The awakening of the spring

Experience the awakening of nature in the spring, one of the best periods to visit Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, National Park. You have a lot of opportunities to discover nature: you could experience the variety of blooms, buds of trees that little by little open, you could hear calls of animals after the long and silent winter and the rustle of trees.

Three days for lovers of photography who want to learn or study photographic shooting techniques dedicated to landscapes and blooms. You will have the chance to better your skills and your style thanks to the help of a nature photographer and thanks to hikes and exercises in the magnificent natural setting of Abruzzo National Park.

Choice of camera equipment;
Advices about photographic shooting;
How to use natural light;
Cleaning of camera equipment, recommendations for trips;
Exposure and focus: how to get the best from your camera;
How to use creatively the combination of aperture value and shutter speed;
How to use filters in landscape photography;

DAY 1 – The ancient forest of Pescasseroli
Arrival in Pescasseroli (L’Aquila) in the morning, accommodation of participants in the hotel, introduction of the guide and description of the itineraries. Then an hike and photo session through the ancient woods of “Difesa di Pescasseroli” (location of Luc Jacquet’s film “The fox and the child”), where trees take fabulous and mysterious forms. You will have the chance to photograph some endemisms such as the blooms of “Iris Marsica”. In the evening meeting with the staff of Abruzzo National Park, dinner and overnight stay.
3h of walk · 200 m ascent · 200 m descent

DAY 2 – Serra delle Gravare, a window in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park
At dawn there will be a walk near Barrea Lake to spot grazing deers. In the morning there will be a hike through “Serra delle Gravare” until the big ridge between Abruzzo and Lazio mountains. The beech forests give way to high altitude meadows where, surrounded by beautiful cliffs and large screes, we could have the opportunity to see chamoises. In the meadows we will photograph gentians, nigritella and other orchids. Then packed lunch and exercises concerning landscape photography and return to the valley floor in the evening.
6h of walk · 800 m ascent · 800 m descent

DAY 3 – Camosciara, on your tiptoes and with no hurry
In the morning an easy hike in the natural reserve “La Camosciara” to photograph Lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium Calceolus) and many other orchids. Then, return to the hotel and lunch with local products. In the afternoon lecture and development of photographic files in our offices, in Via Molinari; end of the workshop and greetings to the participants.
3h of walk · 200 m ascent · 200 m descent

Prices
€ 140 / photographer
€ 60 / participant not photographer

Umberto Esposito is a mountain guide entered on the register of Alpine Guides of the Abruzzo Region and a naturalist photographer. He works between Abruzzo and Molise regions where, among the immense beech forests in the mountains or in the meadows, you can still see some extraordinary animal species. At the end of the nineties the encounter with the bears of the valley and the emotion for the first photographs guided him to what has become his job. Growing he has explored and loved these mountains. He is the creator and the director of Wildlife Adventures project and now he tries to convey the emotions he felt when he was young to those who walk along the paths and the mountains of Central Apennines with him. He has published pictures and articles on Oasis, Trekking&Outdoor, DOVE Viaggi, DRepubblica, Speciale “Qui Touring” of Touring Club Italiano. It’s co-author of the project Forestbeat and of the book Il Segreto dei Giganti, to sustain the nomination of the Apennine beech forests as “UNESCO World Heritage Site” Lazio e Molise.

Accommodation can be organized by our tour leader, or organized in your own.

The hotels are cosy and family managed with shared rooms. Breakfasts will be continental style there will be a wide range of homemade bread, cheeses, honey, cakes and cereals and muesli to fuel you up for the morning. While for dinner will be a typical dishes. A packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit and nuts is provided for the daytime in the little shop in the village.

Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request on your passenger info form.

Temperatures depend on season and time, warm clothes and dress up in layers is recommended: at 2.000 mt above sea level, in summertime too, it could be very cold. You must have hiking boots.

During the workshop we dedicate the whole day to the shooting phase, there will be a session in the classroom, the itineraries are planned to obtain the best of photographic shooting. Therefore, the laptop is not required. At the end of photographic weekend you will be invited in a private group where you can share your pictures with the tour leader and the participants, to comment and analyze the work.

SUGGESTED PHOTO EQUIPMENT
Wide angle zoom (es. 16-35 on full frame)
Medium tele zoom (es. 24-70 or 24-120 on full frame)
Telephoto zoom (es. 70-200 or 70-300 on full frame)
Macro lens (es. 60 or 105 on full frame)
Filters (circular polarizer, ND, GND, etc.)
Cleaning kit with air blower pump, microfiber cloth

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
CLOTHING
Waterproof jacket with hood
Warm jacket
Lightweight trousers
Lightweight t-shirts
Worn in hiking boots or shoes
Warm hat
Thin gloves

BAG AND SLEEPING
Rucksack (40+ litres)
Raincover
Headlamp
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Water bottles or water bladder (at least 1 litre)