Some Images from my Tuscany Trip Last Week
Just like I did for my Egypt trip last November (link) I put together an Apple iPhoto book of some of my favorite shots from my trip, and I’ve included some of those pages below (click on them for a much larger view). This time I’m trying Apple’s new Spiral-bound books (rather than the perfect-bound they’ve always offered in the past), and I’ll let you know how they come out once I get a final printed copy (later this week).
Of course, once again I did take lots of regular vacation photos and those are going into a separate iPhoto book for the family, and some of these photos will be included (but so will some of us posing in front of the leaning tower of Pisa and stuff like that).
The images below were all taken with either a Nikon D-60, (which I borrowed from my brother-in-law) or a Nikon D-5000 (which I bought while I was there—see yesterday’s post for why). I only used two lenses the entire trip: The 18-55mm VR Kit lens that came with the D5000 (and D60), and a 70-300mm f/4.5 – 5.6mm VR lens that I bought separately while I was there. Also, the Ferrari-for-a-day shots are here as well.
The images were all shot in JPEG mode (gasp!) and processed using Lightroom. I went to Photoshop a couple of times to remove some really distracting telephone lines and powerlines.
Great Photos and scenes, but why do so many photos have a disturbing vignetting? The kit lenses aren’t that bad, are they?
Thanks
Michael
To Michael:
It is incredibly disturbing. What’s worse, I think Scott added them himself.
I can’t imagine why he would do that.
-Scott
Whew, creepy. How many Scotts are there?
Amazing Photos! Thanks for sharing!
-Mirko
I don’t know why people are so surprised and wowed. Scott Kelby is a great photographer. That’s all that matters. He could use any crappy camera and still produce great pictures using remarkable composition techniques.
On top of everything he is THE Photoshop guru and knows how to get the best out of a photo, without destroying the original.
Then there are brand fanboys and others who just buy equipment and brag about them that has no idea about photography.
Still many of them do not realize that the weakest link is the photographer, in 99% of the time.
Wonderful pictures! I have a question though — I’ve read on various photography forums that one shouldn’t point a camera into direct sunlight, for fear that the heat through the optics would damage the inside of a lens (if the shutter speed is slow enough, damage to the sensor as well).
I notice you have some shots that involve pointing directly into sunlight. Besides the fact that they’re beautiful, what are you thoughts on the lens damage issue?
Scott I’m going to have to be honest with you here. I’m really finding your photographs really disappointing.
Sure they’re pretty, but they’re just like every photograph ever. For the subject material that you were dealing with (foreign country), I can’t help but be disappointed in one shot after the other that’s just like every cliched Tuscan countryside shot before it.
Then again I shouldn’t talk. Because I’m in Europe until July 15th and I’m struggling to find epic shots worth sharing.
Work in progress to be found here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/st_ludwig/
Samuel:
I agree. It’s extremely disappointing to me that Scott doesn’t shoot like you. How dare he have his own eye and capture things like he envisions.
Seriously though, if it doesn’t move you, that’s fine. I think Scott did one heck of a job here. I saw your photos and they are different. You have good photos. Please don’t infect us with your grumpies.
I don’t know why you are so proud of those images in the given link. I try hard to find differentiation in it but unfortunately found none. Those are just weird shots. Sorry to get straight but it’s true.
Sorry Scott to use your space but you know what…Tuscan images and story make me happy. What’s useful from image that just look strange but no appreciation!. Thank for your sharing again.
you obviously know nothing about photography those are beautiful images. Leave your negative thoughts elsewhere
I agree Samuel, you shouldn’t be talking at all. Looks like your shots came from a cheap point & shoot. Contrast is horrible and very poor colour. Composition is nothing to brag about either.
I much prefer Scott’s images
Having just bought a Nikon 60 (chosen out of price point more than anything else) at the weekend and am taking my first baby steps into the world of DSLR photography my inspiration was taken to a whole new level to be shown just what was capable from my ‘beginners’ camera. Thanks Scott.
As many other people have noted there are some amazing shots in here and the presentation in the book layout really enhances the power of them. I am curious though how good these photos were when they were first taken and how much of the impact that can be seen here is a result of clever / focussed Lightroom adjustments. I would love to see a before (uncropped as well) and after of all of the photos included in the book.
I love the combination of close up detail and broader views as well – really draws the viewer in.
Nige.
What a wonderful life you live. Take me with you next time, please!
I love how you are able to make something old look fresh (e.g. the Leaning Tower of Pisa). I love the vignetting – it provides a rustic feel to your photos. You did an incredible job in post, too. Maybe I should give Lightroom a shot.
