Archive for May, 2012

Joel here. We just finished the workshop/tour and I’m posting a sample of the photo participants’ work. We had a really great group this year. And wonderful photos from them too. Here they are:

While standing in a field with the wind and rain chilling me to the bone, one of the photo participants reiterated a suggestion of Joel’s from class- to turn around, sometimes the best photo opportunity is behind you.

I have found this to be true more often than not.

I was totally uninspired by the wet field of poppies in front of me… so I turned around and found this beautiful dog sitting quietly, in the rain, watching me.

The trick is to be aware and present in the moment so that you don’t miss what is in front of you, or more often, what is behind you.

Ciao

Michelle ( The Other Photographer’s Wife)

Italians understand the meaning of life… espresso and ricciarella (a melt in your mouth almond cookie) in the afternoon.

Ignasio told me that he still gets lost in the beautiful scenery driving to and from work. Ignasio makes the best gelato in town. He takes a great deal of pride in his work, is very imaginative in his flavor combinations and uses only the best, freshest ingredients. This is my impression of Italians as a whole.

Live every moment… take pride in everything that you do… get lost in the scenery…eat simply and use the freshest ingredients.

Every moment should be a celebration, la dolce vita!  This is the lesson for life, from Italia.

Ciao,

Michelle  (The Other Photographer’s Wife)

In my last post I mentioned a few of the exquisite gastronomic pleasures of Tuscany. Italy is also known for its incredible wine culture. The hills, valleys and even roof tops are perfect for growing grapes and it is hard to miss with the vino della regione (wine of the region).

Today we went beneath the streets of the village to explore an ancient Etruscan wine grotto. Coincidentally, I found the perfect gelato flavor for a day of wine exploration – Brunello di Montepulciano. This gelato is so exquisite that the gelateria insisted that it be served in a cup, assolo (solo).

Back up top on the streets of this classic hill town, scouting of narrow streets, amazing architecture and endless vistas continued.

Time for a break with pizza and birra artigianale (micro brew) from the region, a breathtaking view of the valley and then off on one of many winding roads to yet another exotic hill town.

On the way back to our villa we made several photo stops in the Val d’Orcia. Here I was inspired by a glowing field of wheat grass. At every turn, at every scale, Tuscany delights and inspires.

Ciao,

Michelle (The Other Photographer’s Wife)

Buon giorno, I am Michelle, The Other Photographer’s Wife. As Barb mentioned in her last post, I am temporarily filling in.

We arrived on Sunday and are still feeling the effects of the jet lag. Thank goodness Italy is such a sensory overload, we don’t have time to think about how tired we are.

I have always considered myself to be a foodie, but the food in Italy is amazing.  Fresh hand made pasta, wine from vineyards in our backyard, pizza, espresso and of course gelato. I am attempting to try a different flavor of gelato daily, not a difficult task with all the varieties available.

The last two days have been spent driving all over Tuscany searching for the ideal photo locations in preparation for next week’s workshop.  It is a tough job… but someone has to do it. Driving in Italy definitely keeps you on your toes.

Time to rest up for Montalcino tomorrow.

Buona Notte!

The blog has been silent for a while and we apologize for that… There has been news, but not much time to talk about it!  The biggest news is that I am 7 months pregnant and won’t be able to join Joel in Tuscany this year.  He has two amazing people helping him in my place: Michelle and Brad Daniels, both of whom are experienced artists and share our passion for travel, culture and learning. Michelle will be posting photos and stories to the blog while in Tuscany- she is also a photographer’s wife, so fits the bill in many ways.

We are continuing to plan workshops for the future, most notably, Sicily for Fall 2013!  So stay tuned for some great new Tuscan stories and more…

Ciao for now!