Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: Hans Kruse on March 04, 2012, 10:52:23 am

Title: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on March 04, 2012, 10:52:23 am
Here are some pictures from my last workshop in Tuscany in November when the light was fantastic and the greenery from the fields was coming out really great. Weather was not dramatic like the year before and I missed that. The year before there was rain and dramatic clouds mixed with sunlight that made it really spectacular. It's an experience I have from coming to the same destinations multiple times per year and year after year for my workshops that every year provides new photo opportunities and sometimes (often) radically different light and weather. Rather than always going to new places, I will advocate for going to the same places and really get to know them well and enjoy the wonders of a new experience every time. Nothing wrong with new places, of course  ;)

On this trip I had the new Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II which is really a fantastic lens. In Tuscany I use almost entirely the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L and the 70-200 all the time. A wider lens does not work well for my style of photography and the locations. Although it was dry this year which meant that it was possible to walk into the fields (absolutely not possible when it is wet from rain) it still is rather difficult to get a good composition with a lens wider than 24mm on 35mm full frame.

Anyway here are the pictures and all are taken using the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.

(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-T93wDL6/1/L/MG8984-Edit-L.jpg)

 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-b8zTmrf/0/L/MG9513-Edit-L.jpg)

(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-wWzbnsv/0/L/MG6199-Edit-L.jpg)
 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-NCsW8CW/1/L/MG6704-L.jpg)
 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-tfK72Sk/0/L/MG6920-Edit-L.jpg)
 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-Kgjxwvk/1/L/MG8392-Edit-L.jpg)
 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-NR9LxL3/0/L/MG8370-L.jpg)
 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-ZLNF44R/0/L/MG8957-Edit-Edit-Edit-2-L.jpg)
 
(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Landscapes-around-the-World/i-fWvdQkX/0/L/MG8828-L.jpg)
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: langier on March 04, 2012, 12:53:07 pm
Nicely done!
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 04, 2012, 01:19:52 pm
It's a great set!

Eric
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: rgs on March 04, 2012, 05:07:41 pm
These are really nicely done. I've enjoyed them a great deal. Numbers 3, 6 and 8 are my favorites and number 8 is just superb. The contrast of the small full range bits with the mostly high key effect is really nice.

I, also, find wide angles hard to work with when shooting landscapes. I much prefer a longish lens.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on March 11, 2012, 11:20:25 am
Thanks for the responses. I didn't want to say that wide lenses are difficult, only that in Tuscany I didn't find much use for ultra wide angle lenses. It's just that some landscapes are not made for ultra wide angle and others are (in my opinion  :)).
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: francois on March 11, 2012, 01:44:22 pm
Quote from: Hans Kruse on March 11, 2012, 11:20:25 am
…It's just that some landscapes are not made for ultra wide angle and others are (in my opinion  :)).

Hans,
I think you're right and Tuscany is such an example (at least in Val d'Orcia and other similar regions).

Bravo for your photos, it's always a treat to discover them.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Michael H. Cothran on March 13, 2012, 02:47:24 pm
Quote from: Hans Kruse on March 11, 2012, 11:20:25 am
It's just that some landscapes are not made for ultra wide angle and others are (in my opinion  :)).

Exquisite images. The rolling hills of Tuscany remind me very much of the Palouse area in SE Washington state. And even most images I see from the Palouse are made with lenses in the 70-300mm range.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: JohnBrew on March 13, 2012, 04:21:45 pm
Ain't the "Golden Hour" just wonderful to photographers? Very nice images.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on March 16, 2012, 08:26:02 am
Thanks everyone. I just checked my Lightroom catalog and for the last 6 trips shooting landscape in Italy during 2011 the statistics are the following:

Total shots 7535

Focal length range between 14mm and 35mm (using Samyang 14mm f/2.8, Canon TS-E 17 f/4L or Canon 16-35 f/2.8L II) 9,7%
Focal length range between 24mm and 70mm (using Canon 24-70 f/2.8L II) 34,6%
Focal length range between 70mm and 280mm (using Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II with or without Canon 1.4x TC III) 54,8%

The locations were Tuscany, the Dolomites and Abruzzo.

