Tuscany and Umbria Landscapes

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These landscape photographs by David and Jan Harris aim to show the mood of Tuscany and Umbria. These images were all taken in the area around Montepulciano in late March/early April 1998. This area consists of rolling hills, covered with vineyards, dotted with Cypress and Umbrella pines and features many abandoned villas. In mist or haze, the landscape gains a soft, romantic air.

All images © David or Jan Harris

Shades of Tuscany by David Harris
This image shows an abandoned villa near San Quirico d'Orcia set against a backdrop of Monte Amiata, a distinctive extinct volcano which dominates Southern Tuscany. Taken in hazy conditions using black and white film, I have digitally enhanced the picture by hand colouring and soft focus. In the original print the mood is further enhanced by printing on textured watercolour paper.
Tuscan Vineyard by Jan Harris
This is a crop of a panoramic picture showing a vineyard set against a backdrop of Mount Cetona. The villa is currently abandoned, the vines now being part of a large vineyard. The image has been digitally manipulated, with a texture of brush strokes applied.
La Chiesetta by David Harris
This picture shows a villa and chapel near San Quirico d'Orcia. The chapel is in a setting of rolling hills, against a backdrop of much higher hills (latgely invisible in this picture). Many of the villas in this area are particularly photogenic. In spring the fields are an amazing green as sen in this photo. The image has been digitally enhanced by applying a subtle brush stroke texture and soft focus.
Monticchiello Curves by Jan Harris
This picture shows a typical Tuscan cypress-lined road, winding down a hillside. Yes it does snow in late March in Tuscany! A blue duotone has been used to enhance the cold feeling, and it was very, very cold.
Duomo Detail by David Harris
This is a close up detail of Siena's magnificent Duomo. The only digital manipulation has been to remove the converging verticals. How much would this much marble cost at today's prices?
Tuscan Sunset by David Harris
Taken near Radi, South of Siena this shows a beautiful soft sunset. This sunset developed into spectacular colour/mist effects about an hour later, unfortunately we were on the autostrada!
Umbrian Village by David Harris
This village near the Umbria/Tuscany border is framed by elegant trees. Soft, misty conditions have simplified the tones in the image, the mood of which is further enhanced by a subtle duotone and soft focus.
Reeds and Posts by Jan Harris
This shows Lake Trasimeno from the shoreline at Castiglione del Lago in very misty conditions. Mooring posts and distant hills add depth beyond the dominant foreground reeds. The picture has a blue duotone to enhance the mood.
Pienza by David Harris
Pienza from afar is a graceful town of tall buildings, spires and cypress trees. The town looks over a spectacular countryside of soft rolling hills. Taken in late light, this photograph trys to capture the textures in the hills, whilst showing Pienza's dominating character.
Abandoned Villa by David Harris
Whilst many of the abandoned villas in Tuscany have been renovated, often with great care to produce excellent holiday accommodation, there remain a great many relics from an earlier age when small vineyards/farms were viable. This image shows one such abandoned villa, surrounded by an olive grove. The last rays of the setting sun were striking the villa, emphasizing its yellow/orange colour.
Treeline by Janet Harris
A tuscan theme is the mix of cypress trees and umbrella pines along the top of ridges. Late light brings out the folds in the land.
Folded landscape by Janet Harris
Early light brings out the shape of the landscape around San Quirico d'Orcia. The original is a colour slide which has been converted to a black and white, with a subtle green duotone. Soft focus adds to the feel.
Land Shapes by David Harris
Early mist simplifies the shape of the landscape around Asciano. Unmanipulated from the original slide.
Tuscan Villa by Janet Harris
Colourful spring landscape, taken around Montepulciano. Manipulated in Photoshop to give an "oil pastel" effect.
Distant Islands by David Harris
Early mist around Asciano, composed to give a three dimensional feel. Unmanipulated from the original slide.

The Galleries

Each of the galleries contains around 4 to 6 images, with each image a file size of between 20KB and 60KB.

Jan's landscapes, all containing mist
A collection of Dave's landscapes, B&W and colour
Some graphic shots of architecture (mostly modern)
Natural history: butterflies, moths and orchids
Some close ups of nature
A photo essay on the Rollright Stones, a megalithic stone circle
American Southwest galleries
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