Discovering and Sharing
TPW started in 1994, back when it was just a few classes held in the height of summer.
The idea was simple, and the timing was perfect: offering photographers of all levels the chance to enhance their vision, creativity, and technique by spending a week with professional photographers eager to share their experience and expertise.
This was something entirely new in Italy—and even in Europe.
Most importantly, we developed an ethos that still thrives today. Sure, we no longer need darkrooms, and we don’t have to send a driver to Florence every morning to process colour film. But the essential spirit of TPW remains, stronger than ever.
We are not a traditional school. Our classrooms are ancient castles, farmhouses, and rustic barns. Our workspaces are sunflower fields, piazzas, and the bars and cafés of nearby towns.
The teachers at TPW are internationally renowned professional photographers who dedicate their time to our students, sharing their personal photographic techniques and aesthetics.
The rhythm of the week is simple and relaxed. Teachers review students’ portfolios, conduct classes on technical and aesthetic skills, and showcase their own work as well as that of other artists. The students, supported and encouraged throughout, undertake assignments and produce new photographs. The next day, students and teachers discuss the photos taken during the week, and together, we plan future projects and decide where to meet next. On the final night, we gather for a slide-show presentation of the students’ work.
But it doesn’t all end on the sixth day. Teachers, students, and staff stay in touch after the workshop—exchanging ideas, sharing opinions on on-going work, and supporting one another in new photographic projects. TPW has built a dynamic photographic community. Every year, photographers from all over the world join us for our workshops in Italy and other locations across the globe. We learn, we share, we forge new friendships. In every sense, we expand our vision.
It might sound like a hippie manifesto, but the reality is that TPW has evolved into something organic and self-sustaining, flourishing beyond the workshops themselves. Maybe it’s because, for one week, we are completely immersed in our passion and enthusiasm for photography—so we want to keep that spirit alive. And we do.
Welcome to TPW 2025
In 2023, we celebrated 30 years—one generation, more or less!
We marked the occasion by publishing our 28th Anniversary Book in 2021.
As I look through the photographs in the TPW archive to put together a slideshow for our page, it feels like leafing through a family album.
From those early days in Buonconvento back in 1994 to the photos from last summer, it’s like watching a film in flashback.
There are countless photographs capturing joyful moments spent together. Some photographers have returned for years, while others are just beginning their TPW journey, and some are totally new! It’s the same with our students—many keep coming back year after year, sometimes even repeating the same workshop.
If TPW were a mechanical box, like a radio or a camera, you could dismantle it to see what it’s made of. But luckily, it’s not that simple. Instead, we can only imagine its components:
Location: No matter where we go, we always choose places full of atmosphere—perfect for focusing on photography while staying relaxed. Whether it’s Tuscany, the heart of Val d’Orcia (a magical place where time stands still), or other areas like Tuscia and Sicily, the locations are always exceptional.
People: Participants in our workshops share two passions: photography and life. They are dynamic, engaging people with stories to tell and willingness to listen and learn. They wouldn’t be here otherwise! The same goes for our teachers, who are eager to share their knowledge. Our assistants are also an important part of the TPW family.
Local Friends: The people of the places we visit—our friends—have supported us for years, helping with logistics and countless other things.
Food: Let’s be honest—we can’t talk about Italy without mentioning the incredible food and wine!
But there’s more. Perhaps it’s the simple fact that, for one week, we change our priorities and focus solely on what we love.
And once you return home, the dream continues. The experiences and lessons from TPW linger—you work on your photographs, stay in touch with the new friends you’ve made, and carry the spirit forward.
Every year, new faces join our family—it’s like a Facebook of real faces—creating an international community of photography lovers. Some even bring their own families! Some students have found their soul mates at TPW, others have turned their passion for photography into careers, while many eagerly wait the next season of workshops.
One student, during the Sunday welcome session last summer, said, “I know almost everybody here!”—and it was only her third time at TPW!
TPW is a blend of photography, friendship, intimacy, and shared experiences. It’s about staying up all night, watching the stars while lying in a field (who does that anymore?), waking at sunrise, having deep conversations, trying new foods, laughing, crying, and living life to the fullest.
For me, these years have been a journey of discovery—meeting photographers from all over the world, visiting festivals and exhibitions, forging new connections, and reuniting with friends from years past. Did you know that every year, at least 30% of our participants are returning students?
We aim to expand beyond photography, carrying the TPW spirit into other fields. And if someone asks what TPW means, the answer is simple: (almost) Totally Perfect World!
Are you with us?
Carlo Roberti
TPW founder and director
