The 2008 Umbira Workshops were a huge success!
We will be running similar courses in 2009. 		 
         
 
         
 
The village of Preci in the Valnerina with the mountains of Monti Sibillini National Park beyond, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
  Course 1 : May 2009 - DATES To Be Confirmed
Course 2 : May 2009 - DATES To Be Confirmed
   
 

Join us for a long weekend of photographic excursions and tuition in one of Italy’s most photogenic corners. Following the popularity of the 2008 Umbrian workshops we’ll be running 2 courses on successive weekends in May 2009 for photographic enthusiasts based at the incomparably situated holiday farm of Il Collaccio.

   
  The Course :
   
  Each course will comprise a 4-night stay at Il Collaccio’s with 3 full days of photographic tuition, 4X4 excursions into the hills, tutorials and demonstrations. The size of each course will consist of a maximum of 10 photographic guests guided by myself and my highly experienced associate Jon Gooding. My wife Wendy and “our man in Italy” Kevin Hendry will be on hand to make non-photographic partners welcome with a program of local excursions and activities in this beguiling and varied region.
The courses are aimed at anyone who wants to improve their photography. With a program of individual guidance, hands on demonstrations in the field whilst waiting for the light, picture shows and specialised tutorials on the regular photographic forays all levels will be catered for. The central theme of the instruction of how we use our eyes to develop a photographic vision is backed up with sound practical advice on how to be in the right place at the right time, and how to make the most of it photographically once there.
With our two four-wheel drive vehicles we will transport you to places un-reachable to all but the occasional Umbrian shepherd just when the light is best, at dawn and dusk. The days will be long and full, starting with a dawn photographic shoot and ending with a late dinner in Il Collacio’s renowned restaurant. Of course all activities are optional. If you fancy a lie-in, that’s fine.
   
 
 
 
 
         
  Here’s a typical daily itinerary:  
         
 
Saturday 5:30   dawn shoot environs of Il Collaccio
  7:00   in-the field tutorial  
  8:30   breakfast  
  9:30   Tutorial- location finding lecture room
  10:30   photographic walk environs of Il Collaccio
  12:30   lunch  
  13:30   siesta  
  15:00   depart on photo-shoot rendezvous by reception
  15:30   in-the field tutorial-composition Campi
  16:30   move on to second location  
  17:30   in-the field tutorial-perspective Piano Grande
  18:30   evening shoot Piano Grande
  20:00   return to Il Collaccio  
  20:30   dinner  
 
         
  The Region :  
         
  With it’s gentle pastoral countryside and high mountain wilderness Umbria is known as the “Green Heart of Italy”. To the east of this region, where Italy’s rugged spine rears up, the twisted valleys and rustic villages of the Valnerina give way to the high mountains of Monti Sibillini. In May this landscape is swathed in colour, the verdant green of the valleys splashed with crimson red poppies whilst high in the mountains the hillsides are ablaze with wild flowers.
Il Collaccio is perched on a hillside looking down the valley towards the impossibly perched village of Preci dwarfed by the mountains of the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini beyond. Umbria is also well known for the beauty and profusion of its medieval hill-towns. The local walled mountain town of Norcia is an architectural delight and a culinary capital for the regional specialities of truffles, wild boar, sausages and salami.
In the mountains above Norcia lies the huge upland plain of the Piano Grande, ringed by peaks and carpeted with flowers in spring. Hanging above it is the isolated hill top village of Castelluccio, begging to be photographed in its dramatic setting. We strongly recommend you consider staying longer to investigate this stunning region. Within easy reach of Il Collaccio are Umbria’s classic tourist attractions of Assisi and Spoleto.
But enough of me waffling on about the area; here’s some photographs.		  
         
