi Barbano and writer Dr. Ray Ownbey.
Ask if there will be a special guest attending your workshop.
Office and Registration
Italy Workshops offices are located in Salt Lake City, UT in the historic downtown mansion of Busath Studio & Gardens. Please feel free to stop in and visit.
We are open and reachable by phone Tues-Friday 10AM to 6PM MST. 801-364-6645
Sheryl Bird handles all registrations from her office in Boston, MA. Sheryl is reachable by email at info@italyworkshops.com
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
We enjoy helping you master those buttons and menus on your camera! Short, daily field lessons will tackle one technique at time. Further individual attention in the field helps you lock in the concepts.
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 we see!)
Advanced Photographers
As an advanced photographer you’ll be encouraged to:
- Build your portfolio, adding strong images every single day of the trip.
- Focus on style development, lighting and composition.
- 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.
Dolomites Photo Tour Reviews
Dolomites Photo Tour Dates
Dolomites | Sept 13-20, 2019
Arrive: Sept 13th – Venice, Italy*
Depart: Sept 20th – Venice, Italy
Tour Group Size: 6-12 People
Price
$3350 / Shared Room
* These trip starts and ends in Venice, Italy. You can arrive in any major Italian city, but Venice is recommended.
Included:
Travel
Ground travel by minivan from Venice Marco Polo Airport, returning to Venice.
Hotels
6 nights accommodations in four-star hotels.
1 night in Rifugio (mountain ski / hikers lodges) with restaurant and all the comforts of home.
Meals
- Luxurious breakfast each day.
- Dinner or lunch each day as we travel.
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Wine included with meals.
Workshop
Workshop tuition, including instruction in the field throughout the week and on-screen review where allowed by time and hotel space.
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Trip insurance (recommended)
*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 will hold your spot
- 50% of balance is due 120 days prior to your workshop
- The balance of payment is due 60 days prior to your workshop
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, at some workshop locations for an additional supplement charge.
Single 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.
Cancellation fee schedule
- There is no charge for cancellation within ten days of booking your workshop.
- After ten days, reservation fees are non-refundable but may be applied to a future workshop event.
- Cancellations less than 90 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 25% of the total workshop cost.
- Cancellations less than 45 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total workshop cost.
- Cancellations less than 15 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.
We highly recommend that all workshop participants purchase trip cancellation insurance independently.
Cancelled Workshops
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. (We have never yet had to cancel a workshop.)
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.
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 renumeration.
Reserve Your Experience Today
Group sizes are extremely limited. Please reserve early.
You can reserve your spot by filling out the form below,
or by calling us at 801-364-6645