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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Venicefoto 2014 workshop – creativity flowing on the Strada del Prosecco

Venicefoto 2014 workshop – creativity flowing on the Strada del Prosecco

by Jeanne Horak on June 23, 2015 10 Comments in Uncategorized

VeniceFotoVines1

 

“For us to go to Italy and to penetrate into Italy is like a most fascinating act of self-discovery, back, back down the old ways of time. Strange and wonderful chords awake in us, and vibrate again after many hundreds of years of complete forgetfulness.”

So wrote the wonderful D.H. Lawrence many decades ago – but he may as well have been writing it as an attendee of the Venicefoto workshop that I taught together with my sister-from-another-mother Meeta last year.  Participants came from all over the world – as close as Italy, and as far as San Diego, as well as from Cyprus, Scotland, Florida, Austria, Germany and Bratislava.  Over the course of the weekend, all of them felt strange and wonderful chords of creativity vibrate within them as they worked together and alone, struggled with their limitations and inner demons, and emerged triumphant, energised and inspired after two days.  Creativity had been revitalised, friendships had been forged,  and all of us had fallen in love anew with Italy, particularly the beautiful Strada del Prosecco.

The Veneto is the area of Italy which surrounds the city of Venice, a hilly region of the Province of Treviso tucked between the Dolomites and the Adriatic.  In this beautiful and fertile area is the small strip of land where DOCG prosecco may be produced.  This is where you will find the 50 kilometre-long Strade del Vino Prosecco, widely accepted to be Italy’s first wine route, winding through Italy’s most celebrated vineyards in Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Between the small towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene lies the historic Cartizze hill, blessed with a micro-climate that produces the grapes from which the highest quality DOCG Prosecco Superiore is made. And it was over this hill that Meeta and I gazed out on the way to dinner on our first night in Valdobbiadene, enthralled and inspired by the beauty of the place and excited about welcoming our participants.

 

VenicefotoCartizzehill

 

VenicefotoVinesRoad

 

VenicefotoVines

 

VenicefotoSalisView

 

After a fabulous dinner at Salis (a restaurant that boasts the view in the photo directly above!) Meeta and I got a good night’s sleep so that we could be fresh and bright to welcome our participants in the morning!  As always, we had a very international group and as always, for our welcoming brunch, people were a little wary, not sure yet what to expect, how they would fit in with the group or who they would befriend.  As always, the stories told during our initial “elevator pitch” session were varied as to people’s reasons for coming and what they wanted to achieve out of the weekend.  Having all introduced ourselves, it was straight into the first sessions of the day as I unraveled the mysteries of shutter speed, aperture, ISO and more in my basics of photography presentation before we took a well-deserved break for lunch.  I giggled at the expressions of the hotel staff who looked totally perplexed when everyone in the room walked around taking pictures of all the food rather than eating it, and as I listened to people talking and laughing together as we snapped and (eventually!) ate, I knew the group was beginning to bond already.

 

VenicefotoToniaMonica

 

VeniceFotoDrinks

 

VenicefotoClaudia

 

VenicefotoLunch1

 

VenicefotoFood2

 

© J Horak-Druiff 20

 

After lunch it was Meeta’s turn to explain the art of food styling – basic points like light, colour and texture, as well as more advanced aspects like composition and creating a mood.  It was great watching participants have eureka moments as they listened to Meet explain how she had created a particular photo and see their faces saying “oh so that’s how she did it!”.  Once the presentation was over, it was time for the participants to do some work.  The hotel had kindly provided us with the use of their dining room and garden as well as some items left over from breakfast so that they could shoot to our hearts’ content. We were also fortunate in that we had received sponsorship from Zafferano Italy who had generously provided us with a wide selection of their glassware to use as photo props to use during the weekend. This designer range contains beautiful handmade pieces and it is easy to see why the brand is now known worldwide. Their collection contains everything from brightly coloured and funky tableware and glasses, to achingly elegant Champagne flutes – we loved the shape of the Venezia flutes, especially when we filled them with Nino Franco prosecco! I particularly liked the glasses from the Perle collection and the glasses and plates from the Provenzale collection.  We also thought this would be a good moment to hand over some sponsor goodies to each participant, including Donna Hay’s Fresh and Light cookbook from Harper Collins, and a jar of beautifully packaged Masala Monsoon garam masala.

