Camera Etrusca – photographic workshop in Umbria and Tuscany

I was very fortunate to spend a week with professional photographer, Patrick Nicholas, who runs Camera Etrusca in Orvieto, Italy. Patrick has been a professional photographer for most of his working life and has been based in Italy for the last 25 years or so. Patrick brings an encyclopedic knowledge of Etruscan history, insights and stories that bring the landscape alive, ad help you to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

What seems like an overgrown path, leads to an Etruscan sacred way, its deep crevices honed through the passage of carts over thousands of years; what seems like a pile of stones casually littered on a small mound, gives way to major foundations in the once capital of Etruria, Tarquinia. Every hilltop town has a story; there are thermal baths or dovecote tombs; grottoes, ancient churches or underground cities  - and all are there to be explored.

As a photographer what this helps you to do is to stop and listen. Patrick’s wonderfully laconic and easy going style are the perfect complement to the landscape. He encourages you to look. No , really look. To stop, to listen not just with your ears but to listen with your eyes…and if you think this is hyperbole think about how lovers pick up every change, every innuendo without a word being said. You begin to see the change in light; to feel the history. It is absorbing and you can’t help but let it impact the pictures you take.

On a practical level Patrick is a mine of information on technique, tips, composition- all honed over his extensive career.
What makes his photography and his course so interesting is the unexpected. For me this was a visit to Vulci – a volcanic Etruscan national park full of waterfalls, thermal springs and deep glades. What made it unusual was Patrick’s passion for Nudes in the landscape. With us was the delightful Alina – a young model keen to expand her portfolio. With scenes reminiscent of Opheila, she patiently immersed herself in the volcanic streams and lakes whilst Patrick guided me on composition and technique. You can see the results in the portfolio.

Patrick has taken the art to a new level. Over the last ten years he has been creating what he calls his Belle pictures – amazingly detailed recreations oF famous art works – all featuring nudes or semi-nude figures – updated with a twist and humour to modern masterpieces. You can see more of his work on the “Belle – Italian Muses” at his website, www.photonicholas.com. You can also order his beautiful book or a fine art print through his site too.

If you are in love with Photography, Tuscany, Umbria and Italian food and wine – or any combination of those – then a 4 or 6 day workshop with Patrick is a perfect blend of holiday meets hobby. His courses and workshops ares suitable for all ages and all levels. You can find out more through his website, or contact him directly  via info@photonicholas.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm. It is filed under Workshops and tagged with Camera Etrusca, orvieto, Photographic Workshops, Tuscany, Umbria. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.