Autumn Arts Festival-Exquisite iPhone Photography
Dan Burkholder has a long history of looking beyond the photographic horizon to invent, teach and exhibit the next great thing in imaging. His book, iPhone Artistry (Pixiq Press, 2012), was the universe’s first comprehensive and fun how-to book for iPhone photographers. His poignant monograph, The Color of Loss (University of Texas Press, 2008), intimately documented the flooded interiors of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Dan earned his B.A. and master’s degrees in photography from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. His platinum/palladium and inkjet prints are included in private and public collections internationally.
Visit Dan’s website at www.danburkholder.com
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Dan Burkholder has a long history of looking beyond the photographic horizon to invent, teach and exhibit the next great thing in imaging. His book, iPhone Artistry (Pixiq Press, 2012), was the universe’s first comprehensive and fun how-to book for iPhone photographers. His poignant monograph, The Color of Loss (University of Texas Press, 2008), intimately documented the flooded interiors of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Dan earned his B.A. and master’s degrees in photography from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. His platinum/palladium and inkjet prints are included in private and public collections internationally.
Visit Dan’s website at www.danburkholder.com
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Il Chiostro celebrates the harvest time of the year in Tuscany with The Autumn Arts Festival. We offer 3 separate workshops that all overlap throughout this week-long celebration of the arts, the harvest, the wine and this wonderful region of Italy. The workshops are:
- Painting in Watercolor & Acrylic with Lynn Stender
- Tuscan Cuisine with Michael Vignapiano
- iPhone Photography with Dan Burkholder
In addition to your workshop we offer Italian Opera Appreciation lectures with Prof. Patricia Pease each evening before dinner. This is open to all participants.
Program Description –The Exquisite iPhone Photograph:
Creating Beautiful, Intriguing Photographs with your
iPhone and iPad in the Splendor of Tuscany
The way we use our iPhones to photograph changes with leaps and bounds almost daily. This workshop brings you up to speed with new ways to shoot, edit and stylize your photos, taking you from casual captures to serious artwork.
Your every iPhone Artistry urge will have time to flex and stretch, learning the latest skills that empower you to craft images that you’ll be proud to share, exhibit and sell.
Hay Bales in Tuscany, iPhone photo by Dan Burkholder
From detailed landscapes to portraiture, learn how your iPhone excels at photo assignments that only a heavy DSLR could tackle in the days of old. And, yes, you’ll also learn when it is time to pick up a larger camera for specific tasks.
- From perfectly straight landscapes to painterly effects and portraits, learn how to steer your iPhone images in a direction that mirrors your personal vision.
- Learn the benefits of shooting both jpegs and Raw files. There’s no right or wrong in this workshop but you need to know which is right for you!
- And if you like to shoot with a “bigger” camera, learn how easy it is to move your images to your iPhone/iPad for editing and sharing. Your travel photography will never be the same!
- Discover the best way to convert color images to tonally rich black and white.
- Learn how easy it is to blend multiple images for stunning effects, all in the palm of your hand.
- Local field trips in the lush countryside and charming villages let you practice your skills in the field and, later, in the classroom as you polish your images.
- Learn how to delve into those family history projects you’ve been putting off for years. You’ll finally turn that shoebox of tiny prints and negatives into expressive (and shareable) memories.
- Discover the best ways to prepare your iPhone for web, print and even book creation.
Boats on the River Arno, Florence, by Dan Burkholder
You’ll leave this class with a vast assortment of approaches and techniques to elevate your iPhone landscapes above the ocean of “me-too” filter effects and borders!
Prerequisites: Participants should bring an iPhone 10 or newer (or an iPad 6 or newer*) with at least 12GB of available space. A “Preparing for Class” letter (with a list of apps to have installed) will be sent to participants several weeks before the workshop begins.
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*iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (6th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation or later)
Dievole Winery in the fall, photo by Linda Mironti
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All transportation will be provided. We’ll have an independent lunch wherever we are.
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Each evening before dinner there will be an Italian Opera appreciation class for all music lovers. Patti Pease, who leads the workshop, is a true expert having sung in opera houses around the world and taught in various university programs.
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Afterwards we’ll meet in the dining room for our Tuscan dinner prepared by Dievole’s chef accompanied by plenty of Chianti wine from the surrounding vineyards.
Chianti vineyards in the fall, photo by Chris Corradino
Price: $3,975 p/p
- Single supplement – $695 (limited number available)
- Suite supplement – $450 p/p (limited number available)
Includes:
- Room (double or suite) with full bathroom, 7 nights
- 2 meals per day (dinner with wine and full Tuscan breakfast)
- Workshop tuition and fees (except where noted)
- General activities (except where noted)
- Transfers between Siena train or bus station and Dievole
General Activities Open to All Participants (in addition to workshop):
Most activities take place in and around the 900 year old Dievole estate & vineyard.
