Prague

Tuscany

I just returned from a photo workshop with Paul James in Tuscany, Italy.  We were in the Chiante area of Tuscany, which you wine aficionados will recognize as a famous Tuscan wine.  We stayed at a farm house of the Castello di Verrazzano winery.  Don't worry, although I did lift a glass for a group picture, I didn't partake.  I know you believe me.

Each time I have been on a workshop with Paul, we have made multiple stops at the same location.  When you travel across the ocean to get to your location, this can seem like a waste of time.  But it is not.  As photographers, we can control composition and the best use of photographic technology,  but controlling the skies is a wee bit harder.  Sometimes you have to wait for God's handiwork.  After three trips to this location, we we blessed with this wonderful scene.

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I have been told by more than one instructor that one of my problems is that I need to slow down a bit.  They are right.  Being methodical insures that you get things right the first time.  Rather than just popping shots of left and right, a bit of forethought and planning can deliver a better result.  This next image, however, isn't one of those.  Images can be fleeting.  As the sun moves across the image, sometimes you have only a second or two to capture the image.  The light on the vineyard in this next shot caught my eye.  By the time I was set up, I got one image and the vineyard was in the shadows.

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Photographers love to shoot during the golden hours.  These are the hours just around sunrise and sunset.  It would seem this would make for a short day.  Wake up early, shoot for an hour, back to bed till noon, lounge around till sunset, shoot for another hour, eat, drink, and be merry, and wake up and do it all again.  Of course that's not what happens (except for the eat, drink, and be merry).  Between the golden hours, it's scouting time (or for the less-dedicated, shopping time).  Each day, Paul and I spent a good amount of time scouting new locations.  We found these next two shots on one of our scouting trips.  I wish I could remember where in was!  I'm sure Paul will remember.

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This is an example of one of the locations we scouted.  One of my tasks was a challenge to keep Paul's eyes on the road as we drove around scouting locations.  In Italy, the roads are narrow, and the drivers are fast.  This blog entry provides evidence of my success in this assignment.  As we found each location, we would mark it on the GPS for future visits.  Our GPS guided us to this location on more than one occasion.  It is a winery is just outside the hill village of Radda.  

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This location is one we referred to as the vineyard's.  I know, you don't see any vineyards in this shot.  This is an example of something I have written about before on this blog.  Sometimes you need to turn around.  We had been trying to shoot a beautiful vineyard to the west of this image.  The western skies just were not cooperating.  As Paul and I were trying to figure out the west facing image, Sheryl, one of the other photographers, said "a . . . guys . . ., you might want to turn around!".

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While at the Castello di Verrazzano, we were given the privileged of photographing the the cellars of the winery.  It was a fabulous opportunity that provided many interesting shots.  This shot is actually not in the cellars, but rather an attic where they dry these grapes for a "dessert" wine.  Again, I didn't partake, but heard it was nice.

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Every time I leave to shoot in Europe, I wonder why I am traveling across the ocean to shoot when we have such great scenic shots right here in Utah.  I know as I am in the air over the Atlantic I am passing a dozen Germans coming to Utah to shoot at Zions or Bryce.  This shot, in a way, represents that same issue.  We put many miles on the van scouting for locations, and many hours traveling to those locations early in the morning to capture the best light.  This shot represents perhaps the best skies of the trip.  It was just outside the door of the farm house, literally less than 100 steps from my bedroom.  Sometimes we go to a lot of trouble searching of beauty when it lies right in front of us.

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I finally made it to Tuscany and I loved it.  This has been a dream of mine for a while.  Thanks Kimi for letting me go.  I wish you could have gone with me.  That would have been the only thing that would have made it better.

Last year I shot in Provonce an the Luberon of France.  They refer to it as the Tuscany of France.  I'm glad I was able to go to the Tuscany of Tuscany.  I hope to go back.  I imagine I will.  Paul does this workshop every October.  Want to come along?

