If you enjoy photography and travel, please consider joining me in October of 2015 for a photographic adventure to Italy. Click here for the complete Prospectus and Itinerary.

This once in a lifetime trip focuses on some particularly photogenic areas of Italy, and gives us time to get to know these special places so we can come home with incredibly unique imagery. We will photograph and get to know some very special places including Cinque Terre, Naples, the island of Capri, and Positano and the Amalfi Coast.

These are wonderful and special areas with their own charms. They embody the Italian culture and the picturesque nature of sea-girt villages clinging to the sides of mountains facing the ocean. The pacing of this trip allows us time to explore and photograph. We will focus on four major locations, viewing them in depth. Our small group size will allow me to give you individual attention as you photograph.

I believe that where one stays is extremely important in travel photography. The hotels on this journey (4-star where available) have been personally hand-selected for quality, location, and photogenic charm.

The pacing of this over-two-week trip allows for variety, but we won’t be moving every night. That way, we can really get to know lovely areas such as Cinque Terre on the Ligurian Sea, and Positano on the Amalfi coast. The Photographic Adventure starts in Florence and ends in Naples, so those folks with additional time can add optional excursions to other Italian destinations either before or after this trip.

I’ve worked hard to keep the price reasonable on this trip. It is $6,495 for two full weeks (single supplement additional), with hotels, many extras, and (of course) photography!

You can view the complete itinerary by clicking here. Here are the five villages of Cinque Terre:

Corniglia, Cinque Terre, courtesy Hotel Stena	Manarola, Cinque Terre, courtesy Hotel Stena
Monteroso, Cinque Terre, courtesy Hotel Stena	Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, courtesy Hotel Stena
Vernazza, Cinque Terre, courtesy Hotel Stena

Dates: Sunday October 28, 2015 (leave United States October 27) – November 11, 2015 (15 days and 14 nights).

Group size: Maximum of twelve.

Cost: $6,495.00 per person (excluding airfare, single supplement $925.00 additional). Includes all accommodations, many meals, transportation and extras per the Itinerary and Inclusions. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and requires a $500 deposit and an application form.

Trip Prospectus and detailed Itinerary: www.digitalfieldguide.com/italy

Registration instructions: www.digitalfieldguide.com/italy-registering

Registration form: www.digitalfieldguide.com/pdf/Italy-res.pdf

Thank you very much for your consideration. I look forward to photographing with you in Italy.

Harold Davis

Making Memorable Travel Photos, webinar live session Saturday October 11 at 3PM

I’d be the first to admit that my series of webinar recordings are home-grown. These are not highly polished, and they show the actual techniques I use in real time. The advantage of attending a live session (seats are very limited) is that if anything puzzles you, you can ask questions. Note that the cost of the live session also includes unlimited access to the webinar recording at no additional cost.

Please consider joining me for this exciting, new live webinar offering that will help you learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, and find the extraordinary when you travel.

Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 3PM PT: Making Memorable Travel Photos (the cost is only $29.95, and includes unlimited access to the post-session recording)

Many of us like to travel, and when we travel we bring our cameras. But there’s a strange paradox: no matter how unique and photogenic our destinations, mostly the photos we come back with are pretty dull. Your travel photos do not have to be boring!

In this presentation, noted photographer and digital artist Harold Davis shares his spectacular imagery from many places around the world as well as “abroad at home.” He’ll share the backstories about how many of his images were made, and what was going on at the time of the exposure. Hint: If men in military uniforms come toward you pointing automatic weapons, stop photographing whatever it is that you are photographing, and turn around slowly!

While showing his award-winning imagery, and sharing his travel photography stories, Harold will explain topics including:

The Making Memorable Travel Photos webinar covers:

• How to research and prepare for any travel destination
• Planning tools that Harold uses to maximize his chances of photographic success
• Figuring out where the light is coming from to get the best photos
• How to be “at home abroad” no matter what your destination
• Making travel photos that rise above the mundane
• Photographing people when you travel
• How to ask a stranger permission to take their photo
• Making travel photos with a personal viewpoint
• How to get good shots when you are with a group
• Editing and presenting your photos when you get home
• The presentation will conclude with ample time for Q&A.

