Walker-Wagenhals Worldwide Photography Workshops Presents

f-Stop Travelers To Italy

October 6-15, 2012

This is a Small Group Tour with 8 nights hotel in Italy: This size of this tour is limited to ensure plenty of one-on-one time with each photographer. The maximum number of photographers is limited to 15. Photographers may also bring a guest.  

We take you to 4 Of The Top 10 European Cities on Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's Poll Of Favorite Cities: #1 Florence, #3 Rome, #5 Venice, #9 Siena. We’ll also take you to the hidden mountain gem of Conegliano and other treasures.

Land Only Costs: $2399 per photographer based on double occupancy.
$1999 for guests not taking part in the workshop. Add $425 for a private, single room. Triples may be available.

Group Airfare Cost, including all taxes and fees: $1359.00. We depart Columbus at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 and land in Venice at 9:15 a.m. on Oct. 7. On Oct. 15 we depart Rome at 11:50 a.m. and arrive in Columbus that evening at 7:24 p.m. Airfare to Venice is not included in your tour because we know some guests prefer to schedule their own air or use award tickets, or wish to add extra time in Europe. If you wish to travel with the group, here is our group air information: Cost may change if the airline imposes fuel surcharges or if taxes are raised in any of the airport cities we use.

This tour Includes:

- Workshop Tuition for photographers

- 8 nights in superior hotels in Italy, all with private bathrooms, of course, 2 in Venice (Mestre), 1 in Conegliano, 1 on Lake Garda, 2 in Florence, 2 in Rome. Please see the hotel web sites. The links are below in the itinerary.

- Buffet breakfast each day

- 4 group dinners with wine and mineral water

- All touring and guided orientation tours of Venice, Florence, Rome, Siena and other locations

- Winery tour and tasting

- Welcome reception

- Transportation in Italy via luxury motorcoach, train or boat  

FEEDBACK: Even after the tour, we are available for feedback. We plan to schedule a “reunion” not long after the tour to share photos, stories and perhaps some wine. Ciao.
Note: Many photography workshop tours are arranged by the photographer and not a tour professional. This tour is arranged in partnership with Prime Tours of Dublin, Ohio, who has produced many custom tours to Italy. This tour was custom-made for Joseph Wagenhals Worldwide Photography Workshops and Prime Tours will be happy to assist you with extending your stay before or after the scheduled dates.

Workshop Goals
We try to take you to the best places at the right times, and offer the inspiration and technical skills to make your images better than ever. Our instructors will available during our travel for one-on-one help with camera mechanics and aesthetics discussions. Group Size is 10-15 photographers, plus partners. 

Content
Daily photography sessions will include early morning, sunset and night shoots plus daily area trips. The size of this tour is limited to ensure plenty of one-on-one time with each photographer. 

We welcome guests of photographers at a discounted rate, and there are many opportunities for exploration and shopping. All of our hotels are centrally located with easy access to everything these amazing cities offer. Partners are welcome to join us for all travel and meals. During the workshop time, they can explore the surrounding town or relax and enjoy the amenities of our four-star hotels. This is meant to be a wonderful vacation for couples, not a hard-core seminar. All travel members are welcome to accompany the photographers that are taking part in this workshop on the daily exercises with the understanding that photo-op stops will be a part of the activity. Photographers will also have plenty of free time to explore and enjoy Italy. Assistance at each hotel is available to those not participating in the workshop and for those in the workshop who may prefer to take time on their own during any workshop session.

Our Itinerary (Included meals are noted above with B for breakfast and D for dinner.)

Oct 6: Depart from USA for overnight flight; dinner & breakfast served

Oct 7: Arrive in Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. We’ll convene at our hotel, have an espresso and coronetto (croissant), then head to the heart of Venice for a ride along the Grand Canal in a vaporetto (bus boat). We’ll get a guided tour of the St. Mark’s Square area, including St Mark’s Cathedral, the Bridge of Sighs, Doges Palace, Harry’s Bar and more. We’ll then have our first photography session. You’ll have time to explore on your own before we return to the hotel and relax before our Welcome to Italy Dinner at the hotel in the Mestre, Venice’s gateway at the edge of the Venetian Lagoon. http://www.hotelplazavenice.com (B,D)

Oct 8:  You have all day to explore Venice at your leisure. You may stay in the city or choose to take an inexpensive boat ride to other islands in the Venetian Lagoon, such as Murano, home of the famous Venetian glass-makers, or Burano, which has brightly colored homes and boats and is home to world-famous lace-makers. (B)

