Tuscany is somewhere I have never been before. I was inspired by the imafes I have seen of olive groves, rolling green countryside lit by the sun and villages perched on hilltops, dating back thousands of years. I was not disappointed on this Light & Land tour and it has left me wanting to go back for more.

Having arrived earlier than most of the rest of the group I was able to walk in Pisa and take some photographs of the town, although it was difficult to avoid the crowds around the most famous building, the Leaning Tower. I however found the City Wall that is a walkable route about the crowds that provides views of the main sights, together with roof tops and house and distant views of the hills beyond, something I didn't know existed.

Joining the main group back at the airport, we took the drive into the evening to our hotel at San Quirico d'Orcia, a great central location for going out out into the surrounding towns and countryside for photography. What then followed were six action packed days in Tuscany. The weather was generally kind to us as photographers and whilst it rained on the third day it didn't stop us as we went to Sienna. Here we experienced the magnificent Duoomo where the interior has alternating striped of white and black marble, arches and wonderful ceilings and paintings. 

I also took the option of the ticket that allowed me to climb the spiral stairs up the rood and the front facade, with long views over the rooftops and Piazza del Campo and beyond. This was followed by a well deserved ice cream before visiting the Piazza del Campo at ground level, with its shell form, famous for its horse racing. 

We also did dawn shoots to catch the mist in the valleys and the sun tinting the rolling countryside.

We went to Pienza to an abandoned house that looked like someone had just walked out the door one day, decades ago.

To Abbazia di Sant'Antimo to unexpectedly hear a service and to see the setting of the building.

To Montisi, and to Monticchiello. We also stopped for photography of reflections of a pool of hot water and windy roads, searching for red vehicles on them, to photograph doorways, tiles, lone and multiple olive and cypress trees, often in grand avenues leading up to large houses on hills, olive trees, poppies, flowers and wildlife.

Each evening we sat down for dinner locally and were able to discuss with our fellow photographers what we had seen that day and photographs taken. During the tour Phil and Charlie were always on hand to discuss anything and everything photographic from composition, exposure, portrait or landscape, location on the ground, use of filters, etc in order to try and assist us to come away with the best opportunity of capturing those memorable images. 

Personally I also used the opportunity to extend how often I focus stack, use multiple exposure and bracket and also to experiment with more portrait than landscape oriented images. I have not included my photographs of all the places we went. 

Highly recommended. 

By Kevin Goodwin.