 

VenicefotoAndrea2

 

VeniceFotoMonika

 

VeniceFotoPosition

 

VenicefotoMonica

 

VeniceFotoDiptych

 

VeniceFotoWorkshop1

 

VenicefotoTonia

 

Venicefotoviewfinder

 

VenicefotoAndrea

 

VenicefotoOutdoorShoot1

 

VenicefotoOutdoorStyling

 

VenicefotoOutsideTonia

 

VeniceFotoDianaGardenDiptych

 

VenicefotoZafferano

 

VenicefotoZafferano2

 

VenicefotoSponsorgoodies

 

VenicefotoNinoFrancofoil

 

VenicefotoMeetaPouring

 

VeniceFotoBubbles

 

VenicefotoMeetaNF

 

After some hands-on grappling with the complexities of food styling, it was back to the training room for a while so that I could explain the good, the bad and the ugly of restaurant photography and how to make the most of ambient light.  I’ve always said that the best way to reinforce what you have been taught is to put it into practice – and what better way to put in practice than to head out for dinner at a local osteria Amici Miei.  The friendly staff didn’t bat an eyelid as a dozen people descended on the restaurant, cameras all a-clicking, and they spoilt us with a wonderful rustic 4-course dinner comprising a plate of antipasti, pasta, risotto, a selection of main courses and dessert.  All the portions were generous, and I was totally smitten with my beef tagliata – buttery soft steak on a bed of rocket.  It was great to watch the participants relaxing after the long day and to see how conversation flowed as freely as the prosecco.

 

VenicefotoAmiciMiei

 

VenicefotoDInnerGirls

 

VeniceFotoAmiciMieiAntipasti

 

VenicefotoAmicimieiPhotogs2

 

VenicefotoMatt3

 

VenicefotoRestaurantGroup

 

VenicefotoAmiciMieiMeeta

 

VeniceFotoAmiciMieiphotographers

 

VenicefotoRestaurantMonika

 

VenicefotoMarco

 

VeniceFotoEvaDinner

 

VeniceFotoDinnerPhone

 

The next day dawned cool but sunny – a real bonus as we had been fearing rain, and we were due to visit some gorgeous vineyards and shoot images outdoors! After a quick breakfast, we set off for the Nino Franco winery on the outskirts of Valdobbiadene, our principal and most generous workshop sponsor.  Antonio Franco founded the “Cantine Franco” winery in Valdobbiadene in 1919, making this one of the oldest wineries in the village. It was Antonio who founded it but successive generations have built on his foundations: his son Nino expanded production and since Primo Franco took over in 1982 he has steadily improved the winery’s performance. Aside from investing in the production process to improve quality, Primo also began to travel so as to build an export market for his wines in Europe, the Americas and the Far East. Primo Franco was one of the first pioneers to export the Prosecco and to introduce a different sparkling wine than Champagne into the international market.  Although the estate is not open to the public for visits or tastings, Primo showed us around the vineyards and the cellar, as well as a panoramic view of the village and the Franco vineyards,before escorting us to the gorgeous modern tasting room to talk us through some of his wines.  When you meet Primo in person, it is easy to understand his success – he is open-minded, knowledgeable and very charming, and his love for what he does is evident. First Primo explained to us that all Prosecco is made from Glera grapes and has to be made in certain designated regions only. It is generally a dry sparkling wine with with bottles labelled Brut having up to 12 grams per litre of residual sugar, Extra Dry having 12–17 g/l, and Dry being the sweetest at 17–32 g/l.  Prosecco is permitted to be fermented in large stainless steel tanks (the cheaper varieties) but premium prosecco is made in exactly the same way as Champagne, fermented in the bottle.  To find the premium stuff, look for the terms “Prosecco Superiore DOCG” on the label.). We tried four of their wines, starting with the entry level Nino Franco Rustico NV (a pale colour, fine mousse, an appley nose with a hint of yeast, and a refreshing palate with low acid); the 2013 Riva San Floriano single vineyard prosecco (a nose of white peaches and flowers plus a wonderful fruit salad palate but balanced by a clean acidity); the 2011 Grave di Stecca prosecco from a single walled vineyard (a yeasty and surprisingly herbal nose, far less fruit on the intense and complex palate with a long Champagne-like finish); and the 2013 Primo Franco with the highest sugar content at 27g/l (a shy nose but a lush palate of litchis and almost tropical fruits, creamy and mouth-filling with a very long, clean finish).

