Group size
Max 5
Duration
6 nights / 7 days
Fitness Level
Easy to Moderate
Accommodation
4-star hotel Alpe di Siusi 4-star hotel in Alleghe
Meeting place
Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
A seven-day Dolomites summer photo tour capturing the incredible landscapes.
Join me for a fabulous Dolomites summer photo tour during July 2027. The photography tour will be based in two separate areas so that we can maximize the photo locations as well as find the beautiful wildflowers in this area of northern Italy. The photo opportunities in the summer months up in the Dolomites include images of high, jagged mountains, misty mornings, vineyards and forests full of colour.
During July, we start to see the wildflowers as well as those beautiful misty mornings. We will endeavour to make the very best of the morning and evening light during the Dolomites photo tour. You will be taken to some of the very best photogenic locations such as the Alpe di Siusi and Santa Maddalena, but I’ll also lead you to explore lesser-known hidden gems, so you can photograph a wide array of classic landscape imagery, from breathtaking landscapes and vineyards to lifestyle and close-up photography.
There is a possibility we will use one or two cable cars to get us up high to photograph some of the mountain vistas. These average around 30€ or 100€ for a return trip and are not included in the fee. However, I can assure you that the views are incredible and well worth the extra expense.
Our stay is based in two four-star hotels. The hotels provide us with breakfast in the morning. The first hotel is situated on the stunning Alpe di Siusi and gives us direct access to this incredible landscape.
Photography techniques covered during the Dolomites workshop
Out in the field
- Exposure and understanding of how to get the best out of the light
- Composition techniques to create balanced images
- Lens choice and focal length. Typically, people head for the wide-angle in a landscape, but up in the mountains telephoto lenses are also heavily used.
- Panoramic photography. How to best compose the beautiful panoramas that we’ll see during the photography tour
Processing
- Using Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw to process our images
- Using luminosity masks in Adobe Photoshop
- Colour correction
- Stitching panoramic images
Dolomites Summer Photo Tour 2027 Itinerary
Day 1
4 July 2027
Arrival at Venice Marco Polo (VCE) Airport.
I will collect the workshop attendees at Venice Marco Polo Airport at around 100PM. From here, we will drive northwards to our hotel on the Alpe di Siusi. If there is time and weather permitting, we’ll head out to do a sunset shoot before enjoying an evening meal at a local restaurant.
Days 2, 3, 4 morning
5 – 7 July 2027
Every day we will be out in the morning for a sunrise shoot before heading back to our hotel for breakfast. We’ll spend the rest of the day shooting out on location until sunset. Both lunch and dinner will be in local restaurants.
During this half of the tour, we will cover some of the iconic places such as Santa Maddalena and San Johann in the Val di Funes and the Alpe di Siusi.
Days 4 afternoon, 5, 6, 7 morning
7 – 10 July 2027
In the afternoon of day 4, we’ll make our way over to Alleghe. After checking in at our hotel, we’ll head out to shoot in the evening.
In the second half of the Dolomites tour, we will, of course, visit some of the iconic places such as Lago di Misurina and the Tre Cime, but I’ll also take you to some lesser-known locations.
The rest of the days will be spent shooting out on location from pre-dawn until sunset. Both lunch and dinner will be in local restaurants.
After breakfast on day 7, we’ll drive back to Venice Marco Polo Airport.
It’s worth noting that a number of photo tours stick to an itinerary, giving you a day-by-day breakdown of where you are going. As the Dolomites are a mountainous area where the weather can be very changeable, I prefer to have a degree of flexibility built into my photography tours.
I’m here as a professional landscape and travel photographer to help you get the best from the Dolomites photo tour. You can expect:
- In the field guidance
- Instruction in composition and how best to compose your images
- Understand how the exposure triangle works
- Explanation of the different exposure modes
- How to use filtration, such as polarizers, ND and ND grad filters
- RAW files and White Balance
- Understanding Light and getting the best out of it
- Understanding shutter speed so you can make the right choice
- The Importance of Composition – Using Lines and Texture
- Histograms Explanation – Exposing to the Right for Maximum Details
The two inevitable questions before any photography tour are “what camera gear do I bring and what clothing?”