Want to move your photographic imagery from the mundane to the artistic? Then maybe this webinar—is for you! Learn to find the special at home and abroad in this extraordinary presentation from Harold Davis, one of the living masters of digital photography.

What one participant in past webinars has said: “Watching Harold work on his imagery, as he would in ‘real-life’, has helped me lock-in techniques that I had read about, but were only theoretical to me. It’s great to have multiple delivery channels for Harold’s information, and I now feel confident I can succeed.”

Each live webinar session has ample time for questions and is limited to twenty participants, so seating is very limited. The $29.95 fee includes unlimited access to the recording of the session.

Check out our webinar recordings ($19.95 each for unlimited access):

• Painting in Transparency Using a High-Key Layer Stack Webinar Recording
• Using Backgrounds and Textures Webinar recording
• Selective Sharpening with LAB Color with Harold Davis
• Photoshop Layers 101 Webinar Recording
• Creative Use of LAB Color Webinar Recording

Click here for more info about Harold Davis webinar recordings.

If you are interested in photographing flowers, please consider the session of the Photographing Flowers for Transparency with Harold Davis workshop that I am holding Saturday, October 4—Sunday, October 5, 2014. Click here for information and online registration for the October 2014 Photographing Flowers for Transparency workshop. 

In this unique workshop offering master photographer Harold Davis shows the techniques he uses to create his floral masterpieces. Arrangement, composition, photography, post-production will all be covered, as will Harold’s special techniques for shooting on a light box. Why not learn these techniques from the acknowledged master who has pioneered them?

We have no schedule plans to offer another section of this popular workshop! Don’t miss this opportunity.

Bonus (optional) offering: Saturday after the workshop we will photograph San Francisco and views of the Golden Gate from sunset into night from the Berkeley Municipal Pier. There is no charge for workshop participants.

Windswept Florals © Harold Davis

Here are some details about the workshop:

Master photographer Harold Davis is well-known for his often imitated—but seldom equaled—digital images of luscious transparent and translucent flowers.

In this unique workshop offering master photographer Harold Davis shows the techniques he uses to create his floral masterpieces. Arrangement, composition, photography, post-production will all be covered, as will Harold’s special techniques for shooting on a light box.

Who is this workshop for?  The workshop is intended for photographers of all levels with an interest in flower photography.

Harold gives this workshop very infrequently. There is no better way to learn the floral transparency techniques that he has pioneered. The two-day format will give participants the chance to complete their imagery using the techniques that Harold will demonstrate.

Click here for more information, curriculum and registration.

Peony Pano on White © Harold Davis

Here are some comments from earlier Floral Transparency Workshops:

• “Loved the pace, in-depth instruction and generous sharing.”
• “EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND COVERAGE OF MATERIAL. MR. DAVIS WAS PATIENT TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.”
• “Harold, thank you for the time, expense and effort it took to put on a great one-day workshop….You are a wealth of information and share it so graciously.”
• “Outstanding workshop!”
• “A very packed day! Harold is very clear and organized; an outstanding photographer who is also an outstanding teacher.”
• “Thank you for an amazing weekend workshop. Have waited a long time to take this workshop. The weekend flew by. Have much to digest and process. Highly recommended.”
• “Learned a new photographic technique that I can apply not only to flowers, but to other subject materials.”
• “A great workshop! Learned about creating translucent flower photographs and also about important features of Photoshop.”
• “Great workshop with a good balance of instruction and practical application. Plenty of opportunity to ask questions and more importantly get answers.”

Where: MIG Meeting Place, 800 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710

When: Saturday October 4, 2014, 9:30AM to 5:30PM and Sunday October 5, 2013, 10:00AM to 5:00PM

Tuition: The cost of the workshop is $745 per person

Registration: www.meetup.com/Harold-Davis/events/183306272/

Please keep in mind the following upcoming events and early registration discounts!

Weekend Workshop, October 4-5 2014—Photographing Flowers for Transparency. If you want to learn the techniques I use to create my botanical art in Botanique and elsewhere, this is your opportunity. Please don’t miss this chance because there are no current plans to schedule another session of this popular workshop.

Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 3PM—Live Photo Critique in Berkeley, CA (free, but advance registration required): bring six of your photos (prints preferred).

Time is running out for registration for the Photographic Odyssey to Japan in the spring of 2015 (a prime time of year for visiting Japan to catch subjects such as the cherry blossoms in Kyoto). If you are interested, you need to let me know now so we can hold a spot.

Early registrations discounts: We are offering a small discount (a $50 price reduction) off the workshops that are scheduled for the first half of 2015 if your sign-up before October 15, 2014. The normal price for these two or three day workshops is $695. The early-registration discounted special price is $645.

Early registration helps us plan our schedule and make the necessary arrangements to hold workshop space. If you are thinking of one of these workshops, please help us by registering now, and accept the $50 discount as a small token of my thanks.

Here are the 2015 workshops with the early registration discounts for your consideration:

• Three-day weekend workshop, Friday February 20 – Sunday February 22, 2015—Night Photography in San Francisco, click here for registration (early registration pricing through 10/15/14).
• Weekend Workshop, March 14-15, 2015–Black & White Masterclass, weekend workshop, click here for registration (early registration pricing through 10/15/14).
• Weekend Workshop, May 9-10, 2015—The Creative Portfolio Workshop, click here for registration (early-registration pricing through 10/15/14).

Misty Mountains © Harold Davis

In this event, world-renowned photographer Harold Davis will offer a free in-person critique of your work. The event is free, but to receive a critique you must register (click here to RSVP Yes). Critiques are limited to the first 40 responses.

Before the critiques Harold will briefly present his Botanique, Monochromatic Visions and Multiple Exposures portfolios.

As a workshop leader and photo judge, Harold is known for giving constructive, honest, direct and positive feedback.

Nautilus © Harold Davis

What to bring: For a critique, please bring no more than six images in print form (preferred) or as JPEGs on a thumb drive (for projection). You must register (click here to RSVP Yes) to receive a free critique.

In addition to your images, please be prepared to briefly speak about your work and background, and bring any specific questions you have about your work.

Where: The Lighthouse Berkeley, 1310 9th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.

When: Saturday, October 18th 2014 at 3PM.

Agenda:

3:00 – 3:30PM         Harold Davis portfolio presentation

3:30 – 5:30PM          Individual Critiques

5:30 – 6:00PM          Open discussion and Q&A

Thinker © Harold Davis

About Harold Davis

Harold Davis is an internationally-known digital artist and award-winning professional photographer. He is the author of many photography books including recently The Way of the Digital Photographer ( Peachpit), a best photography book of the year, and  Monochromatic HDR Photography (Focal Press).

In addition to his activity as a bestselling book author, Harold Davis is a Moab Master printmaker and a Zeiss Lens Ambassador. Harold Davis’s work is widely collected, licensed by art publishers, and has appeared in numerous magazines and other publications. His black and white prints are described as “hauntingly beautiful” [Fine Art Printer Magazine] and his floral prints have been called “ethereal,” with “a purity and translucence that borders on spiritual” [Popular Photography].

Harold Davis leads popular technique and destination photography workshops to many locations including Paris, France; Heidelberg, Germany; and the ancient Bristlecone Pines of the eastern Sierra Nevada. Click here for current Harold Davis workshops & event listings.

You can learn more about Harold and his work on his website, www.digitalfieldguide.com.

Harold signing prints

What: Creating a unified body of work, such as a portfolio, is an important step towards attaining one’s goals as a photographer. This workshop will consider finding appropriate subject matter, editing one’s work, and the mechanics of creating both online and physical portfolios. Time will also be spent enhancing creativity through guided photographic and design exercises.

Who should attend: When one reaches a certain point as a photographer, it becomes clear that one needs to put together portfolios of one’s work. But the skills that have taken one this far with solitary imagery don’t necessarily extend to the creation of portfolios of work. If you would like as an amateur or professional photographer to learn to build better portfolios of your work, The Creative Portfolio Workshop is for you.

