There are few nicer places than Tuscany, Italy to hone your photographic vision and skills. The rolling hills, the endless vineyards, the numerous towns and villages with authentic sixteenth- and seventeenth-century buildings provide a palette of unlimited possibilities.

Our goal is to integrate photography with cultural and visual experiences in some of Italy spectacular World Heritage sites and charming local villages. Daily we will make excursions in our private van to places like Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza, often stopping along the way to photograph the glorious landscape.

Ample time will be provided for downloading session (bring a laptop or tablet), where friendly critiques will be provided and post-production skills will be applied to bring your final image to perfection (Lester is a wiz at Lightroom and Photoshop, though other programs are more than welcome).

Photographers at all levels are welcome; your camera of choice can be a modern mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera, a smartphone or even a film camera (though local processing is not available. (Film? What’s that?). What is important is how you see, how you compose, how you use the light, how you sense the right moment.

In the little town of San Giovanni d’Asso, we’ll stay in a recently-renovated 16th-century villa that has elegant interiors and furnishings and combines medieval charm with modern amenities. To one side is a castle built in the 1500s, the other side has a lovely dining terrace that overlooks the town and countryside. There is even a private swimming pool: bring your bathing suit!

        Enjoy the sights, culture and photographic activities in this great land under: springtime in New Zealand.  Our venue is the Hawke’s Bay area on the North Island, a combination of the Pacific Ocean coastline, extensive wineries, the Art Deco town of Napier and beautiful mountain landscapes.

More details will be posted in late September, 2025. If you’re interested, send Lester a note via the CONTACT page.