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. Altitude Gallery proudly represents Jim Nilsen from Edmonds, Washington. Read on to learn about the artist's inspiration and artistic journey. .

Like for many photographers, my fascination with photography began at an early age.

For me it was at 16 when I took my first photography class in high school. I was always adventurous and with my first camera, a Pentax Spotmatic, I began exploring the local mountains of Washington State. At around this time, I also began spending my summers working with my father on his fishing boat in Alaska . . . more big adventure. I went on to spend 20 seasons in Alaska fishing for salmon and herring.

After receiving a degree in Commercial and Portrait Photography in the early 80s, I made my first overseas journey, a 3.5 month trip from the top of Norway to the bottom of Greece. I was hooked. Photography and travel are so interrelated to me now that I can’t imagine doing one without the other. My wife, Magrit, and I now spend 2 to 3 months each year on the road, photographing and leading photography travel tours/workshops.

With the advent of digital capture and digital post-processing techniques, I am more excited than ever about the craft of photography. We are able to capture incredible detail and tonal range with the new cameras and software. It is truly amazing.

The novelist Isabel Allende writes beautifully about the photographic process in her book, "Portrait in Sepia."

“If you observe an ordinary object or body very closely, it is transformed into something sacred. The camera can reveal secrets that the naked eye or mind cannot capture; everything disappears except the thing that is the focus of the picture. The photograph is an exercise in observation, and the result is always a stroke of luck. The camera is a simple apparatus, even the most inept person can use it. The challenge lies in creating with it that combination of truth and beauty called art. The quest is above all, spiritual.”

Magrit and I live in Edmonds, a delightful little town on the Puget Sound, just north of  Seattle.

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Tuscany Photo Tour 2024 #1 | La Bella Toscana

Cypresses_Tuscany_Italy

This Tour is Full, Join the Waitlist.

• tour #1: may 7 to 13 (6 nights) • group size: min 5, max 10 • cost: $3,975, single supplement $475 • tour starts and ends in pisa, space is limited • reserve my spot » • i have questions » • sign up for updates » • see all 2024 tours ».

Tuscany Photo Tour

Tour Description

Dates | cost | difficulty, tour extensions, what to bring, photo gallery, imagine medieval hill towns, cypress-lined lanes, the scent of herbs and wildflowers, rolling green hills, delicious fresh food and wine, and best of all, capturing stunning, professional images on our tuscany photo tour., one of the best destinations in the world to take a photo tour and create your own stunning masterpieces. join our popular tuscany flagship tour.

It is hard to describe just how magical it is to be out in the Tuscan landscape with your camera. I often have to pinch myself to believe that I am really there. It is that special. Tuscany is a photography lover’s paradise.

You are invited on this immersive trip with award-winning photographer Jim Nilsen  and designer Magrit Baurecht Nilsen . On this guided Tuscany Photo Tour you will explore the sensual landscape and villages of Tuscany and learn how to create stunning photographic masterpieces worthy of publication. In addition to guiding you to the best photogenic locations in Tuscany, this photo tour also includes instructional sessions in workflow and post-processing using photo editing software so that you can craft the best images possible.

This photography tour is based out of the charming medieval hill town of  Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, a region that is universally recognized as one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. We will spend six nights in a cozy hotel with the best breakfast buffet in all of Italy. This will be our home base for daily photographic forays into the surrounding countryside. Many of the iconic Tuscan images you may already be familiar with were captured near Pienza. This convenient proximity offers us the opportunity to spontaneously return to specific photo sites to catch just the “right light.” This is “slow travel” at its best.

Join us for a wonderful Tuscany Photo Tour to one of our favorite regions of Italy.

