And so it is ... in Genova

The intensity of these days here in Italy have been quite incredible.  I have been teaching photography workshops in Genova and they have been everything ... a privilege, a challenge, so much fun, exhausting, exhilarating.

They have been about people ... about breakfasts at Douce while sitting outside in Piazza Matteotti, about the occasional aperitivo at Caffè Degli Specchi, and fresh take-away pasta, with sauces and parmesan cheese bought from the kind people at Pasta Fresca Fabio, in Via Di Canneto Il Lungo.

Tomorrow is my first 'day off' since arriving but that busy-ness hasn't been all about workshops and people, it has been about the fact I arrived in the city relaxed and happy to be back only to have that moment of horror when I realised, quite late in the day, that I had forgotten to pack the power cord for my laptop.  But you know that already...

In all my years of traveling with ridiculous amounts of equipment I have Never Ever forgotten my laptop cord.  Nor my phone cord (only discovered when I needed to recharge my phone yesterday).  I believe I may have left them on the same chair when finishing my packing at 4.30am that morning I left.  Mmmhmmm, and those comfortable walking shoes I own ...  don't ask me about how my feet were on Friday but honestly, never before has so much been left behind.

I was quite stressed when I flew.  That much is clear.  I believe I may develop some 'behaviours' as a result of 'the forgetting'.

But that aside, I realised again how much I love working with women on their photography.  I simply love it!   Often they have an instinct... a good eye for composition but a way of doing it all that somehow falls outside of the rules of 'technical'.  And it is this that seems to make it so much more difficult for them to own their way of seeing and capturing the world.

I should know ...

I'm so delighted with the work my clients have produced over these days.  I will publish some in the weeks ahead however tonight I must sleep so as to be up and out early ... for breakfast at Douce.

Ciao from this ancient city I consider the best in all of Italy.

A Taste of Photography Workshopping with Me ...

Discovering Antwerp through Photography and Video - www.CameraJourneys.net Video: Hanna Kuikka - www.HannaKuikka.com Photographer: Di Mackey - www.DiMackey.com Featuring: Farines Food - www.farinesfood.com noë by YOUR - www.your-antwerp.com 't Koetshuis - www.antiek-koetshuis.be Rewind kids - www.rewindkids.be Via Via Reiscafé - www.viavia-antwerpen.be Music: Hibai Deiedra - The Voyage of Ronnie Drew

Made 2 years ago, this short video gives you a sense of how it is on one of my photography workshops for women ... here in Antwerp, Belgium.

I am happy to try and fit in with your travel plans in both Belgium and Italy.

Contact me to know more.

A Little from a grey day here in Belgium

the truest thing you have is your voice - and the power to use it.

Justine Musk.

I'm listening to Amos Lee.

The photograph above ... found while attempting to sort through one of my external harddrives.   Autumn 2012, here in the magnificent park called Rivierenhof.

Karoline's Work and Words About Working With Me in Norway

My lovely Norwegian clients were teenage sisters.  Their eye for composition and their ability to understand what I was showing them about photography, impressed me. 

They wrote of working with me and made me adore them even more :-)

Working with Di has been incredibly fun! At first, I thought it was going to be challenging learning everything in English, but it was surprisingly easy.

She is a really great teacher, and a really great person. I will definitely start taking a lot more pictures now that I know how to do it properly.

It has been an amazing experience that I will never forget!

Rebecca's Work and Words About Working With Me in Norway

You know us teens; we're bad at giving things a chance before deciding whether it's fun or boring, and I honestly thought it would be boring. But no, it was incredibly fun!

And not only was Di a good teacher, she is also one of those people who is easy to kind of connect with. And for me, that is very important. She taught us a lot more than just photography.

It was a great experience and I definitely have been inspired to photograph more.

Norway ... Just So Much.

I'm not even sure how to tell my stories from these days spent in Norway.

The days have been intense, the company superb, the food a delight, the weather ... all that I needed it to be.  I've met lovely people and smiled often. 

Today, after a session with some exquisite horses, Ren took me on a boatride out into the fiords here.   No words but here I am, doing the 'selfie' thing while out there on the boat.