Mehmet Ömür’s Photography, iPhoneography and the Creative Beyond

May 10 – 20, 2024, Contignano, Tuscany, Italy

We are delighted to welcome artist/photographer Mehmet Ömür to the 2024 Tuscany season! This is a workshop that will build on your current photography and iPhone skills and then stretch your creative muscles with some new ones.

Meet Mehmet.

Mehmet was born in Istanbul and discovered his love of photography in the early 70’s, using a Kodak Instamatic 100 camera. Despite his demanding career as an ENT surgeon, photography remained a passion, albeit one he could not fully pursue at the time. However, with the advent of the digital era and his full-time photographer period in Paris, France since 2017, he returned to the photography scene.

He has Photography Diplomas from CB3P Photography School in Paris as well as University of Eskisehir, Turkey. In addition to being a certified drone user, he has many other certifications in fields as diverse as design and the contemporary arts.

As a dedicated mobile photographer and landscape photographer, Mehmet focuses on street photography and vernacular-candid photography. These have allowed him to cultivate his unique style. His talent and artistry have earned him accolades, including the IPPA iPhone Photography Awards and the Vicent Versace Photographic Excellence Award among others.

Beyond photography, Mehmet Ömür is a prolific author with numerous scientific and non-scientific books, exploring the realms of gastronomy and the arts. His works have garnered attention worldwide, being exhibited in many cities across the globe over the last decade. His artistic journey continues to inspire and captivate audiences, leaving a lasting impression on the world of photography and beyond.

We are honored to welcome Mehmet to Tuscany to share his passion and knowledge with you in a small group setting. Get ready to be inspired!

Click here to register.

Mehmet’s Workshop

Since our world has changed, and continues to change quickly, so too can our art. Mehmet proposes that now is the time for AI, expanded creativity and innovation all mixed with mobile photography, mobile artistry and some manual processes.

At the outset of the retreat, we will start off with Mehmet’s overview of the 10 days. He will give you an idea of types of work you will create in the coming days, as well as show you some of the images he has been creating.

After his introduction to AI, you will begin by creating your own original image with Discord and Midjourney applications. This will be a fun and innovative way to take your images to the next level. Later you will be working with layering techniques and masking applications for the purpose of creating digital collages. Then you will progress to texture and filter applications using tools such as Distressed FX, iColorama, and others. Another day, and especially for iPad users, you will work with Procreate, the best application for mobile digital painting.

But that is not all. Mehmet plans on introducing you (or re-inspiring you, if you are already somewhat familiar with these mediums!) to various print techniques, such as Gelli Print, and Cyanotype. You will have an opportunity to try your hand with these materials, as well as alcohol inks. Mehmet has some very interesting projects for you to experiment with, and these materials will be provided for you.

In addition to working daily with Mehmet, we will have several day trips around this beautiful Val d’Orcia area to take in the sites while capturing images to work with. You will have opportunities to record the architecture and archetectural details, people and figures, and landscape panoramas. The wealth of material to shoot is incredible here and you will return home with a veritable LIBRARY of images to work with!

At the finale of our workshop we will have a celebratory group dinner and showcase the works you have created.

Note: Upon registration, and information packet that includes a materials list from Mehmet will be emailed to you.

What’s included in your 10 days

• 10 nights accommodations, based on your choice of Single or Double Occupancy
• 36 breakfasts, lunches and dinners. (4 meals will be your responsibility during various day trips). Most special dietary requirements can be honored with advance notice.
• Ground transport to and from Florence Peretola Airport on specified arrival and departure days. (If you are planning on arriving into a different airport or renting a car, please advise beforehand.)
• All transportation to various sites we may visit.
• Entrance fees to scheduled museums or sites.
• Instructor’s fees

What is not included

• Airfare and travel insurance (required).
• 4 meals that we will eat while out for the day.
• Extra food and wine you may wish to have in your room.
• Gratuities to staff at the end of your stay (recommendations provided in the information packet).

Click here to register.

Click here to go to Mehmet’s website. (Please use the translate button on the bottom left corner of his web page, for translation options.

Click here to see a small slideshow of Mehmet’s  works.

Click here to read more about Gel Printing.

Click here to read more about Cyanotype.