Langhe and Barolo hills Photography Workshop

Farmlands, Barolo's Vineyards and Castles in Piedmont

Here in the rural plains and the hills of Piedmont you might miss the majestic views and the wilderness of the Alps, but you gain an entirely different world of small, romantic, enchanted scenarios.
A simple line of trees running along a ditch in the vast expanse of the Po Valley, the repeating patterns and textures of the vineyards of Barolo, La Morra and Serralunga, a lonely farmhouse or a medieval castle atop a slope in the Langhe hills.
I believe that framing a beautiful composition out of a relatively busy scene or in a place that might not look very attractive at a first glance, can often be a much more difficult task - and thus more rewarding - than photographing the grand vistas landscape photographers always dream of. The country side is simply the ideal playground for photographers who want to spark their creativity and bring their vision to another level.

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Main Shooting Locations

La Morra

Placed on a dominant position atop one of the highest hills in the heart of the Langhe hills region, from this small town is possible to enjoy and photograph a 360 degrees view on the vineyards of Barolo, Novello, Monforte d'Alba and La Morra itself.

The rural scenes of the Po Valley

A vast expanse of farm lands, fields and fields of crops of every kind, sparse trees, dirt roads and scattered farm houses. The country is the place where nature and the hand of man melt together, producing sometimes harmonious landscapes and quiet rural scenes.

Castle of Racconigi

The Royal Castle of Racconigi is a palace and landscape park in Racconigi, province of Cuneo, Italy. It was the official residence of the Carignano line of the House of Savoy, and is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy included by UNESCO in the World Heritage Sites list. The park of the castle features amazing trees, some of them older than 400 years.

Sacra di San Michele

The Sacra di San Michele, sometimes known as Saint Michael's Abbey, a 10th-12th century religious complex situated on the south side of the Susa Valley overlooking the small town of Avigliana and Chiusa di San Michele.

Castle of Pralormo

Not far from Montalcino, surrounded by the vineyards of Brunello, the worldwide renown red wine, lies the incredibly old Abbey of Sant'Antimo, founded in the VIII century by Charlemagne. T

Castle of Serralunga

On the crest of the hill overlooking the town and the surrounding vineyards stands Serralunga Castle. One is immediately struck by the steepness and height of its Gothic architecture. The fortification contains two asymmetrical towers, one cylindrical and one square, and a turret roof. From the time of its construction (XIV century) up to the present day, very few alterations have been made. Fortunately, the castle suffered no serious damage from battles.

The Po River banks

The bank of the Po, the longest and largest Italian river, nearby Carignano, a small town about 20 kms south of Turin. This location is just 15-20 minutes far from where I live and I can say I almost know each single tree, stone and blade of grass of it. I love this place, as it's very peaceful and rich with mood at every hour of the day and night, and it's for me like a gold mine for photographic opportunities.

Example of a typical

day in the field

Sunrise and early morning

Wake up about 30-40 minutes before dawn. We will shoot the sun rising from the early morning mist in the country side nearby the B&B. We will scout the area for about 1-2 hours looking for some beautiful rural scenery.

rest of the morning

Later on we will take the car and with a 20 minutes trip we will get to the banks of the Po river nearby the town of Carignano. We will spend the rest of the morning at this location shooting the river banks with its beautiful lines of poplar trees and the Alps range in the foreground, and we will also focus on water reflections and small scenes such as leaves in the water, emerging logs and poles, etc.

Afternoon

Right after lunch, with a transfer by car of about one and a half hour we will get to the Langhe hills. We will spend the whole afternoon shooting these amazing landscapes in the vineyards of Barolo and La Morra.

Sunset

About one hour before sunset we will get to the small village of Serralunga, lying atop a hill and dominated by the imposing Castle of Serralunga, a wonderful fortress built in the fourteenth century. We will shoot the sun setting behind the Langhe with the Castle as the main subjects and the vineyards of Barolo in the foreground.

Looking for more images?

Check my photo portfolio online for hundreds of images from this and other areas of Italy - Click the image below.

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Why should I take an Italy Photography Workshop with Paolo De Faveri?

Simple: because you will learn how to take better photographs. Consider a Paolo De Faveri's Photography Workshop as an invaluable add-on to your gear: a tool that will teach you how to take wonderful photos wherever you go. We make the art and technique of photography simple to understand by breaking it down into easy pieces of information that you will find useful to apply every time you will be in the field.
What will I learn?

Well, a whole lot, you can be sure. Paolo De Faveri's workshops are designed to help take your creativity to a new level. Through a combination of both in-the-field image sessions and class/lecture sessions on many different topics both technical and artistic, I want to get you to start thinking differently as an artist and spark your artistic vision. key features always include: - master the basics of landscape photography - learn how to compose effectively no matter of the subject, from macro to grand vistas - learn how to photograph with challenging lighting, such as at sunrise and sunset - learn about when and how to use filters - explore advanced photography techniques such as long exposures in broad daylight and image stitching for panoramic compositions Check the lessons section in this website for an exhaustive list of topics usually covered in my in-the-field and classroom sessions.
What happens on an Italy Photography Workshop with Paolo De Faveri?