- Winery tour and tasting, featuring Dievole’s Chianti Classico
- Italian Opera Appreciation classes every evening before dinner
- Excursion to Siena
- Dinner in the old cantina
- Various topical excursions with your class
- Pig Roast celebrating the harvest and the arts
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Museum admissions
- Gratuities
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made on line with a credit card or PyPal. Once we receive your deposit we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email prior to the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list and an electronic invoice for the balance. Final Balance is due by September 1st. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
Dievole Chianti Classico Winery, Tuscany
Participants in the Autumn Arts Festival will stay in Dievole’s 16th century inn and guest houses floating in the magnificent Tuscan hills. We take over the whole winery so it will begin to feel like home after a few days. The entire facility recently underwent a major facelift transforming all rooms into spacious, luxury lodgings. Rooms are doubles or suites with modern bathrooms and heating.
A limited number of single rooms and suites are available for a supplement.
Dievole will seem more like a family inn rather than an impersonal chain hotel. Dievole is located in the town of Vagliagli, about 12km northeast of Siena and 40km south of Florence. If you wish to explore the area independently during your stay we recommend renting a car. The link below will give you a glimpse of the winery:
Click here to visit Dievole’s web site…
Visit them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dievole
Die vole vineyards, photo by Jim Palmer
Dievole wine bottles, photo by Gilbert Rios
Gianni pouring for a tasting, photo by Andy Holtzman
Dinner in the old wine cellar, photo by J Michael Sullivan
Dino ready to carve at the harvest pig roast
Early morning at Dievole, photo by Gabriella Pascoe
Orientation in the vintners’ room, photo by J Michael Sullivan
We will pick you up in Siena anytime between 1 and 5pm on the first day of the program. The recommended arrival airports are Florence or Rome from where you can take a bus or train to Siena. Florence is closer, but there are no direct flights from the US. You would have to change in another European city. Rome provides more flight options.
The bus/train from Rome to Siena is about 3 hours.
We can also arrange for a car to pick you up from Florence or Rome. You pay the driver directly. Just let us know a few days in advance so we can make the arrangemenst for you.
If you are departing from Rome on the last day, remember it is 3 hours by car or bus from Siena so try to book an afternoon flight.
If you have time, you might consider lingering in Italy for a few days extra on either end of the festival. Allow the Italian rhythms to seduce you. A few days in Rome or Florence upon arrival is a wonderful way to get over jet-lag. For other travel help check our Travel to Italy web page.
- If you like dealing with a person, try our travel consultant, Nancy Schaffer with Travel Solutions, Inc. in Westborough, MA. You can reach her at nrschaffer@charter.net or 508-836-0143. Mention that you are traveling with Il Chiostro.
- For this trip and whenever you travel, we strongly recommend personal travel insurance. It protects you against penalties should you need to cancel your trip at the last minute. If you don’t have a policy, contact Travelex (800) 504–7883 or www.travelex-insurance.com [Note: Travelex requires that you take out a policy within 21 days of registering for a travel program.]
Specific Travel information to get to Dievole:
By Train: There are regularly scheduled trains from all major towns and cities in Italy. Head towards Siena. From Rome there are several trains daily from the main station (Termini). You don`t need a reservation. Although you purchase a through ticket, it is necessary to change trains at Chiusi. The ride takes about 3.5 hours (approximately 240 km.) and the cost is around $20.
NOTE: in Italy it is the law to stamp your train ticket in the little yellow meter near each train platform. Failure to do so can result in heavy fines, even if you plead ignorance.
By Bus: There are also buses from almost anywhere in Italy to Siena. These are modern and comfortable coaches.
From Florence: buses leave the SITA terminal (next door to the train station) nearly every hour. If you take Siena Rapida, the ride is direct on the highway and should take 1 hour.
From Rome: the ride takes 3 hours (non-stop). If you plan to arrive at the Rome airport and plan to come directly to Siena, this is the quickest method. From the airport, take the train on the left-hand track to the Tiburtina station (NOT Termini). From there, go outside into the parking lot.
If you are already in Rome you can take the Metro to the Tiburtina station. Take the B (blue) line towards Rebibbia. Follow signs to Pzle. Stazione Tiburtina.
With the long side of the station at your back, cross under the overpass into the parking lot. Buy your ticket from the building marked Biglietteria C (17.50 Euros, approx. $20); the bus usually leaves from Gate 8. These buses leave every day at regular intervals. To get current fares and schedules for the SENA bus you can check their web site: www.sena.it.
Once in Siena, get off at the Siena train station (Ferrovia). Don’t get off in the center of Siena.
Tuscany in autumn is a sensual feast. Russet and golden hills. Crisp air. Trees weighted with olives. Woods rich with mushrooms and chestnuts. The scent of grapes hangs over the valleys like mist. The harvest is the soul of the Tuscans. In autumn the hilltowns revert to the locals. Their art is to prepare the bounty: prosciutto, nuts, olive oil and especially Chianti. Traditional festivals celebrate every phase from the vendemmia (harvesting of grapes for wine) to the wild boar. Music, folklore, dancing in the piazza.And there, in the heart of Tuscany, is Siena. The legendary medieval town packed with history and art. In autumn, her museums and churches relax, uncrowded. The streets echo her architecture, art and heroes.
Surrounding Vineyards, photo by Linda Mironti