Three romantic lakes in northern Italy – Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta where artists and royalty have vacationed for inspiration since medieval times.  This workshop is a favorite of our regular workshop attendees. Spilling from the Italian Alps, these freshwater lakes are dotted with quaint villages that blend Italian and Swiss history.  

As a photographer, there’s no more image-rich location in Italy.

We’ll begin with 3 nights on famous Lake Como, exploring and photographing its small villages and spectacular villas. Our next 4 nights are spent in one of Italy’s best-kept secrets, the village of Orta San Giulio on picture-perfect Lago d’Orta, with a day trip to Lake Maggiore.

This tour has a minimum group size of 6.   In the rare instance that the minimum is not met at least 90 days before the departure date, the trip will be canceled and a full refund will be made.  You will receive notification. 

Please consider waiting to book flights until the tour is confirmed.  (Or book refundable tickets)

You can always check here to see who's going.  Or you can inquire here. 

Gabriele Angelini is an Italian photographer and publisher who makes his home in Imola, not far from the Tuscia region.  His passion for photography is infectious and it’s a pure pleasure to shoot alongside him.   The first thing you’ll notice is his big smile and his unbridled enthusiasm for every place we photograph.

Also infectious is his love for the history of Italian photography.  Gabriele taught photography at the University of Bologna (founded 1000AD) and shares his studied insights about how photographers see and present the landscape over the last century.  

Carl Sandquist is a seasoned landscape photographer and world traveler, who also works at Adobe specializing in emerging creative technologies. Certified in Adobe Photoshop, he combines technical expertise with a passion for capturing the beauty of nature, building a portfolio of striking landscapes from around the world.

Known for his patient and positive teaching style, Carl makes complex editing techniques accessible and enjoyable. Participants leave his workshops not only with stronger images, but also with the inspiration and confidence to continue growing as photographers.

View Carl’s Portfolio

Arrival to Milan Malpensa MXP airport is recommended, October 2nd or 3rd.  Enjoy the elegant city of Como, booking a hotel on your own.  Saturdays the street market is expansive and beautiful in Como. 

Arrive to Como by train (station is in Terminal One of the Milan Malpensa airport).  Here's a good website to show arrival options. Rome2Rio

Here are some hotels we've enjoyed near the historic center and convenient to our meeting point:

Hotel Firenze

Posta Design

Hotel Metropole Suisse

Borgo Antico Hotel   (10 min walk to the center but a nice neighborhood)

Stay at our favorite family run hotel, Hotel Lenno on the waterfront.  Explore villages one the lake by ferry including famous Bellagio and charming Varenna, both with wonderful  lakefront photographic opportunities.  

Visit the elegant Villa Balbianello, a place you may recognize from James Bond and Star Wars films.  Soak in the peaceful village of Lenno. 

We'll workshop at times in the field, giving you assignments to fulfill, and the classroom as we view each other's images and demonstrate editing  techniques.

Stay right on the lakefront in uber-charming Orta San Giulio as we explore this village (called Little Venice because of the absence of cars) and the island of San Giulio home to a monastery founded in the 4th century as legend has it.

Day trip to Lake Maggiore and visit two of it's islands, Isola Bella with its grand Palazzo Borromeo and the quiet Isola dei Pescatori (fishermen island)

Workshop sessions in the field will discuss waterscape,  architectural still-life and street photography.  Editing sessions at the hotel will show you new ways to make your images reach their potential. 

As is our tradition, the last day is relaxed with time to explore on your own.  Taxi boats await for another cruise to the island or a neighboring village.  

Hike up the hill for a perfect lunch with views over the lake, then explore Sacro Monte, a pilgrimage site with 20 chapels devoted to St Francis of Assisi.  

A farewell dinner together and final night at our hotel perfectly positioned in the piazza and overlooking the Lake Orta.  

After a relaxed morning and farewell breakfast we check out and drive to Milan Malpensa MXP airport, arriving by 12:00 noon.

Book your departure flights after 3:00 to be safe.  Since most US flights leave early, you may choose to stay another night near the airport or take the Express Train into Milan for the evening.  

Carl Sandquist is a seasoned landscape photographer and world traveler, who also works at Adobe specializing in emerging creative technologies. Certified in Adobe Photoshop, he combines technical expertise with a passion for capturing the beauty of nature, building a portfolio of striking landscapes from around the world.

Known for his patient and positive teaching style, Carl makes complex editing techniques accessible and enjoyable. Participants leave his workshops not only with stronger images, but also with the inspiration and confidence to continue growing as photographers.

View Carl’s Portfolio

Gabriele Angelini, Italian photographer and publisher from Imola, near Bologna, is known for his big smile, infectious passion for street photography, and deep knowledge of Italian photographic history. Former photography instructor at the University of Bologna, he has worked extensively on assignments around Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, capturing their unique light and atmosphere. He enriches every journey with unique cultural insights, local connections, and a love for Italy’s traditions. Living in Emilia Romagna, the heart of classic Italian cuisine, he’s the perfect guide to pair unforgettable images with equally unforgettable food and wine.

View Gabriele's portfolio

Spend three unforgettable half-days with Mauro, your local guide, discovering Venice beyond the postcard views and experiencing the city through the eyes of those who call it home.

Together with local friends, you’ll uncover hidden corners, quiet canals, authentic neighborhoods, and some of Venice’s most fascinating secret gems. You’ll venture across the lagoon to colorful Burano, immerse yourself in Venetian culture and traditions, and taste the city like a true local with cicchetti and wine, moving from one traditional bacaro to another.

More than a visit to Venice, this is an invitation to slow down, wander, taste, meet people, and experience the unique rhythm of the lagoon, discovering the stories, flavors, and everyday life that make Venice unlike anywhere else in the world.

Mauro is a travel professional and passionate photographer, raised in the heart of the Dolomites. Surrounded by dramatic landscapes from an early age, he developed a deep curiosity for places, people, and the stories that give each destination its unique character.

Over the years, Venice and its lagoon have become one of the places he most loves to explore and share, not only through its iconic beauty, but through its hidden alleys, quiet canals, local traditions, and everyday life. From the timeless atmosphere of Venice to the colorful island of Burano, Mauro enjoys revealing the more authentic side of the lagoon, discovering it through local encounters, food, wine, and photography.

His approach to travel is simple: go beyond the surface, slow down, connect with the local culture, and let each journey become a source of inspiration, discovery, and unforgettable memories.