Note: Now that I am shooting on the Fujifilm GFX50s I have decided to try a new high resolution format for Prophotonut blog posts. Please let me know in the comments below if you like this format and what could be improved.
1. Mischkah Scott in the countryside near Volterra captured on the GF 110mm lens at f/2. I used a tripod for almost all of the shots in this post including these. A tripod allows me to set the composition precisely then I can concentrate on directing the action and generating rapport.
Camera: Fujifilm GFX50s
Lenses: 32-64mm f/4 zoom and 110mm f/2 prime
Lighting: Natural light plus Godox AD200 and AD600 units
Film simulations: Pro Negative S and Acros G
2. Mischkah Scott is in the stable block of an abandoned villa tucked well out of sight in a secluded valley near Volterra. Both of these shots were taken with natural, available light with Mischkah standing in the same place. A big part of this workshop is about lighting control.
This first workshop location is a 400m walk from a bumpy gravel track the locals call a road. These hard to find locations are often full of wonderful textures and muted tones. It takes a lot of planning, searching and a bit of local knowledge to find the best shoot spots in Tuscany and it’s a skill I’ve honed over recent years. I’ve fallen in love with Tuscany and I am going to add a 7 day Tuscany adventure next year to this already popular 3 day workshop. The adventure will continue further South for a couple shoot on the Streets of Siena and then three days of landscape shooting.
3. Four hundred and twenty years ago Caravaggio painted in warm tones with very narrow colour gamuts. Not a lot has changed. I love to isolate colours and to keep the backgrounds dark. The shot on the left: ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/15th second using the 32-64mm zoom lens. The shot on the right was lit with a Godox AD200 fitted with a small gridded soft box to simulate the light from the window. There was already window light in that room but I wanted to boost it by two stops.
I like to be led by what’s already there or to create the light from imaginary windows where none exist but could logically be present.
4. A minimalist composition and a splash of flash outside the building aimed back through the window to light Mischkah worked wonders for this shot on the left. The sun gave the shot some magic reality too. The shot on the right is a lovely dappled scene in the morning light coming through nearby olive trees.
We all were shooting with a freedom and a creative spirit. It was lovely to see the photographers on this workshop taking the initiative at times and producing their own rendition of these scenes using natural light and occasionally repositioning the flash to add more drama.
5. Mischkah’s red dress caused a stir on the streets of Volterra. We had quite a gathering of locals watching us as we created some fun moments. The shot top right was lit with a Godox AD200 tucked away behind a pillar.
Italy is relaxed, laid back and very accommodating. We are able to rig lighting stands, tripods and other paraphernalia without being asked to move on and I find it so refreshing.
6. The stone is ancient, the warmth embracing and the light exciting. The hilltop towns of Tuscany are magical places often with a Gelateria too. What’s not to like. These two shots are lit with the ambient light. ISO 1250, f/4 at 1/15th second using the 32-64mm lens.
7. Glancing afternoon light picks out the grasses dancing in the breeze.
8. The view from our Villa in the evening is wonderful. There were taken from the terrace where we have our pre dinner drinks.
I love the colours, the heat, the smell of the thyme, sage and oregano as I crash through the undergrowth. Late summer in Tuscany is a magical time. Mists hang in the valleys in the morning and the golden light at dusk caresses the hills.
9. “Lost in my thoughts”. 110mm lens at f/2
10. Calmness and serenity with a muted colour palette in late afternoon hazy light.
11. We were shooting among the olive trees at the villa when this kitten came to say hello. I just love the curl of her tail.
12. Part of my syllabus for this event is to introduce flash as a light source in daylight. Here I used a couple of Godox AD200 units triggered by a X-1TF. I love how the texture on the wall of the villa (right) comes alive with punchy flash.
13. The shot on the right was taken at ISO 5000, f/4 at 1/60th second using the 32-64mm zoom lens with the camera on a tripod. With the Fujifilm GFX there is no need to fear shooting at high ISO.
The workshop ended with a boudoir shoot at the villa followed by a farewell dinner. In the three full days of shooting we had photographed a lot of genres in a wide variety of locations. We spent time off the beaten track and witnessed some fabulous sunsets.
