Christiane Slawik Workshop 2013

The Christiane Slawik photo workshop took place here at Castellare last week.

We had 14 international participants hailing from the USA, Holland,Romania,Hungary, Switzerland, Germany and Slovenia.

The weather all week was good, and we had to cancel only one shooting due to a heavy storm.

The day excursion to Roberta and Miche’s fabulous Murgese stud and training center in La Spezia was without a doubt one of the weeks highlights. We even dragged the bus driver Luigi up to watch and have lunch with us. Im sure he thought we were mad, especially when due to a change in weather we had to move the lunch table under the stallions box awning… so we truly did have lunch with the ‘Murgese horses’.

Here are a few photos taken of the workshop in progress, on the next post I will put up some pics taken by the participants – all of whom were very talented!

We will be doing the same workshop next year on the second week of September. This year places filled up before the end of Feb, so get in fast if your interested. Details on their way…

Sunflower fields and solitary cyprus trees

Last week the weather cooled a few degrees to make on of the nicest riding temperatures we have had all year. Whilst still undeniably hot, there was almost Always a soft breeze that kept both horse and rider comfortable.

On a couple of the day rides this week we took alternate routes, using old logger trails to San Vivaldo, and a new network of sand trails hidden between libbiano and Castelfalfi to get to Ghizzano. The sand trails behind Ghizzano made for some excellent canters and exciting gallops, whilst the logger trails down to San Vivaldo were full of stunning flora and fauna, making a different ride altogether.

The sunflowers are in full bloom around Ghizzano and Castellare right now, and made for some nice photo moments.

All of the horses were keen and energetic, especially on the last day when we enjoyed some fabulous long canters up in the Hills near San Minato which I attempted to photograph from the back of a very bouncy Brownie!