  • On our Tuscany Photo Tour based out of charming Pienza, some of the destinations we will visit include the medieval hill towns of Montepulciano, Montalcino, Monticchiello, San Quirico d’ Orcia, Sorano, and Pitigliano.
  • On some days, you will have the option to rise early to capture images such as a quintessential Tuscan farmhouse at blue hour and in the early morning light with mist rising in the valley before enjoying your first well-deserved cappuccino.
  • Our lovely hotel in the heart of the charming medieval town of Pienza offers a wonderful buffet breakfast.
  • At night, when all the tourists have gone back to Florence or continued on to Rome, our small photo tour group will have the tranquil car-free lanes all to ourselves. It doesn’t get any more romantic than the tiny “Via dell’Amore” (love street) and “Via del Bacio” (kiss street). We like to think of ourselves as travelers rather than tourists and our approach to this photo tour reflects our slow travel philosophy. By spending seven nights based in one location, we will be able to experience the daily rhythms of life in a small Tuscan town.
  • In addition to great photo opportunities on our Tuscany Photo Tour, we will be lecturing (mostly in the field) on photographic topics including:
  • Composition
  • Digital Workflow
  • Panoramic Photography
  • Depth of Field calculation
  • Focal Blending
  • Blue Hour Photography
  • Filters, Neutral Density, and Neutral Density Grads
  • Photoshop & Lightroom Tips and Tricks
  • Nik Software

This is a sample itinerary that is subject to change depending on weather and other circumstances beyond our control. Changes in the itinerary are always made to provide the best possible experience for our clients. 

May 6, 2024

Plan on spending this evening in Pisa. This will allow you time to get some rest before the tour begins and also ensure that you arrive on time for the following day’s departure for our Tuscany Photo Tour. Or treat yourself to a few nights before the tour to adjust to jetlag. There are many places to explore out of Pisa including Florence and Lucca.

Our Tuscany Photo Tour group meets at the Hotel NH Pisa  at 10 am for departure to Pienza which takes approximately 3 hours. After checking into our B&B, we will have a group meeting before heading out to explore Pienza and photograph our first sunset at the nearby “Terrapille” farmhouse. This is one of the most photogenic scenes in Tuscany and was even featured in the movie Gladiator.

May 8 – 12

We have five full days to explore the magical Val d’Orcia region and beyond with our van.

Our Tuscany Photo Tour group will depart Pienza at 10 am for the journey back to Pisa. You also have the option of not returning to Pisa with the group if you want to continue on your own, for example to Rome. In that case, taxi transport can be arranged to the nearby town of Chiusi where one can catch trains north to Florence or south to Rome.

Dates:  May 7 – 13, 2024 (6 nights in Pienza) 

Cost:  $3,975 | single supplement $475, a 5% discount will apply to those also attending the cinque terre photo tour., a $500 deposit will secure your spot., click here to make your deposit for 2024 », what is included in the tuscany photo tour.

  • 6 nights lodging
  • All breakfasts
  • Daily van transportation to photo locations
  • All entrance fees and tolls as well as ground transportation except for transport to and from the airport.
  • Jim & Magrit’s expertise in guiding and photographic instruction

Tuscany Photo Tour level of physical difficulty:  2 out of 5

Involves some walking on steep hills and uneven surfaces.

We will be traveling in  9-passenger vans and you must be physically able to step in and out of the van with your own efforts. The step-up into the van is higher than a typical home stair-step.

Join us before your Tuscany Photo Tour after,  on the picturesque Cinque Terre Photo Tour, or before on the Czech Republic Photo  Tour. A 5% discount will apply to all tours!

Czech republic & prague photo tour 2024 | old-world charm, april 24 to may 2 | 2024(8 nights), cinque terre | timeless italy photo tour, may 15 to 19 | 2024(4 nights), personal items, camera equipment, and weather conditions | tuscany photo tour.

Temperature range for this time of year : 54 to 66º F

Average monthly rainfall for this time of year : 3 ”

Please pack light , as we will not have room in the van for more than one piece of luggage plus a camera bag for each of us. Please restrict your main piece of luggage to no more than 26 inches . Magrit & I both travel for 4-5 months with 25-26 inch Travel Pro Max Lite luggage. Most airlines are now charging for more than one piece of checked baggage. Keep in mind that laundry service is available in Pienza.

Long pants and socks so that you can tuck your pants into your socks to avoid tick exposure while in the field. Short, lightweight gaiters are useful. Here is a fun brand , $20….you need to attach the included piece of self-stick velcro to the back of your shoe.

Tick repellent.

Headlamp with Red Light Mode.

Two pairs of shoes:  One sturdy pair for in the field that you can get wet and muddy. One pair for evenings.