Camera Gear
- Ensure you bring spare batteries for your camera as well as the battery charger.
- During the Dolomites photo tour, we will be taking images at both wide angles and telephoto, so ensure you have the following focal lengths covered: 17mm to 200mm. Ideally, a 24-105mm and a 100-400/ 500mm will cover most scenes.
- Tripod.
- A cable release, but you can also use the self-timer if you don’t have one.
- The manual for your camera can be useful
- Filters – Circular Polariser, ND’s, and graduated ND’s will be of use
Clothing
- Expect cold temperatures during the morning and evening shoots. Think that in the morning we are likely to encounter temperatures around 0°C or 32°F.
- Ensure you have base layers and mid layers to keep warm.
- A down jacket and a rain jacket will cover you in the eventualities of cold/ and or wet weather.
- Good walking boots are an advantage. We don’t do any long and strenuous hikes, but we will be on scree at some points, so ensure your boots are both sturdy and waterproof.
Dolomites Photo Tour FAQs
What flights do you recommend?
Venice Marco Polo (VCE) airport is served by a multitude of international flight operators from budget airlines to commercial airlines such as British Airways, American Airlines, Delta, Air Canada and Air France. My own flight arrives around 12-1PM, and if you would like to join the Dolomites photography tour and need a recommendation on a flight then please do get in touch.
Where do I meet you?
We will all meet at the arrivals lounge at Venice Marco Polo on 4th July 2027. Please ensure that you arrive in good time and have eaten lunch, as we will be heading straight off to our first hotel. Aim to arrive by 1 – 2PM as my own flight will be at this time.
How about getting back to the airport?
The last day of the photo tour typically includes a dawn shoot and breakfast on Saturday before we head back to Venice Marco Polo Airport.
Footwear?
Walking shoes are perfect for the countryside. Do be aware that during those misty mornings, the grass will be full of dew, and it would be wise to have boots that are waterproof to keep your feet dry. As we will visit towns and villages, a pair of trainers/ sneakers will help keep your feet cool and will make walking easier.
What camera kit should I bring?
A wide-angle lens (16-35mm), medium zoom (24-70mm) and a longer zoom (100-400mm) will be ideal to cover most compositional eventualities but don’t forget the macro lens if you have one. The most used will be in the 24-70mm range as a super wide-angle doesn’t always translate, so make sure this focal length is covered. It’s best not to weigh yourself down, so why not bring an airport-style bag for all your kit and a smaller day bag, which you can decant equipment into throughout the day.
Do I need a computer?
Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with myself and others in the group. It is a great learning experience, so it’s highly recommended to bring a laptop to learn and for personal entertainment.
What computer support do you give?
I try to make a point of tutoring digital photography to all my clients, to help complete the learning process. It helps to have a computer session when tiredness takes hold, or inclement weather persists.
What’s included in the Dolomites Summer Photo Tour?
Photo tuition from Julian Elliott
Double rooms on a single-occupancy basis (no single supplement) with en suite bathrooms in the Alpe di Siusi and Alleghe areas
Breakfasts
Transport during the tour
What’s not included in the Dolomites photo tour?
International flights to and from Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
Airport taxes
Entry visa, if required, to Italy
Early/ late check-in/ out service at hotels
Travel insurance and trip cancellation (highly advised)
Medical expenses
Meals not mentioned
Personal expenses such as telephone charges, laundry etc
Tips and gratuities for drivers, guides and hotel porters
Services and transportation are for listed activities only
Charges will be applied for any additional requests
All other services which are not mentioned in the Inclusion section
My tours fill up quickly but sometimes spots open up due to cancellations.
If the tour you are interested in is currently full and you would like to be added to the waiting list then please fill out this form