Elevate your photography to new heights over one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth.

The Drone & Discover series was built on a simple idea: some of the world’s greatest landscapes reveal their true character from the air. After Iceland’s volcanic highlands and the Arctic’s frozen wilderness, the next chapter takes us to Tuscany.

From above, the Val d’Orcia is something else entirely. The S-curves of cypress-lined roads, the morning mist settling into the valleys between rolling hills, the geometric precision of vine rows and olive groves stretching toward medieval hilltop towns – these are compositions that were made to be seen from altitude. And in early May, when the light is soft and the mist is reliable, this is one of the finest places on earth to fly a drone.

Our base for the week is a private villa in the heart of Val d’Orcia. Every morning shoot is within a short drive. Every evening, we return to a gourmet dinner, a glass of Brunello, and the kind of fireside debrief that turns a good workshop into an unforgettable one.

This is a small-group, hands-on drone photography workshop – a maximum of 8 participants – with in-field instruction tailored to your level and your goals. Whether you are new to aerial photography or an experienced pilot looking to sharpen your compositional eye, you will leave Tuscany with images you could not have made before.

Why Tuscany for Drone Photography?

Tuscany is arguably the most compositionally rich landscape in Europe for aerial work.

The light. The Val d’Orcia in early May produces morning mist that settles into the valleys between the hills, creating natural layers of depth that aerial photography exploits perfectly. The first 30 minutes after sunrise here are extraordinary – and we will be in position for all of them.

The geometry. From above, the Tuscan landscape becomes almost abstract – radiating cypress trees, spiraling roads between hilltop towns, the patchwork of ploughed fields in varying textures. These are patterns invisible from the ground.

The altitude envelope is an advantage. Most of Tuscany’s prime shooting locations fall within the 45–120 meter AGL flight envelope. Far from being a limitation, this produces the low, intimate aerial perspective that defines the best Tuscany drone work – cinematic and immersive rather than the disconnected overview shot from 400 feet. We will teach you to master this altitude range and make every meter count.

The locations. We have shot extensively across this region over many years and know exactly where to position you – including locations that most visitors and photographers never find.

Note:

Italy operates under EU drone regulations governed by EASA. To fly a drone in Italy, all participants must hold a valid EU Open Category competency certificate — either A1/A3 or A2, depending on your drone and how you intend to fly it.

This is an online theory test that is straightforward to complete. We will advise you on exactly which certificate applies to your situation and how to obtain it as part of your pre-workshop information pack, sent to all participants well in advance of the workshop.

We handle all site-specific airspace authorizations and permit requirements for the locations on our itinerary. If you are unsure whether your existing drone licenses satisfy Italian or EU requirements, contact us before booking and we will advise.

Join us for seven days in Tuscany, where we’ll take you to incredible locations for hands-on, practical learning catered to your experience level and goals.

We’ll cover everything a drone photographer needs to plan shots, pilot their drone, scout for compositions, and frame images with strong aerial composition techniques — making the most of every battery charge.

• Using your drone
  – Understanding your drone’s features, settings, and limitations for photography
  – Setup for optimum aerial image and video quality
  – Technical operation in varied light and weather conditions

• Drone safety & Italian aviation law
  – ENAC regulations and EU Open Category requirements
  – Pre-flight checks and airspace assessment tools
  – Spatial awareness and obstacle avoidance
  – What to do in the event of system warnings and emergencies

• Planning shots before take-off
  – Weather and light forecasting for aerial photography
  – Using apps and mapping tools to plan efficient shoots
  – Reading the landscape from the ground before you fly

• Becoming a confident pilot
  – Flight techniques for smooth, controlled movement
  – Using intelligent flight modes effectively
  – Flying confidently in wind and changing light conditions

• Photography skills
  – Getting off auto and shooting manually: shutter speed, ISO, and aperture to control exposure
  – Bracketing for high dynamic range aerial scenes
  – Exposure management in Tuscany’s high-contrast morning light

• Composition skills
  – Positioning your drone for height, angle, and field of view
  – Finding symmetry, pattern, texture, and leading lines in the Tuscan landscape
  – Framing the classic Tuscany shots — and then going beyond them
  – Using scale, depth, and layering to build compelling images

• Videography skills for cinematic footage
  – Speed, altitude, and movement for cinematic results
  – Tracking, panning, and orbital shots
  – Intelligent flight modes for landscape videography
  – Incorporating moving elements — mist, light shafts, tractors in the fields

• Post-processing images and editing videos
  – RAW editing workflow for aerial photography
  – Aerial panorama stitching from shooting to final image
  – Video editing basics for drone footage

• Lots of Tips & Tricks!