 

VeniceFotoNFCellar

 

VenicefotoGroup

 

VeniceFotoValdobbiadeneView

 

VeniceFotoNFValdobbiadeneview2

 

VeniceFotoPrimoFranco

 

VeniceFotoNFTastingRoom

 

VeniceFotoNFVal

 

VeniceFotoNFTonia

 

VenicefotoClaudia

 

VenicefotoMatt

 

VenicefotoNFToniaCamera

 

VenicefotoNFPrimoHands

 

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VeniceFotoNFDacotahPouring

 

VenicefotoNFPouring

 

VenicefotoNFDaxTonia

 

VeniceFotoNFGlasses

 

Having explored the Nino Franco vineyards, cellar and tasting room it was time to explore another part of the estate:  Villa Barberina.  Villa Berberina is at 18th century villa on the Nino Franco estate, set at the end of an elegant gravel drive among the vines and ancient trees in a peaceful garden complete with swimming pool and quiet terraces. Comprising five spacious bedrooms, a number of large living rooms, a library and a modern kitchen, the house ie available to rent either as an entire property or as individual bedrooms.  But on this occasion the Francos had thrown open the doors of the villa for the exclusive use of our workshop participants for lunch and a photoshoot.  But of course, there is no way that you will come into an Italian home without first being plied with food and both Primo and his glamorous, charming wife Annalisa were on hand to welcome us warmly, to pour prosecco and to present us with a feast of local meats, cheeses and breads as well as a seasonal asparagus risotto.

 

VenicfotoVilaBarberinaPlaque

 

VeniceFotoVillaBarberina

 

VenicefotoBarberinaGates

 

VeniceFotoJeanne

 

VenicefotoMeeta

 

VenicefotoFrancos © J Horak-Druiff 20215

 

VenicefotoDacotah

 

 

VeniceFotoTable2

VenicefotoNinoFrancobottle1

 

VeniceFotoBarberinaFood © J Horak-Druiff 2015

 

Venicefototable

 

VeniceFotoPinkNinoFranco

 

VeniceFotoVillaBarberinaRoseDiptych

 

VeniceFotoMeetaLunch

 

VeniceFotoNinoFrancoRose

 

With lunch done and dusted, participants split up into groups and worked on their assignments. People quickly took advantage of our gorgeous location and spread out across the house and grounds, clutching food, bottles of Nino Franco and props from the gorgeous prop station that we had set up under the ancient stone arches. Meeta and I took a moment to catch our breath and to wander down to the vineyards with a glass of rosê, allowing people some space to develop their ideas.  As we made our way back to the villa, we were amazed at the creativity of the photoshoots that had been set up.  Here, a windowsill was being used as a tabletop; there a gorgeous breakfast tray sat on the gravel; and Ruby was doing a poolside shoot.  We spent some time with each group, giving advice and guidance, before the thunderclouds that had been threatening all afternoon finally arrived and the heavens opened, leaving us shrieking with laughter and running back to shelter the villa for an hour or two of editing ahead of participants’ final assignment presentations back at the hotel.  As always, the quality of people’s work and the amazing synergy that comes from working in pairs astonished us, as did the warm camaraderie over our farewell drinks. Our time on the Strada del Prosecco had not only awakened our creativity but also recharged our energy and grown our circle of friends and confidantes.

