Visit with David Hoptman

In the summer of 2008, I finally decided to do something exciting for myself.

I have been a practicing urologist in Michigan for the last 30 years, I have had a lot of interest in photography. I buy all the latest razzle dazzle cameras with bells and whistles. I have taken classes, learned Photoshop, subscribed to magazines and all. If money can buy it, I have bought it. I am recognized in our friends and family as the nut who has all the latest gadget. But I never knew how a talented professional photographer does  his/her thing. I always wondered how it would be to be a professional photographer.

Every time we went on vacations, I lugged my gear but family never had patience for me to climb to some spot, for better vantage. They always rushed me. Let us go has been a familiar chant. So when I ran across the David’s website, I thought this this was the ticket that I was waiting for. I told my wife that every year I will take a week off alone and pursue my passion.

I was a little bit surprised when there was no resistance. She smiled and said that I should do just that. Maybe after being married for 40 years they start thinking “good riddance for a week”’ I talked with David 2-3 times, he was very helpful in guiding about what to pack and what to do ( nothing really, very casual) I could have just taken 2 Tee shirts and 2 jeans and it would have worked.

Well, I flew to Amsterdam then to Rome, Fiumicino,a quick fast train to Roma termini (30 minutes, all young commuters) From Roma Termini a bullet train to Orvietto in Tuscany (1 hour and change). David came to pick me up and drove about 90 minutes to Proceno. we stopped for a Panini sandwich, made in heaven with beer, man, the excitement had begun.

He took me to his studio and my apartment, shown here on right. I was going to live for a week in alternate reality. I was going to live life with an american professional photographer in Tuscany. Eat what he ate and do what he did. Break my connection for one week with my life as a doctor.

I thoroughly enjoyed my one week, which went by so fast. I ate in some of the greatest local restaurants. By the way if you order a carafe of house wine it is better than a $200 dollar bottle in New York. It is easy to order in restaurant. Eat their heavenly bread with the best possible olive oil in the world. order their insalata mista, house pasta with house sauce and you are all set. Every thing is fresh made the same day, even lettuce and vegetable taste so good. Every day we would go to a different town meet different, very interesting people and eat great food. David has some local wines in his cellar, you could drink that all day

Learning Photography with David
David Hoptman is a very talented professional photographer. He has spent years doing architectural and landscape photography. His interests are not just in taking pictures but printing them on alternate media like metal and so on. He is a total package.

You do not go to take didactic lessons in classroom but you go to see how an artist thinks and works. I wanted to get in his head and learn the way he looks at a scene and how he composes. How does he set up his camera? What is his workflow?

How does he take a lot of pictures and then what is the post production in Photoshop? That is what you learn. Learning from David is like the movie ‘Roshomon’. Every one will see whatever they want to see.

Besides learning photography you will also find that David is a fine human being, sensitive and friendly. He will help you every which way you ask but also give you your space. You can get as little or as much you want out of his teachings.

I enjoyed my visit so much that I may do it again some day. I met the most exciting people in those little towns and learned a lot about their
culture.

I heartily endorse any one who want to go there, and suggest that you go with the right attitude and realistic expectations and you will have one of the most memorable experience ever.

Ciao, Italia.

Kirit Vora M.D.