The Archer

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I did something I never do.  I took pictures of people.  One person in particular.  The Archer.  My Father-In-Law.  And he is quite an archer.  He has been practicing archery for many years.  In Japanese they say "seisha seichū" meaning correct shooting is correct hitting.  In Japan, the Archer practices every aspect of shooting from how to approach the shooting position to the release of the arrow. 

The range is about 75 feet to a target about 12 inches in diameter.  The bullseye would only be about three inches in diameter.  And our archer has hit his fair share of them.  Somewhere on the image below is his name for winning one of the competitions.

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This shoot was part of a project we are working on as a family.  We hope to produce a photo book documenting O-Gichan's (grandpa's) love of Archery.  In addition to photographs, the book will also include a narrative from O-Gichan telling what archery means to him.  Hopefully it will be something his grandchildren will appreciate.

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If you notice in this shot, he has another arrow at the ready in his left hand.

 

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The bow is over two meters high, well over the height of the archer.  It is usually strung to between 20 to 40 kilograms (50 - 90 lbs).  I've pulled one before and I can tell you that it isn't easy.  I need a rest after a few pulls.

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I have watched O-Gichan teach archery to many of his grandkids, as well as some of my friends.  Will any of them continue the tradition?

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We shot these pictures in the middle of January.  It was cold.  Grandma was a trooper.  She stayed warm while we shot the photos.

Cinque Terre I

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As many of you know, Kimi and I took off for Italy in October.  I attended a photo workshop in Cinque Terre with photographer Paul James.  You can see his work at www.european-images.com.  Check them out, I think you will enjoy them.  I was originally going by myself, but Kimi was able to get off work long enough to come along.  I am so glad she did.  It was a great trip.

Cinque Terra is a collection of 5 villages on the coast of Italy north of Piza.  And when I say the "on the coast" I mean that quite literally.  These villages are build right on the side of the cliffs.  Italy has made this area a national park, so trains and hiking are the way you get around.  We did both.  Above you see the town of Vernazza.  This is where we stayed each night, many nights hiking back in the dark with out cap lights leading the way.

Here is another shot of Vernazza, as seen from the south.  We shot from this location on multiple days.  In fact, I am working on three images of this shot and still can't decide which one I like best.  More on that in a later post.

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One think you find in Cinque Terre is color.  The pallet is so beautiful, you'd think it was coordinated.  Maybe the art council gets together and assigns colors or hands out paint.  I don't know, but it looks wonderful.  Don't know if it is true, but I have heard that the renowned architect Michael Graves picks his pallets from Cinque Terre.

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This shot almost put me on my butt!  And, I would have ended up right in the drink with all my gear.  See the black stuff at the bottom of the shot?  Very, very slippery.  After I about lost it, I heard a whistle from behind.  I turned to see a fisherman taking out his small boat.  He smiled and pointed at his eyes as if to say "watch out, I don't want to be fishin' you out".  I waved back as if to say "sorry, I'm just a stupid tourist."  Love the shot though.  Taken in Riomagiorre.

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Here is a shot from the hills north of Manarola .  I have been trying to decide which village I like best out of Manarola and Vernazza.  I think this shot sealed the deal  I just love the assending houses and the warm colors.  Also, as you will see in the next post, this angle allows you to look at Manarola rather than down on it.

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There are so many neat places to go in the world.  This is definitely one of them.  I hope I get the chance to go back and see it again.  Maybe I'll even take the kids.

More to come in Cinque Terre II

Cassis

After our trip to the Luberon Valley, Mari and I decided to make our way to Cassis. Cassis is a small port village that is popular amongst the locals of Marseille. Too many Parisians and Californians in Canne or St. Tropez. This next picture isn't great, but its a great tourist shot, and it was from our hotel balcony.

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Mari and I had a great time exploring Cassis. I hope to go back to photograph it again. To be honest, I wasn't entirely happy with my shots when I got back, but enjoyed my stay anyway. We met a photographer at his gallery who had some wonderful shots of the area. They were

there for the taking, I just didn't get them. Maybe next time.