Admission is by approval of the instructor and/or portfolio review. Preference will be given to prior Harold Davis workshop attendees. Please drop us an email to see if this workshop is appropriate for you.

Where: Classroom conveniently located in Berkeley, California

When: Weekend workshop; May 9-10, 2015

Tuition and registration: ($695; early-bird special $645 for registration prior to Oct 15, 2014); click www.meetup.com/Harold-Davis/events/207505762/ to register for this workshop.

Workshop size: Minimum of 4 and maximum of 12 participants.

Monochromatic Visions prints “curing”

About Harold Davis

Harold Davis is an internationally-known digital artist and award-winning professional photographer. He is the author of many photography books including The Way of the Digital Photographer ( Peachpit), Monochromatic HDR Photography (Focal Press) and Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley Publishing).

In addition to his activity as a bestselling book author, Harold Davis is a Moab Master printmaker and a Zeiss Lens Ambassador. Harold Davis’s work is widely collected, licensed by art publishers, and has appeared in numerous magazines and other publications. His black and white prints are described as “hauntingly beautiful” [Fine Art Printer Magazine] and his floral prints have been called “ethereal,” with “a purity and translucence that borders on spiritual” [Popular Photography].

Harold Davis leads popular technique and destination photography workshops to many locations including Paris, France; Heidelberg, Germany; and the ancient Bristlecone Pines of the eastern Sierra Nevada.

You can learn more about Harold and his work on his website, www.photoblog2.com.

Botanique (Artists Book) © Harold Davis

I’ll be giving two free events next week:

Monday 9/22 (San Rafael) Making Memorable Travel Photos with Harold Davis

Tuesday 9/23 (San Jose) Black & White in the Digital Era with Harold

Did I mention that admission is free to both?

You can join the group for a discounted dinner before the Travel Photography presentation Monday evening. There’s free pizza before my presentation at Adobe HQ in San Jose. More details below.

Hotel de Sully, Paris © Harold Davis

Monday 9/22/2014 Making Memorable Travel Photos with Harold Davis, sponsored by the Golden Gate Computer Society, optional dinner at 5:45PM, presentation at 7:15PM at the Sheraton Hotel in San Rafael, CA.. Dinner discount coupon and directions at www.ggcs.org, the related Meetup for RSVPs is www.meetup.com/Golden-Gate-Computer-Society/events/207920412/.

Tuesday 9/22/2014 Back & White in the Digital Era with Harold Davis, sponsored by the Adobe Photoshop CC Users Group, free pizza at 6:30PM, presentation at 7PM, at Adobe Software HQ in San Jose, Ca., Aldus Room, www.meetup.com/Adobe-CC-Photo-User-group/events/208052092/.

If you are interested in photographing flowers, please consider the session of the Photographing Flowers for Transparency with Harold Davis workshop that I am holding Saturday, October 4—Sunday, October 5, 2014. Click here for information and online registration for the October 2014 Photographing Flowers for Transparency workshop. 

Synopsis: In this unique workshop offering master photographer Harold Davis shows the techniques he uses to create his floral masterpieces. Arrangement, composition, photography, post-production will all be covered, as will Harold’s special techniques for shooting on a light box. Why not learn these techniques from the acknowledged master who has pioneered them?

Bonus (optional) offering: Saturday after the workshop we will photograph San Francisco and views of the Golden Gate from sunset into night from the Berkeley Municipal Pier. There is no charge for workshop participants.

Here are some details about the workshop:

Master photographer Harold Davis is well-known for his often imitated—but seldom equaled—digital images of luscious transparent and translucent flowers.

In this unique workshop offering master photographer Harold Davis shows the techniques he uses to create his floral masterpieces. Arrangement, composition, photography, post-production will all be covered, as will Harold’s special techniques for shooting on a light box.

Who is this workshop for?  The workshop is intended for photographers of all levels with an interest in flower photography.

Harold gives this workshop very infrequently. There is no better way to learn the floral transparency techniques that he has pioneered. The two-day format will give participants the chance to complete their imagery using the techniques that Harold will demonstrate.

What to bring: Your camera (preferably capable of shooting in RAW and with a manual exposure mode), camera manual, tripod (if you have one), and a way to make notes!