If you would like to join me in Tuscany in 2018 as part of my 7 day adventure tour of Tuscany please visit this page for the schedule, dates and prices. We will be shooting portraits and landscapes in the most wonderful locations.
I am running a 3 day intensive workshop in Tuscany too, just like the one featured here. Please visit this page for the schedule, dates and prices.
Please feel free to leave questions or comments below.
WOWW!! Extraordinario trabajo, Damien! Enhorabuena.
Thank you Alfredo for your kind reaction :) Damien.
Superb images! Looks like my Nikon is going on the selling block.
Thank you Martin :)
Bigger pictures are great Damien! Loving the new format
Thank you Barry :)
Outstanding work by all means….Shot no.9 is simply a visual milestone by a hefty margin.
Love the new site, and these images are absolutely stunning. The high ISO on the GFX is superb, but I would be interested to know what the highest ISO you would use on the XT-2 to get similar results?
Hi Colin,
Thank you. I have regularly used 3200 ISO on my Fujifilm X-T2 and been delighted with the results. For the right image, with the right light and the right moment any ISO is fine. I’d rather have a high ISO shot that is sharp than a low ISO shot taken with too low a shutter speed.
Cheers,
Damien.
Thank you Colin,
Shot 9 of Mischkah in the long grass is a personal favourite of mine too.
Kindest regards,
Damien
I really like this new layout. It works well on my tablet as well :) Off topic any news on the new lighting videos :)
Hi Peter,
Thank you for the compliments. The lighting videos are on hold as I’m having production problems. I’ll have to rethink the project. There are far too many factors to discuss here but I might be using the 9 items that I’ve shot in another project. I’ll try and get something produced for Christmas but shooting is on hold at the moment.
Kindest regards,
Damien.
The new format is great! However, even the “poor” X-T1, with its (extremely) few 16 megapixels, could handle it well, I guess… :-P
Hi Marco,
You are absolutely right. Anything above 12Mp will be fine with a 2000 pixel wide format. The new size better reflects the faster broadband that everyone now seems to have. Most Smartphones now have a 2k screen capable of playing HD video and so it is time to reflect that push in the technology here on Prophotonut. The X-T1 is far from “poor”. I still love my X-Pro1 :)
Kindest regards,
Damien
Always a mono fan but your rustic photos from this shoot could change my feelings – I love them – the warm colour and shadows blew me away – thanks for sharing – Jim Edmondson
Thanks James,
I am loving a warmer look for my Tuscany pictures. I have a complete monochrome set that I love but the colours, tones and textures in Italy call out for a classical treatment. It’s an exciting period in my photography journey and I’m pleased with the way my pictures from the GFX are looking right now. I am trying a completely new approach this season. I’m using a tripod for everything. I have far more dynamic range in my files than I’ve ever had in the past and I find I can bend the colours in a way that looks calm and believable. That shadow detail is what makes my current crop of prints seem so alive.
Kindest regards,
Damien.
Damien. The format is just fantastic. Once again. I love the way you “see” lighting. Stunning layout with stunning photos. Sharing the way you do gives us that drive to get better. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words Frank.
Feedback like this makes me want to keep up the blogging.
Cheers, Damien.
I use the ‘feedly’ app to read posts on my mobile and the new format is incredible. I thought feedly compressed the images somewhat, but with these I can zoom in to beautiful levels of detail. Thanks for the wonderful blog!
Thank you for the excellent feedback Don.
Love the new format and its great to see big pictures Damien.
Thanks Barrie.
When I started Prophotonut in 2008 we were pushing the boundaries with 600 pixel posts and now we have comfortable load speeds at 2000 pixels. It just goes to show how much faster the interweb has become. Thanks for the feedback.
Kind regards,
Damien.
Love the new format. Stunning images and lighting. Nick
Thank you Nick.
We are still fine tweaking thinks like fonts and the format for mobiles. It is currently optimised for a smartphone held in landscape orientation. I’m glad you like the bigger pictures.
Kindest regards,
Damien