I just returned from what could be best described as a trip of a lifetime to the Tuscany area of Italy!  I've had a couple of weeks to let the experience soak in, and all I can say is WOW!  I think this experience may have altered a bit of who I am, from realizing that there still can be a fulfilling slow paced life. The simplicity of quality and craftsmanship will never go out of style.  Italian drivers have no fear of anything, and I mean anything!  The best pasta in the world can be made with 3 basic ingredients, and can be made anywhere so long as you have the 3 ingredients and boiling water.  Laughter is a medicine best shared with friends - new and familiar!  All in all it's one of the most sensational places I've ever had the privilege of visiting, and I can't wait to go back one day.  This time I'll be sure to take my beautiful bride, Molly, along too.  Thank you to Jeff and Carolle Dachowski for inviting me to be a part of this tour!  If you are considering a trip to Italy I strongly suggest you contact Jeff and Carolle to inquire about their next trip!  They know Italy - where to take you and what you want to see and EAT!!!

It's almost impossible to describe the Italy in a way that does it justice.  Those that have visited there will know what I mean.  The fact that they have cities that have existed in same locations with same architecture for not just decades, or a couple of hundred years, but for CENTURIES - MILLENNIA!   That was just hard to wrap my head around, living in an area where a building that is 50-75 years old could be demolished for the sake of "progress".  Seeing these historic places, the manicured "Dr. Suess" trees and "Pipecleaner" Cypress tress all over the country side was just eye opening.  Touring a Winery outside of San Gimignano that had been run by same family now into their 13th generation!  Visiting and buying some art from a street artist in Florence that has been drawing and creating his art in the same spot since 1978 - not only making beautiful art but making a living doing it!  Visiting the Galileo Museum and seeing all the creations and inventions made in the Florence area over time.  Appreciating not only that they had to develop the precision tools to make the precision tools, but then to take it a step further and add art to them to make them look good as well as functional and ground breaking!

I could go on an on, but as a photographer - I'm going to subscribe to the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.  So attached is a link to my film photographs from Italy.  All produced with Kodak Professional Film, Gold 200 120 format, Portra 400 120 and 35mm format, and TriX 400 120 and 35mm format.  I chose to take only film on this adventure as I wanted to concentrate on being in the moment in Italy vs having my face constantly behind a camera.  That proved to be truly the best decision I could have made for this trip. I'm really proud of the photographs I made on this trip, in particularly the Black and White work I produced.  It could be some of the best I've ever made.  I specifically decided to really practice my spot metering averaging techniques, and so pleased with the results.  Not sure why I didn't do the same with color film, but that is the lesson I learned.  Do those techniques with color too!

Finally, I'm beyond impressed with Kodak Professional re-release of Gold 200 in 120 format!  WOW is all I can say on how it captured the colors and fidelity of Italy!  I also love how some of the portraits I made with it turned out as well, and will be using more of the material in the future!  It really has a beautiful color palette!

Please enjoy my photographs of Italy!