Lightweight rain jacket and rain pants.  You don’t have to go all out here, but if we have some wet weather and it is not raining too hard we can still go out and get some good photos.   I really suggest a rain jacket if nothing else. We have worn cut-open Hefty bags as skirts and they work great when we did not have rain pants. The rain gear will keep you dry when walking in tall, wet grass.

Small umbrella for rain and shade.  I use an umbrella often to block the sun from hitting the front element of my lens. Black is best. I like this one.

Sweater or light jacket for a possible chill on early morning shoots.  A light layer underneath a rain jacket can be surprisingly warm. Magrit & I both travel with lightweight down vests and jackets.

Hat for sun and rain protection.

Camera Equipment . On this Tuscany Photo Tour a long lens is recommended. I suggest at least up to 300 mm on a full-frame. I now travel with a Full Frame Sony system and carry a 16-35, 24-105 and 70-300. A sturdy tripod is essential.

  • Preplanned tours
  • Daytrips out of Moscow
  • Themed tours
  • Customized tours
  • St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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Good Morning Porto | #1396

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Somewhere in Tuscany | #1301

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Valensole Sentinels | #1327

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Beau Valensole | #1367

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Simplicity | #1329

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Classic Valensole | #1356

chapel, Slovenia

Waiting for the Blue Hour | #1352

Burano, Italy

Love Shutters | #1382

Burano, Italy

Tranquility | #1380

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Moody Sintra |#1383

pena palace, sintra,portugal

Pena Palace Detail | #1384

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The Side Entrance | #1385

doorway, provence, france

Rear Entrance | #1386

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Freedom | #1388

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Worth the Wait | #1390

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

  • 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
  • Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

  • Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
  • Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
  • Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
  • Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
  • Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
  • Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
  • Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
  • Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
  • If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
  • Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
  • Have fun time with a very friendly local;
  • + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

  • Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
  • + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

  • Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
  • Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
  • The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

  • + A friend in Moscow.
  • + Private & customized Moscow tour.
  • + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
  • + An authentic experience of local life.
  • + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
  • + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
  • + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
  • + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
  • + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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COMMENTS

  1. Photo Tours

    Photo Tours. Together with my wife Magrit, I'd like to invite you to join us for one of our many customized Photography Travel Tours to some of the most photogenic locations in Europe. ... Contact Jim Nilsen at: telephone 425.672.9760 [email protected]. We recommend: Secure Credit Card Checkout.

  2. Jim Nilsen Photography

    PHOTO TOURS | We're leading photography travel tours for all skill levels to the most stunning locations in Europe each spring. Improve your photographic and post processing skills with a fun group of fellow photographers. Read more » MEET JIM NILSEN | Award-winning photographer Jim Nilsen has an unstoppable passion for photography. With the ...

  3. Photo Tours 2024 and 2025

    European Photography Travel Tours in 2024! My name is Jim Nilsen and along with my wife Magrit, I'd like to invite you to join our Photography Travel Tours in 2024, our 14th year of leading tours to the most photogenic locations in Europe. Sign-ups for these tours have already been very enthusiastic. Reserve your spot soon.

  4. Photography Tours with Jim

    Category: Photography Tours with Jim . Fog in the beautiful Val d'Orcia in Tuscany ... Contact Jim Nilsen at: telephone 425.672.9760 [email protected]. We recommend: Secure Credit Card Checkout. Shop with confidence and convenience! Your SECURE Credit Card Checkout is GUARANTEED.

  5. Meet your Guides, Jim and Magrit

    Aside from making great photos and leading photography tours to his favorite locations, Jim also loves the intricacies of the post-production process and all its endless possibilities. Jim is also a passionate skier and hiker (he and Magrit completed a 9-day high-alpine hut-to-hut hike in the rugged Italian Dolomites) and loves riding his bike ...

  6. Jim Nilsen's Photography Travel Tours

    Specializing in world class photo tours with award winning professional photographer, Jim Nilsen. We offer a unique opportunity for photography travel tours of beautiful and exotic locations. Take ...

  7. Jim Nilsen

    Shop Jim Nilsen →. .Altitude Gallery proudly represents Jim Nilsen from Edmonds, Washington.Read on to learn about the artist's inspiration and artistic journey.. Artist Bio Like for many photographers, my fascination with photography began at an early age. For me it was at 16 when I took my first photography class in high school.

