It’s a beautiful morning with cloudless blue skies. My room was very comfortable and I have woken feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Breakfast is marvellous. A selection of amazing cakes and pastries, cold meats, cheeses and fruit. All so fresh and totally delicious. If I lived here I would put on so much weight. Tim comes round to see us all and give us our individual assignments. Before the trip he asked everybody what they hoped to achieve on the course. I said that although I take reasonable wildlife shots, I struggle with portraits, buildings and landscapes. My task for today is therefore to take buildings in light and shadow but they must be interesting. I take a few practice shots around the courtyard while I wait for the group to gather.
We head off to Syracuse which is a mix of modern buildings and ancient architecture.We park and head off individually on our designated assignments. I try to find something interesting that contrasts old and new. I quite like the first shot – I have the germ of an idea. The exposure is good and composition OK but it just feels too busy. I know can do better. The second shot is just a snap. It says nothing.
Next I try an alleyway in light and shadow. Had I captured the moped in the sunlight behind, it would have been an interesting photo. I should have sat there until another opportunity presented itself. I have now learned that good photography is all about visualising the shot and then exercising patience.
Next I try detailed architecture. Technically it’s fine . The exposure is correct. It is perfectly in focus, but it’s just not that interesting.
I stand in the square outside the cathedral looking for inspiration. And actually that is the key. You have to look. Really look. I spot a low arch beneath a flight of steps. If I kneel down I might just capture something a bit more unusual…..
That’s more like it. We have to present 3 unedited photos to the rest of the group this evening for comment and critique. Well, that is number one in the basket. Hooray! We’ve had a couple of hours, yet they have flown by and now it is time for lunch. We meet in a little traditional restaurant by the Cathedral. The food is excellent and Jon, who flew out this morning, now joins us too.
After lunch we head over the bridge from Syracuse to the little island of Ortigia. This place is so traditional and unspoilt. Surely there are some good photo opportunities here. I make my way down to the seashore looking at every building in detail to see if I can capture something special.
It’s just not working. I try to do something with the building below but parasols prevent me getting the angle I need. Tim comes to join me to see how I am getting on. I show him these building shots. He says they have potential and suggests other things I could have done. I show him the arch shot. He loves it and says ‘Just do more like that”. So easy to say – I’ve had an hour and a half since lunch and have taken nothing else that really fits the brief.
I make my way down to the fortress and finally find inspiration by the bucket-load. I am pleased with the shots below. The first one with the roof angles and steps would have made the cut if I had not needed to crop it slightly.
I like the surreal quality of the palm tree reflections in the glass below but unfortunately the light was not right, so it is under-exposed and just does not quite work. The arch and iron work are good ideas.
I love the detail of the lock on this 1000 year old door but the two photos below that are the ones that made it to the evening’s viewing.
We all met in a bar in one of the beautiful squares in Syracuse for a well deserved cocktail or two.
We then head off to a family run seafood restaurant that Jon has recommended. It is superb and on his suggestion I try the local delicacy – red prawns. You eat them raw and they are delicious. I followed them with the best spaghetti vongole I have ever eaten accompanied by a wonderfully crisp local white wine.
We head back to our accommodation and have a quick critique session before bed. Everyone has taken some inspirational photographs and managed to produce totally different styles of shots. Comments are positive and helpful.
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