 
The village of Castellucio perched high above the Piano Grande with the mountains of Monti Sibillini National Park beyond, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
 
         
 
The village of Castellucio perched high above the Piano Grande with the mountains of Monti Sibillini National Park beyond, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
 
         
 
Wild flowers growing at the Forca Canapine, Monti Sibillini National Park, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
 
Shop in Norcia selling local produce; cheese, ham, sausages, truffles etc, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
 
         
 
Evening light in the Piazza San Benedetto, Norcia, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
 
A photographer working beside a 4x4 vehicle (Land Rover) above the mist lying on the Piano Grande at dawn, Monti Sibillini National Park, Umbria, Italy. (MR)
 
         
  Your Accomodation :   Partners :  
         
  We’ll be staying at the family run converted farm of Il Collaccio.
http://www.ilcollaccio.com/index_eng.htm 		 

Non-photographic partners are welcome.
We are offering the following excursions/activities

  • wild flower walks
  • traditional Umbrian lunch and vineyard visit around Montefalco
  • shopping/sight-seeing trip to the pretty medieval town of Spoleto
  • guided walk with an experienced local guide in the Sibillini
  • Mountains National Park
  • morning visit to the delightful provincial town of Norcia

In addition partners are welcome on the photographic forays where transport logistics allow.

For more information on these excursions/activities please click here.

  
         
 
 
 
         
  The Cost :  
         
 

Photographic Guest                              £ to be finalised
Non-Photographic Partner                    £ to be finalised

 
         
 

What this includes:

  • all the photographic tuition, excursions and activities
  • 4 nights accommodation in a hotel room at Il Collaccio
  • breakfast and evening meals with a half bottle of wine per person
  • buffet lunches on the Saturday and Monday
  • all transport whilst on the course
  

What this doesn’t include:

  • international travel to and from Il Collacio
  • airport transfers
  • Sunday lunch in Norcia
  • insurance
  • cost of excursions/activities for non-photographic partners
 
         
 
Photographer's workshop, Umbria, Italy
 
         
 

Details :

  
         
 
  • Additional Nights Accommodation: We strongly recommend you consider coming earlier and/or staying after the course has finished to make the most of this beautiful area. Previous guests all wished they’d stayed longer. Bookings for additional nights can be arranged directly with Il Collacio; http://www.ilcollaccio.com/index_eng.htm
  • Single Room Supplement: A supplement of £10 per night will apply for single occupancy of rooms.
  • Airport Transfers can be arranged for a reasonable price from Rome, Perugia or Ancona airports directly through Il Collaccio.
  • Equipment: Bring whatever gear you use. We only stipulate that you should be familiar with your own equipment. Whether it’s film or digital is up to you, our tuition will be relevant to both mediums and all formats. The only requirement is that you bring a tripod.
  • Language: All tuition will be in English.
  • Fitness: Although we will be using our 4x4 vehicles to access remote locations a modicum of fitness is required. Typically we may need to walk for 15 minutes over hilly terrain with our equipment to reach some locations. Additionally a photographic walk of about 3 km over undulating terrain in the region of Il Collaccio is part of the itinerary for the first day.
  • Non-Photographic Partners Excursions/Activities: These will be arranged depending on demand with Il Collacio on arrival. Payment will be collected in Euros by Il Collaccio. For more information click here…
  • Arrival Time: We kick off by all meeting each other at the bar at Il Collaccio on the Friday evening at 1800, followed by an introductory talk with pictures and drinks, then dinner. Therefore please arrange your travel to arrive at Il Collaccio by 1700 on the Friday at the latest. As there will be an early start on the Saturday guests with long journeys may care to consider coming a day or so early to acclimatise and relax in a tranquil setting.
  • Departure Time: We finish the course with dinner at Il Collacio on the Monday evening. As the days are long this time of year this will be quite late so accommodation for the Monday evening is included in the price. Checkout will be by 11am on the Tuesday unless additional nights have been arranged with Il Collaccio.
  • Payment: We take all major credit cards. A deposit of £200 (£150 for a non-photographic partner) will be required to secure your booking, with the balance due 2 months prior to the commencement of the course.
  
         
  Bookings :  
         
  Please note that we will be running a similar course in 2009.  
  To enquire about availability, please click here  
         
 
         
 
The village of Preci in the Valnerina appearing through the morning mist wih the mountains of Monti Sibillini National Park beyond, Umbria, Italy. (NR)
 
         
 
     
     
 
 
     
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