Camera Etrusca Photography Holidays & Workshops in Italy

Patrick Nicholas operates master classes once or twice a year along the lines of some of his images in the Belle series, some of which are shown here. You can see them all on his site photonicholas.com

If you are interested in pursuing a master class in the photo school involving the landscape with nude models please contact Patrick Nicholas specifying ‘Master Class’.

Next masterclasses begin 25 August 2023, and 29 September 2023

Topics covered in this  photography master class:

photography techniques, lighting, both natural and artificial, on location using flash, reflectors, diffusers and simple means such as a hand held torch or flashlight; creating atmosphere using smoke; props and drapery; post production in Photoshop and fine-art printing. Here you will see the wide variety of locations found within one and a half hours by car from Orvieto. We are in Umbria, but our locations stretch across to the Tyrrhenian Sea of Tuscany and Latium (or Lazio, the region of Rome).

Patrick uses the bee-smoker with incense to create shafts of sunlight in a deconsecrated cave chapel at Poggio Conte, Ischia di Castro, Latium

Although this is a predominantly digital photography course,  if you have a medium format film camera this is the time to use it.

Sun rays. The incense lent the set an extraordinary atmosphere.

This workshop is really designed for photographers with some experience and who have the right equipment – that said we can lend a tripod if you want to save weight. we also can lend Canon lenses.

Master class: nude in the Landscape in the Sacred Glade, Poggio Conte

Check out Patrick Nicholas’ website – many images from the Le Belle  series (including the images in the slider) have been shot in the landscape around Orvieto.

A masterclass with a model lasts 6 nights:

Time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted, is an old military maxim, but works well for photography too. We will spend time together scouting locations and getting to know the area while at least a day will be dedicated to reviewing your work and  Photoshop/Lightroom manipulation. At the end of the week we shall finish up by doing a  fine-art print of your work. We have four shooting days with a model in the field. We use two models, but not necessarily at the same time. Shooting takes place entirely on location in the incomparable Italian landscape in secret places that few people aside from Patrick Nicholas know of. Patrick has been a professional photographer since he graduated in Photographic Arts in 1977 and has lived in Italy for over 35 years so he has a lot of knowledge to impart.

Nordic Walker. The model’s friend operates the smoke machine behind the knoll. The Puritan voyeur, bottom left, was added later. Every picture has a story, this is no exception. This place has an extraordinary acoustic and was used for sacred rites for thousands of years. Location: Poggio Conte, Latium

Alter Ego. A rather wan day in October, so the model was illuminated by flash with a yellow gel. Inspired by Tintoretto’s Susanna and the Elders (1562). Location: Lake Bolsena, Latium

Labyrinth. In an Etruscan sacred way, the woman gazes into the crystal ball. These mysterious ancient paths were excavated into the volcanic rock about 2,500 years ago and probably used for sacred processions. Location: Sorano, Tuscany

Flora Furiosa is inspired by one of the figures, Flora, in Botticelli’s Spring (1482). She is scattering the flowers of spring while the forest fire still rages. Not really of course, the flames were created in PhotoShop.Taken on film, Mamyia RB67. Location: Pescia Fiorentina, Tuscany

Danaïd. Inspired by Rodin’s sculpture Danaïd (1889). Location: Vulci, Latium-Tuscan border.

Chanson d’automne. Inspired by Verlaine’s poem (1866). Location: Torre Alfina. Latium

The Source. Inspired by the Claude Berri film Manon Des Sources (1986) Location: Souce of the Nova, Latium-Tuscany border.

Spectre de la rose.  The woman is draped in lace from my grandmother’s wedding dress from 1924. Inspired by one of Berlioz’s Chanson d’été, itself  based on the poem by Théophile Gautier. Location: Lake Bolsena, Latium

Pleiades. Location: Pescia Romana, Latium-Tuscan border

Ondine. Rapids in the river Fiora at Vulci, Latium

A limbless stone statue of a goddess above a carved stone throne. Location: Orsini Park, Pitigliano, Tuscany

Carpe Diem. From this petrified throne, Renaissance ladies watched their menfolk launch their falcons over the valley below. The rampant statue of the bear behind her, is the symbol of the Orsini family. Location: Orsini Park, Pitigliano, Tuscany