 

VenicefotoBarberinaUnderArches

 

VenicefotoZafferano

 

VeniceFotoBarberinaCrate

 

VenicefotoBarberinaVineyards

 

VeniceFotoBarberinaGlasses

 

VeniceFotoBarberinDaisies

 

VeniceFotoNinoFrancoWindowsill

 

VenicefotoBarberinaMonica

 

VeniceFotoBarberinaArches

 

VenicefotoBarberinaShoot

 

VeniceFotoBarberinaFood Shot

 

VenicefotoBarberinaPool

 

VenicefotoBarberinaRubyPool

 

VenicefotoBarberinaPoolDiptych

 

VenicefotoBarberinaMeetaPoppingCork

 

VenicefotoBarberinaStorm

 

VenicefotoBarberinaRain

 

VenicefotoBarberinaInterior

 

VenicefotoPhotoediting

 

Organising a workshop long distance is never easy (especially when you are on a crutch after a broken femur as I was!), but for this workshop we had the good fortune of working with some of the most amazing people who made our lives so much easier.  Dacotah Renneau and I have been friends for many years and as her job takes her to Valdobbiadene fairly often, she was invaluable as our eyes and ears in Italy, and was the driving force behind our hosting the workshop there.  She had introduced us to our principal sponsors, Primo and Annalise Franco of the Nino Franco wine estate – and more generous, accommodating and charming sponsors you could not hope to meet.  And then of course there was the super-accommodating team at the Hotel Diana where we and the participants would be staying – Michela, Francesca and Sauro were so enthusiastic and efficient and nothing seemed too much for them, both before and after our arrival.  We were very pleased with their large breakfast room, much of which we had at completely at our disposal during the day for photoshoots, and the pretty garden which provided a great backdrop for participants to shoot their food. The basement also houses a large conference room ideal for slideshows and presentations, and the lunch that they whipped up for us on the first day was delicious.  My and Meeta’s double room was clean, comfortable and of a good size  with lovely views of the town and surrounding hills. It also offers excellent value for money and is only a short walk into the centre of the town. The workshop would also not have been the same without the generous support of Harper Collins who sent each participant a book of Donna Hay’s breathtaking book Fresh and Light; Zafferano who sent such exquisite props; and Masala Monsoon (a company run by a our good friend Sumayya Usmani) who donated little jars of their gorgeous floral garam masala blends – a massive thank you to all of you! And of course, none of this would be possible without my awesome, amazing and inspirational co-presenter Meeta, who rocks my world every time we work together!

 

VenicefotoJeanneDacotah

 General silliness in La Follina with Dacotah and participant Monica

VenicefotoJeanneMeeta

 Sisters from different mothers!!

For even more photos, please see my Flickr album of the weekend or the Storify summary of the weekend that I put together for your viewing pleasure. Here are some other perspectives on the weekend, from Meeta as well as from some of the participants who have blogs:

  • Meeta’s Venicefoto – Inspiration on the Strada del Prosecco
  • Monica’s Food photography in Italy
  • Eva’s Food photography & styling workshop
  • Andrea’s Prosecco Italy – May 2014

 

This workshop was generously supported by:

Nino Franco  HarperCollinsLogo   logo zafferano rosso  MasalaMonsoon

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  1. Jo of Jo's Kitchen says

    June 23, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    This looks amazing! Wish I could of been there

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      June 24, 2015 at 11:35 pm

      Aaaah, you would have had so much fun Jo! It’s wonderful how a weekend like this can boost your energy!

      Reply
  2. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says

    June 23, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    I’d love to attend one of your classes one day! Looks like everyone had a fab time.

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      June 24, 2015 at 11:36 pm

      You should Becca! Would be such fun, and there is no doubt that spending a weekend with like-minded people is so inspiring 🙂

      Reply
  3. Sarah Maison Cupcake says

    June 23, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Oh it looks like you all had such fun and I’d dearly love to attend one of these workshops some day – if only it wasn’t for the entourage who need holidays too.

    Funnily enough I’ve been editing my own delayed photos from Venice although in my case they are from 2013!!!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      June 24, 2015 at 11:37 pm

      I am really holding thumbs that you can join us one day Sarah (and we’ll find something nearby for the entourage to do ;o)) Glad I am not the only one doing delayed photo editing!

      Reply
  4. Katie Bryson says

    June 23, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Wow this looks like THE most incredible experience! I would absolutely adore to have joined you for this… what could be finer than indulging in a weekend of food photography and styling in the land of prosecco?! I really cannot think of a single thing I’d rather do!!! Thanks for sharing Jeanne, that really has made my lunchtime very dreamy indeed!!!!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      June 24, 2015 at 11:39 pm

      Aaah, thanks for your lovely words Katie! I have to say, the lovely environment definitely boosted people’s creativity (and I am sure a couple of glasses of prosecco helped too LOL!)

