Beautiful Italia

David Hoptman, Sorano

When David Hoptman first advertised his Tuscan Light Workshops on TOP, he was living in Tuscany. Although he doesn't live there any more, he'll be leading a workshop back to his old haunts in Tuscany in May, which he considers the ideal time of year to visit the region.

I don't know David personally, but he's been a professional photographer for more than 30 years and has taught photography at the University Lorenzo De Medici in Florence. He's an experienced workshop instructor, but, moreover, he lived in Tuscany for years, and says "I know the area like the back of my iPhone." Down to which local restaurants are the best. That's what you want, a tourguide who really knows the ground. He's still got a few more places left for this year's workshop—here's the web page, from which you can download the brochure.

And if you think I'm jealous, yes, I would love to throw my responsibilities to the winds and take off for a week of shooting in Tuscany with such an expert tourguide. Yes, indeed. Something that will have to await my retirement, I guess. (Retirement? What's that?) Sigh.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Bradley Hsi: "We went to David's workshop in 2010, what an enjoyable experience. Good food, good wine and most of all good learning experience!"

Featured Comment by Ilkka Valkila: "The Tuscan Light ads here years ago are very much responsible for me falling in love with Tuscany. Of course I had seen lots of great photos from the area before, but only then I started dreaming of actually traveling there. Unfortunately I have not been able to participate in the workshop, but I have traveled there twice on my own so far and intend to go back when I have the chance. Maybe some day even the workshop fits my schedule."

Comments

[Kevin Sutton]

Very nice photo, but the sky looks to me as if it has been added in Photoshop. Either that, or it is really good HDR...

[Alban]

That actually looks like a painting to me .

[John Camp]

The sky makes me nervous.

[Patrick Dodds]

Sorry to go all Flickr on your blog Mike, but that is an awesome photo.

[Frank]

What gorgeous light, the actual print must be a delight to see.

[Tom]

Yeah, I'd like to have taken that one.

[Dave]

Beautiful.

Reminds me of the paintings of William Lumpkins.

http://online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/art-activities/indian-village.html

http://online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/art-activities/spanish-village.html

[the other James]

If it wasn't for the terrible masking, that would be a _very_ nice photo.

[toto]

Lotto drawing tonight for more than half a billion (yes, billion with a "b") US dollars... I'll be able to afford the Tuscan Light workshop, and Peter Turnley's prints :)

[Rory O'Toole]

Is that not a painting? Anyway, Mike, I think it's high time u built travel into your business plan. Waiting for retirement?? Are u nuts?! Time to spread your wings. Either that or 'retire' now. It doesn't matter where u live, as long as you write TOP forever! Free bed to you in Ireland btw!!

[Neil Gilchrist]

Great shot....if? Backlighting on the clouds, front lighting on the buildings. I still would like to do the workshop, it's in Itay.

[ctein]

Dear Folks,

David is not a slave to "straight" or even realistic photography. Or even necessarily photography. Take a look at the range of his work before judging his choice of medium too narrowly:

http://www.davidhoptman.com/shop/category/fine-art-photography/

http://www.davidhoptman.com/shop/category/printmaking/

http://www.davidhoptman.com/shop/category/sculptures-bronze/

pax / Ctein

[Ed]

Hey Neil,

Just a matter of a lot of students and some synchronized flash work.......see this as a joint effort. Now I would not want to use a construct like that as a commercial for a photoclass in Italy......but maybe he will draw a Flickr crowd. When I was in Tuscany as a biology major I was introduced to the work of Franco Fontana......now that's my kind of Tuscany. By the way according to Wiki he's the director of the Tuscany Photofestival......

Greetings, Ed

[Ben]

I love the clouds but the halo around the bell tower is just too distracting for me to enjoy the picture.

[Bill Proud]

Funny that most of the windows reflect a different color.

The only realistic aspect is the sky, which is a dead giveaway to the rest.

A photographer friend of mine suggested I check out your site.

And you can't get a room in Tuscany anyway.

[Ernest Theisen]

Thanks for the links Ctein. This guys work is wonderful. E

[Richard]

@ctein -

"Take a look at the range of his work before judging his choice of medium too narrowly:"

- which makes the choice of image a bit perplexing

NB whadya mean "choice of medium"?

[Andrew Kirk]

This is the most gorgeous photo yet reproduced on TOP. Many thanks.

[Scott Jones]

Eeeek, a Tuscan world with two suns. Quite surrealistic.

[John Camp]

Ctein said,

"David is not a slave to 'straight' or even realistic photography. Or even necessarily photography."

There's a can of worms begging to be opened.

[Andrew Wallace]

Seems we're all talking about that "photo".
As an image to to illustrate a photography workshop it seems inappropriate to me. The clouds look realistic while the buildings and trees have the look of a dodgy "make it look like a painting" filter.
As an artwork seen from a distance I think it is beautiful. Closer inspection reveals what I call "computer graphic" trees and masking around the tower. But I love the simplified look of the buildings.
@Bill Proud: "Funny that most of the windows reflect a different color." I'm guessing that it's coloured window shutters.
Done right I think this could be a stunning, beautiful piece of photo-based art.
It's just the devil in the details...

[Daire Quinlan]

Reading this on monday, I thought this was actually an april fools :-O It's quite a bizarre picture to choose to advertise a multi thousand dollar workshop. Though perhaps its for the best, nailing his colours to the mast so to speak, anyone who DOES apply to do the workshop will know what to expect.

[Shotslot]

What a gorgeous photo, I've just come back from Malta and Gozo, a couple of islands just South of Sicily that have been heavily influenced by the Italian culture, I shot some pics that I really like, but the colours and light above seem in a different league...doubt I'll ever have the cash (hammer purchase required) but I best go check out the site!

[Mike Plews]

When I saw the headline "Beautiful Italia" I thought you finally broke down and bought a 458.

[Alf]

May I suggest everyone go places, and shoot. Meet people, and shoot. Get to know what you like, where you like. Then, if you have any spare money, a workshop with someone you already admire might be useful.
Remember any workshop is more expensive than the trip of your dreams.

[robert harshman]

Ah, yes, Tuscany, EVERY Photographer dream :)

Last summer at a major art fair in Highland Park, about 300-400 booths there were probably 35 photographers, 10-15 were showing images from Tuscany or close to, they all looked the same to me.

I could not stand to even go into their booths.

Over exposure, not talking technical, is a Tuscany issue.

Enjoy the challenge of perhaps getting something different or new.

cheers,

Robert