All of my workshops start with a brief Introduction, a presentation of the daily schedule and the technical and artistic goals of each day, followed by questions and answer session for getting to know each other, assessing the level of knowledge of the group, each person's goals and expectations. On average we will spend from 8 to 10 hours a day in the field, every day in a different location, having big fun in chasing the best possible light and scouting the area looking for images that capture the innermost beauty of the amazing world around us. My tours are a mix of adventure and teaching, and they are not intended as only formal teaching and instructions They are more about wandering in some of the best natural or urban environments I know and getting fully immersed in photography. A "learn by doing" kind of education, as I answer questions and solve problems as they arises, completed by a debriefing in the evening when we will thoroughly review and critique together the work done in the day, and we will analyze in details basic and advanced techniques of image processing.
What will I learn in the classroom/webinars?

Check the lessons section in this website for an exhaustive list of topics usually covered in my classroom sessions and webinars.
Does the instructor shoot over the workshop?

Yes, I will be shooting during the tour/workshop, but in a limited capacity as participants needs come first of course. I often take pictures right along with the students inspiring them to learn to see an image the way I do. Much of my shooting over the workshop is meant as direct field demonstrations aimed to improve student's creative vision and technique.
How advanced do I need to be?

Anyone, no matter of how advanced he/she is, will find my workshops to be a great learning experience. The majority of my students are usually somewhere between intermediate to advanced amateur up to semi-pro and pro, but many beginners attend too. You should in anycase be at least familiar with your equipment and its operation. Always bring your camera manual for quick reference in the field.
What kind and how much equipment should I bring?

The essential photo gear you should have with you is listed here below. This gear is highly recommended for taking full advantage of the instructions you will receive in my workshops. - tripod - dslr camera - a good quality zoom lens covering a focal range length of at least 28 to 100 mm - enough storage cards for at least 16 GB - extra camera batteries - camera bag or backpack - camera user's manual
Will weather ever force us to change the workshop's schedule?

Bad weather always provide unusual and harsh conditions that contribute unique drama and mood to our images. So the answer is no, normally. We only stop shooting and/or move elsewhere if an element of danger arises.
Is transportation included?

Usually yes, it's included, unless when stated differently in the workshop description. For group tours we will use vans/small buses for our daily transfers from the hotel to the shooting locations and back. For private/small groups workshops I will drive my own car. Of course, you have to arrive on your own to the hotel/lodging.
How should I dress?

I recommend to come prepared for anything and bring an extra layer of warm clothes with you. Here is a list of clothes/accessories you should always dress/have with you when shooting outdoor: - trekking shoes if you shoot in a natural environment; a pair of very comfortable - and possibly water-proof shoes - if you shoot in a urban context - wind/rain proof jacket - pile pullovers - gloves - headdress - head lamp and batteries
How do I register for a workshop?

Simply use the pre-registration form available in the pages describing each workshop and compile every field of it, letting me know about the workshop of your choice, the number of participants, the desired dates and duration, etc. I will be back to you right away for confirming the availability and with the instruction for booking. To validate your reservation, you will be asked to pay the 35% of the workshop price as a deposit.
What is your cancellation policy?

All my workshops are subject to the following Cancellation Policy: - If you cancel within 30 days before the workshop start, you will be refunded the deposit minus 100,00 € as administrative fee. - No refund will be issued for cancellations received with 30 days or less remaining before the workshop starting date. Please note that there is no exception to this policy. For this reason it is strongly recommended to purchase refundable plane/train tickets only and endow yourself with a trip cancellation insurance. All cancellation request must be in writing.
Details and Requirements - Key Features

Number of students per workshop: minimum 1, maximum 3 students Duration: minimum 3, maximum 7 days 5 or, even better, 6 days is the recommended length, as it is indeed the ideal timeframe for putting together a very effective itinerary, there are long distances to cover as the Ardeche is quite a big region Workshops Availability From March thru November Difficulty Easy. Most of the shooting locations are directly accessible by car. A few of them require short hikings of no more than 1.5 kms one way, on easy trails with moderate elevation gain. The trail along the Ardeche River Gorges is not difficult but long and demanding in terms of stamina required. It can be added as an option, just ask What's included - full time in-the-field tutoring and instructions - at least one image processing class (min. 2 hours) per workshop - all transportation during the workshop will be provided with a rented car/van. included in the price What's not included - Travel costs for reaching the accommodation, hotels/B&B rates, meals and beverages are not included in the cost of admission unless specified. - Excursion boats - Entrance tickets to archelogical sites. museums, etc. - Lodging costs of the instructor Insurance All participants must be in possession of a valid Health and Accident Insurance with repatriation cover.

About your Photography Instructor

Ciao! My name is Paolo.

I have been a full-time professional landscape, nature, travel and architecture photographer since 2007. Since then, I have planned and led hundreds of private one-to-one and small groups photo workshops and tours in some of the best looking regions and cities of Italy and France.

My pictures have appeared in calendars, books, travel magazines, brochures and as wall art in offices, hotels, restaurants and corporate venues. For more info please click here