So you can clearly see my preferences :)

Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: francois on March 16, 2012, 11:52:00 am
Quote from: Hans Kruse on March 16, 2012, 08:26:02 am
Thanks everyone. I just checked my Lightroom catalog and for the last 6 trips shooting landscape in Italy during 2011 the statistics are the following:

Total shots 7535

Focal length range between 14mm and 35mm (using Samyang 14mm f/2.8, Canon TS-E 17 f/4L or Canon 16-35 f/2.8L II) 9,7%
Focal length range between 24mm and 70mm (using Canon 24-70 f/2.8L II) 34,6%
Focal length range between 70mm and 280mm (using Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II with or without Canon 1.4x TC III) 54,8%

The locations were Tuscany, the Dolomites and Abruzzo.

So you can clearly see my preferences :)



My percentage for Tuscany is a bit different but reads like:

FL < 24 mm:                         5 %
FL >=24 mm and <=70 mm:    40%
FL > 70 mm and <= 200 mm:  40 %
FL > 200:                              15 %
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: jimbo007be on April 09, 2012, 10:09:30 am
Hi Hans

Thanks for those great shots !
Would it be possible to tell us where you took those pictures ? (specially the last 2)
I'm going to Tuscany in a few days  :)
Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: hubell on April 09, 2012, 11:37:38 pm
Quote from: jimbo007be on April 09, 2012, 10:09:30 am
Hi Hans

Thanks for those great shots !
Would it be possible to tell us where you took those pictures ? (specially the last 2)
I'm going to Tuscany in a few days  :)
Thanks in advance

Both are iconic and well known locations in an area of Southern Tuscany called the Val d'Orcia. The next to last is just beyond San Quirico on the road toward Pienza. Find the Casanova Hotel, go in back of the parking lot and look out on to the valley. The last photograph is of the Vitalleta. It is on the same road between San Quirico and Pienza, closer to Pienza on the right side of the road heading east. Try to get off the paved roads in this general area and take the unpaved roads. Be out early am and late afternoon. Have a great trip.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: jimbo007be on April 10, 2012, 08:58:55 am
Thanks a lot for your answer Howard !
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on April 10, 2012, 12:18:16 pm
I think Howard answered quite adequately. Really good advice is to go on the white roads as the traffic on the paved roads is very dense in some locations.
Btw. I'm going also to Tuscany in a few days.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on April 19, 2012, 04:41:40 am
Since I have been in Tuscany now for a week, I'd like to show some of the same spots as shown in this post from this trip. Basically how different it looks at this time of year. Not only are the fields very green and also yellow from rapseed but also the sun rises and sets in quite different parts of the sky (of course) and this makes some of the same spots quite different in the early and late hours of the day.

(http://hanskruse.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-jvZDtTh/1/L/MG3913-Edit-L.jpg)

(http://hanskruse.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-MZBQkp3/1/L/MG3242-L.jpg)

(http://hanskruse.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-hgrZFRR/0/L/MG3514-L.jpg)

(http://hanskruse.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-2ggm6VC/0/L/MG2872-L.jpg)

I also had some dramatic weather with some rain showers. Here is an early morning view of Montalcino

(http://hanskruse.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-wRgTxB4/1/L/MG2879-L.jpg)
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Tony Jay on April 19, 2012, 04:51:53 am
Spectacular!

You really seem to see the light ... and capture it.

Congratulations

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Thomas Krüger on April 19, 2012, 05:01:33 am
Hans, we passed last week at the same street (2. image) - but with heavy rain. The landscapes in Val'd Orcia are stunning!
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on April 19, 2012, 09:40:00 am
Thanks Tony. Thomas, the little chapel in the fields is probably the most photographed subject in all of Tuscany :)
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: dreed on April 20, 2012, 10:20:58 am
The 3rd image of the new set ... could you have moved into a position where the hills behind the one in the sunlight disappeared and you just had the nice green hills and the lone tree sticking up against a brackground of cloud? Or is that too cliche?
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on April 20, 2012, 04:25:40 pm
Quote from: dreed on April 20, 2012, 10:20:58 am
The 3rd image of the new set ... could you have moved into a position where the hills behind the one in the sunlight disappeared and you just had the nice green hills and the lone tree sticking up against a brackground of cloud? Or is that too cliche?