      Reply
  5. Rosana, Hot&Chilli Food and Travel Blog says

    June 24, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    Jeanne! this looks amazing adventure! Meeta looks well happy with that bottle of Nino Franco, not surprised – it is delicious! Rx

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      June 24, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Hahaha – you know the drill Rosana – prosecco time is definitely happy time, especially when we are drinking Nino Franco! Hope you get to join us on a workshop one day 🙂

      Reply
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Did you know that...

💩 You can visit the building on monthly open days - the next one is Sun 20 Feb. Book at www.crossness.org.uk

💩  It was only in 1856, after 3 major cholera outbreaks in 30 years and the Big Stink when the stench of London's sewage finally reached Parliament, that construction of an intercepting sewer system for the city was approved.  The system (parts of which are still in use today) was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, Chief Engineer of London's Board of Metropolitan Works at the time.

💩  At Crossness, all London's sewage from south of the river was was raised by 9-12 metres to large reservoirs so that gravity would cause it to flow further east and into the Thames estuary. (Yes, until the 1880s, raw sewage was simply pumped into the Thames!)

💩 The incoming liquid was raised by the four enormous steam driven pumps, built to Joseph Bazalgette's design. The pumps were named Victoria, Prince Consort, Albert Edward, and Alexandra. They are thought to be the largest remaining rotative beam engines in the world, with 52-ton flywheels and 47-ton beams. 

💩 The pumping station was decommissioned and abandoned in the 1950s but declared a listed building in 1970.  Although all 4 beam engines remain in place, they were so damaged that today (thanks to the efforts of the Crossness Engines Trust) only Prince Consort has been restored to working condition and can be seen in action on open days.

💩 The exuberant and colourful wrought ironwork inside is the amazing work of architect Charles Henry Driver. My favourite detail is the fact that the pillars in the central atrium are topped with stylised figs and senna pods... two of nature's greatest natural laxatives 🤣
*NEW RECIPE* Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta ch *NEW RECIPE* Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts

Ever noticed how you are affected by colours? 🌈

Maybe some colours make you agitated and some make you relaxed. Or maybe you find yourself inexplicably attracted to a particular colour (oh, hi teal and aqua!💙). On the basis that all colours have a wavelength, and that those outside the visible spectrum can affect us, it makes sense that the colours we see can affect our mood or even our physiology. Did you know for instance that exposure to red light can increase your blood pressure and heart rate? Are there any colours that you find yourself particularly attracted to or affected by?

The pretty colours of these roasted Brussels sprouts with feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts will be the first things that attract you to this dish - but it is the delicious combination of flavours and textures that will keep you coming back for more!

The recipe (and more about how colour affects us mentally and physically) is now live on my blog - click the live link in my profile and remember to like and bookmark this post to see more Cooksister in your Instagram feed ❤️
Perspective: a particular attitude towards or way Perspective: a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something.

Perspective is the one thing that the Covid-19 pandemic has given us plenty of. It has certainly made us re-evaluate what is truly important, and also what we did and didn't enjoy about our lives  before the pandemic and its associated lockdowns. It made me appreciate how much happiness my house, my job, my friends, my own company and my running bring to my life (and how fortunate I am to have all these things). But it also brought home how much I enjoy and miss travel, the theatre, and the luxury of reataurant visits at the drop of a hat. I don't think words can describe my joy at sipping the first coffee purchased from a coffee shop in summer 2020 as lockdown eased. It's the little things...

One of the things I have enjoyed and will not miss as the world creeps back to normality is the absence of crowds in what is usually a crowded city. On the occasions that I have been in central London since the start of the pandemic, streets have been blissfully empty and it has felt as if I were discovering my city anew. This glorious perspective (hah!) of St Paul's Cathedral normally requires a long wait while a queue of tourists and "influencers" ahead of you pose for photos - but on this glorious day last Spring it was almost deserted. I will miss that...

Is there anything you will miss as Covid-19 restrictions start to be lifted?
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts

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