The First Week in Tuscany - Philippe Pache

Self-portait. I am happy. :)










Philippe Pache

I have not had internet access all of this week. To be honset, I was just having so much fun on course that it did not seem to matter. The weather in Tuscany is a hot summer right now. The days are long and the sun is beautiful in the evening. Great for photography. The course is being held in a monastery this year called St. Anna in Camperena. It is a really cool place to hold the course. Lots of rooms and space for lectures. Philippe's group which I was in was held in a barn. The food is pretty good. Much more vegetables than I am used to but rather healthy. Strange though the meat and ham is very fatty. Such a contrast in food.

This is probably one of the best courses for me. I guess it is also the right time for me. I have pursuing technical execellence for so long now. I am finally confident of my photographic ability, but I found that my personal reason to shoot had kind of been way laid. On this course, I was in a happy place and I enjoyed the course. I was shooting beautiful women in the Tuscan countryside and I felt at peace. It was not a male thing at all, just an appreciation of the beauty of things.

I was not that familiar with Philippe's work before the workshop. And while obeserving him shooting, I realised that I have to keep myself open and exploring. It always is so hard when you have to earn a living as a photographer. The commercial work jarrs with the personal side. But all I know is that this work that I did this week made me feel very whole, complete.

It may be another week till the next post. Ciao.