About the Lomellina

Most people speed past it on the highway, or are annoyed on their way south that they are once again stuck in a traffic jam on the highway that bypasses Milan. Nobody thinks about a scenic gem called “La Lommellina”.

This small, unnoticed area to the west of the big city of Milan is a gem in many respects. Even if the mighty mountains, above all the second highest in the Alps, Monte Rosa, lie to the northwest of the Lomellina, the beautiful lakes of the southern side of the Alps are also a good distance to the north, and the towns and villages are small and do not bear any world-famous names.

The Romans paid little attention to the area. It was subordinate territory and a transit area to Gaul. It was not until the Longobards arrived during the Migration Period that they discovered the area west of the garrison town of Mediolanum, established their center in Pavia and founded small counties. One of these was Lomellina, with the now tiny village of Lomello as its capital.

It became a very fertile agricultural area after the marshes were drained. Many prestigious farmhouses and manor houses bear witness to this with their grandly functional style. Some small towns became quite rich in the process and spruced themselves up; the small town of Vigevano (main emphasis on the e) probably has the most beautiful village or town square in the whole of Italy, and the smaller towns around it naturally did not want to be left behind. At the end of the 19th century, a little industry came to the area. The Gaggia company is well known to all coffee drinkers.

One of the southern Alpine lakes mentioned above, Lake Maggiore, has contributed greatly to the fantastic nature of Lomellina. Its outflow, the Ticino, has strongly shaped the landscape. The “Parco del Ticino” is today one of the most interesting natural landscapes in southern Europe. A paradise for anyone who can see.

In this large-format photo workshop, we will focus on all three aspects of the Lomellina: the natural landscape, the man-made agricultural landscape and the urban residential landscape.

Who is the workshop aimed at?

Amateur or professional photographers who would like to apply and/or deepen their knowledge of large format cameras, analog large format photography and film processing in the beautiful surroundings of the Lomellina.

Number of participants: minimum 6, maximum 8

Prerequisites for participation

Basic knowledge of large format cameras and analogue large format photography is required for participation. However, during the workshop there will be the opportunity to explore all desired technical/practical aspects individually with the instructors.

Description

Five days of photography in the Lomellina region with Giulio Speranza, a mountain and architectural photographer specializing in the use of large format cameras, and Urs Bernhard, an experienced landscape photographer and printer, director and author. The two instructors will take the participants to the most interesting places to discover the natural landscapes of the Parco del Ticino, the Lomellina countryside and the most beautiful urban places in the region. The images taken during the workshop will be developed daily and commented on together on a light table and PC. A comprehensive experience, therefore, enriched by the presence of two instructors and the technical support of JOBO, so that each participant can be accompanied in the best possible way and, among other things, bring their own point of view and approach to the subject.