Winn Halverhout — Colorado

Course: Bella Italia

"There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball."

Few students (I hope) look to the movie "Caddyshack" to describe an RMSP workshop experience. For me, though, this describes Bella Italia. Living at Spannocchia, devoting a morning to a Tuscan cooking class, investing an evening at the ruins of a 14th century abbey, and much, much more -- all contribute to a full-body immersion experience into Tuscany that came to influence what I saw through the viewfinder (or now, Live View) and permeate my images.

Not until midway through the workshop, though, did I grasp Tony and Elizabeth’s diabolical subplot -- to push me past my comfort zone of contemplative landscape photography and into the people of these medieval Tuscan villages and their way of life. Don’t be content to view your image subjects from afar; get wholly into them -- "be the ball," if you will. Oh, and Tuscany is a gorgeous setting to "get in touch with it, stop thinking and let things happen!"

Bella Italia was easily the best photography experience of my still nascent photographic endeavors. I heartily give my unqualified endorsement to this workshop and what Tony Rizzuto and Elizabeth Stone can do for your photography.