Probably and not a bad idea (and will try one day as I had not thought about it), but this year very impractical since it has rained so much that walking into the fields means that my boots gets 5 times as heavy with all the clay that sticks to them ;). The Tuscan soil is really sticky. When I was there in November it was dry and we could into the fields whch was fantastic since you could get many more viewpoints and really exploit the shapes much better than now. When it is wet one is really limited to the roads.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: dreed on April 22, 2012, 01:00:32 am
Quote from: Hans Kruse on April 20, 2012, 04:25:40 pm
Probably and not a bad idea (and will try one day as I had not thought about it), but this year very impractical since it has rained so much that walking into the fields means that my boots gets 5 times as heavy with all the clay that sticks to them ;). The Tuscan soil is really sticky. When I was there in November it was dry and we could into the fields whch was fantastic since you could get many more viewpoints and really exploit the shapes much better than now. When it is wet one is really limited to the roads.

Given that you're talking about walking over fields, what are the access rights for photographers there?
Are the fields not private property or is the attitude different such that you're not likely to be confronted with an angry farmer wielding a shotgun?
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: wolfnowl on April 22, 2012, 01:26:26 am
Some great work - thanks for sharing them!

Mike.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on April 22, 2012, 02:29:42 am
Quote from: dreed on April 22, 2012, 01:00:32 am
Given that you're talking about walking over fields, what are the access rights for photographers there?
Are the fields not private property or is the attitude different such that you're not likely to be confronted with an angry farmer wielding a shotgun?

This is not the US :) The only time I have seen somebody with a shotgun was in November when they are hunting the deer that are so often seen in the fields. I would not walk into the fields when I would destroy crop, only really in November when the fields are readied for the crop of the next year and it is dry. Then it is possible to walk into the fields with no problem and I never see a farmer, actually and if I did, I'm sure he would just friendly say hello and smile. People here in Italy are so friendly and helpful and they understand that you have a passion to go an capture some of the beauty of their country.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: dimapant on April 24, 2012, 10:08:25 am
I am from Lucca, Tuscany, also a landscape photographer.

You can go freely in the fields, just have your boots if come now as we got a lot of rain, the owners have nothing against their fields beig shot!.

Also very interesting area for photography is the area in Orciano, Santa Luce and Pieve di Santa Luce, north of Val d'Orcia, just on the Est of Pisa, right in the back of Pisa, watching from the sea.

Lucca itself is a very nice town for pictures.

I will post some pictures taken on Orciano and Santa Luce, if...am able to post a picture, neved did before in the forum!

Best regards.

Alessandro Pollastrini
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: francois on April 24, 2012, 11:20:07 am
Quote from: dimapant on April 24, 2012, 10:08:25 am
I am from Lucca, Tuscany, also a landscape photographer.

You can go freely in the fields, just have your boots if come now as we got a lot of rain, the owners have nothing against their fields beig shot!.

Also very interesting area for photography is the area in Orciano, Santa Luce and Pieve di Santa Luce, north of Val d'Orcia, just on the Est of Pisa, right in the back of Pisa, watching from the sea.

Lucca itself is a very nice town for pictures.

I will post some pictures taken on Orciano and Santa Luce, if...am able to post a picture, neved did before in the forum!

Best regards.

Alessandro Pollastrini

Alessandro,
I'm looking forward to your photos…
Posting isn't difficult at all.
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: dimapant on April 24, 2012, 03:20:45 pm
Very nice pictures!

Compliments!

Alessandro
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: jimbo007be on May 01, 2012, 06:32:38 am
WOW !

great shots !
Going to Tuscany in 2 months now ... really hope I will be able to make such photos ! :)

Thanks again for sharing
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: Hans Kruse on May 01, 2012, 06:41:44 am
Quote from: jimbo007be on May 01, 2012, 06:32:38 am
WOW !

great shots !
Going to Tuscany in 2 months now ... really hope I will be able to make such photos ! :)

Thanks again for sharing

Thanks :)

I'm back home again after almost two weeks in Tuscany. Here are some examples of how the fog can really play when one is lucky enough to experience this

(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-c3S6gQF/1/L/MG5520-L.jpg)

(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-J8SvW5b/3/L/MG5440-L.jpg)

(http://www.hanskrusephotography.com/Landscapes/Tuscany/i-JHJtWHz/0/L/MG5480-L.jpg)
Title: Re: Tuscany November 2011
Post by: francois on May 01, 2012, 09:30:37 am
Congrats Hans,
I've always thought that landscape like this is even more dramatic with fog.