The Amalfi Coast offers a sun-drenched Mediterranean escape, and a photographer’s paradise. Long considered Italy’s most scenic stretch of coastline with its pastel-hued villages, the coast is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. We’ve chosen Ravello as our headquarters, certainly one of the most romantic and beautiful small towns in southern Italy. Perched 1000 feet above the azure coast, Ravello is blessed with lush gardens, quiet lanes and commanding views. Our 4-star hotel, next to the ancient Villa Rufulo, is central to great dining and evening strolls.
We’ll stop into the once powerful maritime center of Amalfi and the popular town of Positano, however, the real photographic gems, in our opinion, are the quieter small villages of Atrani, Furore, and Praiano, and climbing to overlooks in the evening hours. The sunny Island of Capri also tempts us for a midweek visit, and we’ll round out the trip with a visit to Pompeii for a dose of Roman history.
Itinerary
Day 1
12:00 Meet us in Rome or Naples
Begin with a tour of historic Pompeii
Travel to Ravello, 1000 feet above the Amalfi coast with epic views and a charm beyond description
Check in at our wonderful 4-star Hotel steps from the piazza
Welcome dinner in Ravello
Day 2
Seaside Positano
Travel by sea to rustic and quiet Atrani
Walkabout and field lessons
Dinner in Piazza at Atrani
Day 3
AM Workshop in Ravello at ancient Villa Rufolo
Lunch on own in Ravello
Free time
Post-production workshop time at hotel
Village walkabout and field instruction
Dinner on own
Day 4
Visit to the island of Capri by ferry (this visit is pending group interest)
Visit the town of Amalfi
Evening landscapes over Amalfi
Day 5
AM Workshop in Ravello
PM Explore and relax at Villa Cimbrone
Dinner with a view under the wisteria at Villa Maria
Day 6
10:00 Final workshop breakfast and review
Visit Sorrento with free time to shop, eat and relax
3:00 Say goodbye at the modern Naples train station (we will help you with train tickets to your departure airport)
Need to Know
Reserving your Spot
Please reserve early as group size is extremely limited. You can reserve your spot on our website, or by calling Busath Studio at 801-364-6645 or Jamie Shaw at 801-450-9221. Payments may be made with Visa, MasterCard or American Express, or you may send a check. Checks should be written to Italy Workshops and mailed to 701 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84102. Upon payment of your deposit, we will send you an information packet including suggestions for camera equipment, computer and software, clothing and travel information specific to your workshop destination.
Payment Schedule
To reserve $500
120 days before the trip 50% of balance due
60 days before the trip 100% balance due
Rooms
We use hotels rated 3 or 4 stars, each with a 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 is added for participants who wish to have a private room to themselves. 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
90 days prior to workshop start date we retain 25%
45 days prior we retain 50%
15 days prior we retain 100%
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.
Skill Requirements
Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. Advanced photographers will be encouraged to focus on style development, lighting and composition, and will be challenged to work in “concentrations” to produce a collection of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project. Novice photographers will be instructed separately at times on camera mechanics and fundamentals of creating proper exposure, but will also join the conversations about style development. Beginners may participate as “observers”, attending all instruction and field trips, but they are not required to submit photos for critique.
Any camera is acceptable, including smartphones. Automation for the beginner can make the trip fun and stress-free and at times can increase creativity.
Classroom / Technical discussions will include:
• Fast and accurate methods for proper exposure in a wide variety of situations
• De-mystifying the features on your digital SLR camera
• Dynamic techniques for subject blur, camera motion and selective focus compositions
• Lighting for landscape, cityscape and portraiture
• Design issues: composition, balance, scale and dimension
• Content or the absence of it, and how to create images that have a powerful effect on viewers
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 use Adobe Lightroom CC for our on-screen review sessions. You will learn new Lightroom editing methods and workflow shortcuts during reviews and critique. Even if you’ve used Lightroom, we highly recommend brushing up on your skills before the workshop by watching the free tutorials available on Adobe.com.
If you are not adept at downloading and managing digital images, you might consider leaving the computer behind to just focus on learning about your camera and developing a discerning eye. You can still submit images daily for review, but you will sleep happily while the rest of the group is editing their images well into the night! (Note: Since observer participants are not required to submit photos for critique, a computer is not necessary.)
$3650 per person (based on double occupancy)