Inspite (or because) of it's simplicity, I did like this shot. The morning fog desaturated all color and gave this wonderful silhouette-like appearance to the landscape.

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I will admit that I did get one. I really like this next shot. It was a "oh, cool, look at that" shot that I caught out of the corner of my eye. I snapped a few and was really happy with the water texture with the color of the buildings absorbed into the ripples.

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I hope to go back. If for nothing else just to sit by the marina. Those who know me know I love sail boats. I don't have to sail them. Just watching them, sitting by them, brings me enjoyment. Maybe I can hook up with the photographer we met for a shoot or two.  His name is Gregory Scicluna and he has a beautiful gallery right in the middle of Cassis.  His work is spectacular, and I'm sure he can show me a location or two.  (sorry, no website to link).

Roussillon

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Mari called me one Wednesday and said "Dad, you know my flight benefits with Delta end in January and I have fall break next week. Don't you think I should go to France?" She went on to justify her pending vacation "As a photography major, I think it's very important to go to France and take some pictures. What do you think? Do you want to come?"

Well, the last sentence got me. Followers of this blog would know that Kimi and I visited the South of France in March. I have to say I fell in love. What a beautiful place. Van Gogh, Picaso, Monet, even Nostradamus called this area home. I'll call it home anytime I have the chance. By Friday we were on our way.

Mari and I both agreed that although Gordes is very cool, the town of Roussillon is our favorite. Small and inviting, two very nice restaurants, and internet at the hotel until 9pm (go figure?). Roussillon is built on a mountain of ochre. In a way it looks a bit like Bryce Canyon. A very small Bryce Canyon. Above is Roussillon in the morning light.

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A quick drive to the other side of Roussillon for the above shot. Reminded me of a Hobbit village out of Tolkin's "The Hobbit" or "Lord of the Rings". Kind of want to take of my shoes and run down though the morning dew on the tall green grass.

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I kinda stole this shot from Mari. I have to be honest. I did take the shot, that much is true, but only after putting my tripod right next to her's. I did ask though. She said "go right ahead", so I stole her shot. Good job Mari.

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I didn't steal this one from Mari, although she may have stole it from me. Pretty cool though. Roussillon at night was very cool.

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Here is the main square. Two great little bistros side by side. I think we ate there three times. Don't remember which one was twice. Great food, reasonable prices (for France), and good service. We'll be back I'm sure.

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Yes this is Gordes in a post about Roussillon. Only about 10 minutes away. I think this is the third or forth evening I have shot from this spot under cloudy skies. Can't seem to get away from the overcast. Maybe it's me. They kept telling us that the weather had been great the day before we got there. And, they said, it would be great in a couple of days, after we were to leave. Next time?

Grand Staircase II

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We spent most of the second day of our adventure in South Coyote Buttes. You may have heard of the Wave. That's in North Coyote Buttes. But according to Shane, who has been to both places, South Coyote Buttes is even more interesting than the North. Both areas require a permit. Because of the notoriety of the Wave, there were 70 - 80 people in the lottery for 10 spots to the North. The South requires a permit as well, but we just asked, no lottery necessary. I think they only issued 8 permits the day we went.

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This is the "Turtle". One of Shane's discoveries. Looks like a turtle to me.

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As you can see from many of these pictures, this area is VERY fragile. One wrong step and you ruin beautiful rock formations, hence the permit system. They give out 10 total permits per day at the Paria Contact Station. Since they don't give out all the permits, my bet is that less than 2,000 people visit this site per year.

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One of the things we learned with Shane was to wait for the light. I found that I had probably been leaving too early. On more than one occasion, Shane would say "wait for it" and then the sky would explode. He also taught us some tricks for guessing when it might explode and when it was done for the night. I have been watching the sky frequently and found his instruction very helpful.

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I really love this formation. I want to go back and shoot it again. This is one of those examples that would just fall apart if barely touched it. Hold your breath.