Oct 9: We depart and drive along the Napoleon Road, past many historic villas with possible shooting stops along the way to our hotel in the lovely town of Conegliano and our hotel, the Canon d’Oro for one night. We have dinner here this evening. www.HotelCanonDOro.it (B,D)

Oct 10: Depart our hotel to explore the renowned Prosecco Wine region, and then onward to lovely Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake and resort area nestled in the Alps where we will stay one night at Hotel Principe Di Lazise. www.HotelPrincipeDiLazise.com (B)

Oct 11: Depart for Florence with photo-op stops along the way for our two nights stay in this city of art, history and culture with its many museums, cathedrals, and unique squares with plenty of picture and shopping opportunities. We stay two nights at the centrally located Le due Fontane Hotel, on a lovely plaza and adjacent to the first building of the Renaissance.  www.LeDueFontane.it (B,D)

Oct 12: Florence, Our motorcoach will take a day long trek in to the heart of Tuscany photographing Siena plus San Gimingnano and the surrounding area.

Oct 13:  Rome, Depart Florence this morning for Orvieto where we will allow time for exploration, photography, and shopping before proceeding to our final Italian city, Rome. We’ll be at the very central Hotel Ariston with easy access to anyplace in Rome on foot or by public transportation. (B) http://www.hotelariston.it

Oct 14: Rome, You get a 24 hour pass for Rome’s “hop on and off” tour on the double decker tour buses that depart near our hotel and make stops at major historic sights such as The Vatican, Coliseum, Circus Maximus and many more. Hop off and photograph these sites, then hop back on. You may also wish to attend the Sunday Papal Blessing at St. Peter’s Basilica. (B,D)

Oct 15: Morning departure from Rome for home in the U.S.A.

Note: The exact scheduling of events is subject to adjustment, and the instructors are subject to change only in the case of an emergency.

Suggested supplies:

- Digital cameras will allow us to download photos for information and fun, informative reviews, but you certainly may bring film if you prefer. However, there will not be processing facilities available on a daily basis.

- Enough memory cards to cover 10 days of shooting and space to store or back-up or Higher Memory Cards

- Bring your laptop if you would like to store and spend some time working on your images (Installed Graphics program required to work on images)

- Battery charger and/or backup batteries

- A tripod will be needed, especially for early morning and late evening shooting sessions.

The Photographic Workshop  
Your workshop leaders, Joseph Wagenhals and Gary Walker,  are experienced teachers who will lead practical discussions on the art of creating exciting photographs and will lead discussions on landscape and fine art images, with informal critique of your previous day’s work. If you’re shooting digital, bring a laptop to work on your images as Joe will discuss PhotoShop tips and advanced workflow. Classroom time will be limited with the remainder of the day photographing in the field. Joe and Gary are always available to provide input and answer questions.

Send deposits to: 
Prime Tours
7177 Dublin Rd,
Dublin, OH 43017 

Email: info@GoPrimeTours.com        Phone 614-766-5553

All participants and guests MUST have a valid passport.

$300 per person due at registration. First come, first served. Balance due by Aug. 10, 2012 Remember, this is a small group tour so please register as soon as possible. Payments are fully refundable through July 10, 2012, except for any airline tickets purchased through Prime Tours. After July 10, any payments are non-refundable. We recommend travel insurance to protect your investment. We will send all registrants a brochure from one of the leaders, Travelex. 

To book on-line, simply click the blue button. Fill out the blanks and specify which tour option you choose, including air inclusive or land only. Also be sure to include everyone's name in your traveling party and note if a guest is a photographer or not. Then click send only once. We'll confirm your reservation by phone or e-mail within 24 hours or call us to ask questions or book via phone at 800-833-1356.

Credit Cards: Our prices are based on a check or cash discount. Those wishing to pay for their tour with a credit card should add 3% to cover the credit card fees. Otherwise, you can mail a check for your payments.

Need a roommate: Ask about a roommate if you wish and if we have another guest looking, we’ll connect you and let you decide if you want to share a room to get the double rate.

Questions? Call Prime Tours at 614-766-5553.

RESPONSIBILITY:  Prime Tours of Dublin, Ohio serves as an independent travel agent for tour passengers, arranging transportation, hotels, meals and sightseeing for the benefit of its customers. Prime Tours is not responsible for any loss or damages of property or for injuries incurred by passengers, nor for delays caused by situations beyond our control. We reserve the right to cancel any tour at our discretion, at which time full refunds are made, which releases Prime Tours from any future obligation. The exact scheduling of events, hotels, meals, group leaders and guest hosts during any tour is subject to change. Persons registering for the tour agree to these terms.