If you’d like to follow the post-production examples please bring a laptop loaded with Photoshop, and HDR Efex Pro from Nik Software (trial versions of this software are available for free download).

Curriculum – Day 1

9:30AM – Workshop orientation

10:30 – Glory of the tranlucent petal (understanding translucency and transparency)

11:30 – Introduction to Floral arrangement and composition

12:30 – Lunch break

1:30 – Advanced floral compositon

2:30 – Shooting on a lightbox

3:30 – Understanding high-key hand HDR post-production

4:30 – Advanced HDR topics

5:00 – Review, wrap-up and Q&A

5:30 – Briefing for optional sunset/night shoot

6:00 – Carpool to location (Berkeley Municipal Pier)

6PM – 8PM – Sunset into night shoot

Curriculum – Day 2

10:00AM – Day 1 recap

10:30 – Individual post-production guided practice

11:30 – Backgrounds and Textures

12:30 – Lunch break

1:30 – LAB Color effects

2:15 – Individual practice

4:00 – Fine art botannical prints

4:30 – Review, wrap-up and Q&A

Peony Pano on White © Harold Davis

Here are some comments from earlier Floral Transparency Workshops:

• “Loved the pace, in-depth instruction and generous sharing.”
• “EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND COVERAGE OF MATERIAL. MR. DAVIS WAS PATIENT TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.”
• “Harold, thank you for the time, expense and effort it took to put on a great one-day workshop….You are a wealth of information and share it so graciously.”
• “Outstanding workshop!”
• “A very packed day! Harold is very clear and organized; an outstanding photographer who is also an outstanding teacher.”
• “Thank you for an amazing weekend workshop. Have waited a long time to take this workshop. The weekend flew by. Have much to digest and process. Highly recommended.”
• “Learned a new photographic technique that I can apply not only to flowers, but to other subject materials.”
• “A great workshop! Learned about creating translucent flower photographs and also about important features of Photoshop.”
• “Great workshop with a good balance of instruction and practical application. Plenty of opportunity to ask questions and more importantly get answers.”

Where: MIG Meeting Place, 800 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710

When: Saturday October 4, 2014, 9:30AM to 5:30PM and Sunday October 5, 2013, 10:00AM to 5:00PM

Tuition: The cost of the workshop is $745 per person

Registration: www.meetup.com/Harold-Davis/events/183306272/

About Harold Davis

Harold Davis is an award-winning professional photographer and widely recognized as one of the leading contemporary photographers.

He is the author of more than 30 books, including Monochromatic HDR Photography (Focal Press), The Way of the Digital Photographer (Peachpit Press), Creating HDR Photos: The Complete Guide to High Dynamic Range Photography (Amphoto),  Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Worlds with Harold Davis (Focal Press), The Photoshop Darkroom 2: Creative Digital Transformations (Focal Press), and The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing (Focal Press).

Harold is the author of the Creative Photography series from Wiley Publishing.

“Harold Davis’s Creative Photography series is a great way to start a photography library”—Daniel Fealko, PhotoFidelity.

The Creative titles include: Creative Landscapes: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Lighting: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Portraits: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Black & White: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Composition: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Close-Ups: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley). He’s also written a book on the fundamentals of exposure, Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers (O’Reilly Media).

Please keep in mind the following new workshop additions and changes:

• September 29, 2014: Converting to Black & White (new live webinar session, limited seating available)
• October 4-5, 2014: Photographing Flowers for Transparency—I’ve added an evening shoot of San Francisco and the Golden Gate from Berkeley Pier on Saturday night at no additional charge. Space is still available.
• February 20-22, 2015: Night Photography in San Francisco, new weekend workshop, click here for registration (early-bird pricing applies through October 15, 2014).
• March 14-15, 2015: Creative Black & White Masterclass, new weekend workshop, click here for registration (early-bird pricing through October 15, 2014).
• May 9-10, 2015: The Creative Portfolio Workshop, weekend workshop, click here for registration (early-bird pricing through October 15, 2014).

Windswept Florals © Harold Davis