  8. About Jim Nilsen

    My wife Magrit and I now spend 2 to 3 months each year on the road, photographing and leading photography travel tours/workshops. ... Contact Jim Nilsen at: telephone 425.672.9760 [email protected]. We recommend: Secure Credit Card Checkout. Shop with confidence and convenience! Your SECURE Credit Card Checkout is GUARANTEED.

  9. Jim Nilsen's Photography Travel Tours

    Jim Nilsen's Photography Travel Tours, Edmonds, Washington. 5,465 likes · 19 talking about this. http://photographytraveltours.com - Join Jim & Magrit on spectacular ...

  10. Jim Nilsen Photographs for Sale

    Photographs by Jim Nilsen Jim + Magrit 2017-06-29T02:02:17+00:00 When he is not busy leading photo tours, Jim Nilsen creates stunning Fine Art Photographs for corporate and home décor. He specializes in decorative scenes from Greece, Italy, Mexico, Latin America, the Czech Republic, Morocco, Slovenia, Croatia, France and the US.

  11. Grand Opening of...

    Grand Opening of our Virtual Photo Tours 2020! CIAO TUTTI! Each day, we'll share photos and anecdotes of the places we'd normally be visiting and photographing right now. We'll spice it all up with...

  12. Portugal Photo Tour 2024

    Our Portugal Photo Tour begins in the north, in Porto, Portugal's second-largest city, and ends in historic and enchanting Lisbon. In between, we will visit and photograph the Douro Valley, Miramar, Aveiro, Obidos, Tomar, and Nazaré. We will encounter many wonderful photo opportunities along the way including colorful tile-covered buildings ...

  13. Turn Your Hobby Into a Business

    Jim Nilsen was a commercial fisherman for 20 years when he realized it was time to do something else. "My heart wasn't in it," he says. "It was time to quit.". Jim had enjoyed taking photographs since he was a boy and had gotten a degree in photography during the off season. During fishing season, he shot a lot of photos on the job ...

  14. Jim Nilsen Photo Tours

    Jim and Magrit will present beautiful images from nine different locations in Italy, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Croatia. This presentation also includes photography tips for anybody who would like to create their own masterpieces. Jim Nilsen is an award-winning photographer who specializes in travel photography. He has ...

  15. 2023 Photography Travel Tours Schedule

    2023 Photography Travel Tours Schedule Jim + Magrit 2023-12-17T15:17:20+00:00 Thank you for your interest in our 2023 Photography Travel Tours Schedule. We're excited about the line-up and especially about adding our new Alpine Italy & Slovenia destinations.

  16. Tuscany Photo Tour, Italy

    Tuscany is a photography lover's paradise. You are invited on this immersive trip with award-winning photographer Jim Nilsen and designer Magrit Baurecht Nilsen. On this guided Tuscany Photo Tour you will explore the sensual landscape and villages of Tuscany and learn how to create stunning photographic masterpieces worthy of publication.

  17. Jim Nilsen

    View Jim Nilsen's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. ... Photographer & Photography Travel Tour Leader at Photography Travel Tours Edmonds, Washington, United ...

  18. Private Moscow Metro Tour: explore the underground palaces

    Moscow is home to some extravagant metro stations and this 1.5-hour private tour explores the best of them. Sometimes considered to be underground "palaces" these grandiose stations feature marble columns, beautiful designs, and fancy chandeliers. Visit a handful of stations including the UNESCO-listed Mayakovskaya designed in the Stalinist architecture. Learn about the history of the ...

  19. Moscow metro tour

    The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours' itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin's regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as "a people's palace". Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics ...

  20. Private Moscow Metro Tour with Friendly Local Guide Guide

    In other cities, metro stations are simply a means to an end. In Moscow, however, stations serve as magnificent museums and are characterized by mosaics, extravagant architecture, and marble columns. See the best of the Moscow Metro on this private tour. Visit the capital's oldest station, opened in 1935, see 76 bronze figures depicting Soviet heroes, and learn about Moscow's turbulent ...

  21. Moscow Metro Tour with Friendly Local Guides

    Moscow Metro private tours. 2-hour tour $87: 10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off; 3-hour tour $137: 20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. Metro pass is included in the price of both tours. Highlight of Metro Tour