Thanks for sharing.
Scott,
It appears you have managed to figure out how to get your photos in iPhoto books to publish in their original aspect ratio. Can you please share the trick for that. I have been finding it very frustrating to be constrained by the aspect ratio of the templates.
Thanks for sharing, sensational imagery. And the time you share of yourself to help us all see the light.
Michael
Hi Michael:
If you Ctrl-click on the image, you can choose “Fit photo to frame” from the pop-up menu.
-Scott
Doh! The obvious! Cheers for that. Suddenly iPhoto books have a whole new place in my publishing!
Thanks Scott,
Thank you for sharing your images of your trip. Grat inspiration – iIm off to Tuscany on saturday for two weeks and can only hope I can get as many great images.
Scott, beautiful photos! This really seals the deal that good photos come from good photographers, not good (er, expensive / high-end) cameras! The D5000 seems to be quite capable!
Hello Scott,
great shots. You catch the light in tuscany. I`m from europe and you have inspired me to travel this summer to see the lights of tuscany, too. It is also impressive that you have done this work with a D60 and a D5000. Congratulations.
Hello Scott,
Can you tell me the font use for the “Tuscany” words?
“Cezanne” from P22.
This font was designed by my brother-in-law, James Grieshaber!
http://new.myfonts.com/person/James_Grieshaber/
Love these! I’m drawn to some unexpected ones: man hanging out his undershirts; apron in the window (love the sliver of light from another window in the background); keys. I want to know if that man could actually fit in the tiny car, too.
I really, really love seeing that you shot these with the more modest Nikon DSLRs. I’ve been itching to upgrade my D80 and waiting to hear more about the rumored new D300s. I keep reading about the D700’s low-light capabilities and worrying that I’ll need that. If you’re that impressed with the D5000, then I’m assuming the new D300s will be amazing, too. Patience is the challenge now.
What a wonderful trip and awesome gift from your wife!
Anyone else showing these vacation photographs and the response would be “whoa!” But you, you get slagged because they’re merely excellent. Heck if I could go off on vacation and come back with such a big basket of marketable images, I’d be quite pleased. Even if they weren’t ground-breaking or completely original. When I go on vacation, I end up with maybe three or four images that are worth uploading to microstock sites, and that’s it.
Yeah the vignetting bugs me too. That was actually my first response…ooh that’s pretty, but dial back on the Lr vignette! Funny how vignettes seem subtle on a large image, and quite obvious on a thumbnail.
I hope your images pay for your trip! They certainly could.
Wow! These are great photos. Great colours too. I had my doubts about the D5000, but these photos really show the camera’s capabilities.
Hi Scott,
I’m happy you enjoyed our country and the city where I lived for so long. And you had a great chance to have a day with the best car in the world!! I’m really jealous!!;)
For an Italian is so sad to see how the foreigners can enjoy our country for holiday while we, the italans, lot of time we had to leave to find a good job somewhere else in another place…
A.
Nice shots, as usual.
Just two things: it is “Santo Stefano” and not “Santa Stefano” (page 16 and 18).
And it is “Buon appetito” and not “Bon appetito” (page… 42, if I am not mistaken).
Maybe you can fix them before print the album
Ciao!
A.-
IT: ma forse è meglio”Bon appetito”, un po’ aspirato alla toscana
EN: maybe it’s better “Bon appetito”, a little bit aspirated like the tuscany local speach
saimon
Very nice Photos
Next time you must go to my favorite city Volterra
LOVE the Tuscany photos!! All of them! Those Ferrari pics make me drool, though…
Hi Scott,
Tuscany is awesome. Hope you had some braised rabbit. Delicious!
The shots of the rowers reminded me of one that I did but wasn’t happy with it. Think some fill flash would have helped in my case
Very nice shots, Scott, thanks for sharing.
Very nice shots, but how did you get the “The Colors of Toscane” lettering in the picture? Did you use photoshop for that or did you do it in iPhoto?
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the story of the trip and what can go wrong … oh my …. then to see your images with the new camera …. how you pulled the rabbit out the hat …. Bravo
you always make me laugh … love your humor
(I love bill Maher”s humor too !)
thanks for sharing
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I’m novice who has just purchased a D5000 its nice to know what this puppy can do, but I have long way to go till I’ll can take shots like Scotts!
Scott be interested to know the program you used to create the book/showcase of your Holiday snaps in Italy
My First shots :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23879981@N04/sets/72157622579569269
Scott,
Did you like the spiral bound book?