Itinerary

The Program

Our Street Photography workshop in Naples is an intensive week of practice and vision designed to help participants solidify foundations and apply techniques in the field. Naples will be our set: Spaccanapoli & the Decumani, Quartieri Spagnoli, Rione Sanità & Via Vergini, Via Toledo (and the Art Station), Lungomare Caracciolo, Mergellina, Chiaia, and Vomero for elevated views—diverse contexts to train the eye, timing, and light reading.

Steve McCurry, a legendary figure in photography, brings decades of experience. His iconic images—where color and composition become storytelling—find the extraordinary in the everyday, always with respect for the subject.

Eolo Perfido, known for a clean, cinematic street style, complements Steve with a distinct perspective. From gritty urban scenes to intimate portraits, his work centers on light, form, and gesture to build powerful, timeless narratives.

Flow & Logistics

  • Each evening we’ll hold a debrief to announce the next day’s locations and meeting times. We’ll share maps, logistics, and any weather-driven adjustments.

  • Each day includes 6 hours of shooting together (with breaks as needed). Remaining time is for personal study, light editing, solo exercises, and 1:1s.

  • Every day, Steve will meet participants who wish to book a 1:1 to discuss portfolios, projects, or images made in Naples. We’ll assign slots during the nightly debrief.

  • Each morning, you’ll receive from Eolo an analysis of two photographs shot the previous day (selected from participant work), focusing on light, geometry, gesture, and pacing.

  • During hours when you’re not with us, you’ll receive clear solo exercise briefs (objectives, technical/creative targets, and deliverables) to build autonomy, timing, and framing.

  • When useful and safe, we may run optional evening/night sessions to work on artificial color, backlight, layering, and mixed light.

  • We recommend comfortable clothing and shoes, a light kit, at least two charged batteries, and adequate memory cards.

  • As a special feature, each participant will be photographed by Steve; portraits will be delivered after the workshop.

  • If possible, bring a selected portfolio for Steve & Eolo to review

  • We’ll set up a WhatsApp group for coordination and support during city sessions.

Two Approaches, One Robust Method

Steve McCurry’s Vibrant Color Approach

Learn to use color as narrative:

● Identify bold, eye-catching palettes in the urban environment

● Use color contrast to energize compositions

● Work the interplay of light and color at different times of day

● Employ color to shape mood and atmosphere in street scenes

Eolo Perfido’s Evocative Black-and-White Technique

Build powerful monochrome:

● See in black and white within a colorful world

● Use contrast, shadows, and highlights to create depth

● Apply techniques for timeless, classic street photographs

● Convey emotion and story through tonal range and texture

This workshop is a unique chance to learn from two complementary voices—bringing
together color and monochrome strategies—to elevate your practice on the streets of Naples.

Locations

Welcome Dinner
Session 1: June 15th, 2026
Session 2: June 22nd , 2026

Meeting in Naples

  • Registration

  • Welcome cocktail

  • Introduction by Steve McCurry and Eolo Perfido

  • Workshop overview and working methods for the week

  • Dinner at a typical Neapolitan restaurant

Note: Cocktail & Restaurant Address: To Be Announced (TBA)

Daily Rhythm (applies to all days):

● Each evening: debrief to announce the next day’s locations and meeting times.

● Each day: 6 hours of shooting together (with breaks as needed).

● Every day: Steve offers optional 1:1 meetings (portfolio, projects, or Naples images).

● Each morning: Eolo sends an analysis of two participant photographs from the previous day.

● Participants receive solo street exercises for the hours when they’re not with us.

Day 1: Introduction & Initial Exploration
Session 1: June 16th, 2026
Session 2: June 23rd, 2026
Location: Classroom/Studio

Morning: Workshop Introduction

At the conclusion of the theoretical sessions, participants will receive a PDF
document via WhatsApp containing a list of practical exercises. These exercises
are designed to reinforce the concepts covered in the lectures and can be
completed during the subsequent days of the workshop. Steve and Eolo will supervise
and provide guidance as participants work through these assignments, offering an
opportunity to apply newly acquired knowledge in real-world settings.

This structured approach aims to consolidate learning and enhance practical skills in street photography.

Late Afternoon session: Initial City Walk

Route: From the base area through Via Toledo, Quartieri Spagnoli, and nearby alleys.

Suggested Activities:

  • Execution of the exercises outlined in the PDF document.

  • Particular focus on:

    • Familiarizing with the city's rhythm and atmosphere

    • Practicing camera settings discussed in theory sessions

    • Experimenting with different techniques for street photography

    • Capturing candid moments of city life

    • Testing various focal lengths and compositions

This initial session allows participants to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, getting comfortable with their equipment and the urban environment. It serves as a foundation for more focused exercises in the following days, while still adhering to the core exercises from the PDF.

Presentation of Steve McCurry's work

  • Iconic images and their stories

  • Evolution of his street photography style

  • Key projects and publications

Presentation of Eolo Perfido's work

  • Signature style and approach

  • Notable street photography series

  • Commercial and personal projects

Early Afternoon Session: Comprehensive Introduction to Street Photography

    • Composition in dynamic environments

    • Capturing decisive moments

    • Working with available light

    • Documentary street photography

    • Street portraiture

    • Urban landscape

    • Camera settings for street scenarios

    • Lens selection and usage

    • Stealth photography techniques

    • Photography laws and regulations

    • Public vs. private spaces

    • Use considerations

    • Personal safety while shooting

    • Equipment protection

    • Ethical considerations and respecting subjects

  • Application of techniques learned during theoretical sessions

  • Experimenting with:

    • Adjusting ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for different lighting conditions

    • Using different metering modes

    • Practicing quick focusing techniques

    • Exploring the balance between being discreet and engaging with subjects

    • Trying out various shooting modes (aperture priority, shutter priority, manual)

Day 2: Centro Storico & Quartieri Spagnoli
Session 1: June 17th, 2026
Session 2: June 24th, 2026

Morning/Afternoon Focus:

  • Centro Storico & Spaccanapoli: churches, courtyards, artisan shops, street shrines

  • Quartieri Spagnoli & Pignasecca Market: layered streets, murals, dense pedestrian flow

Highlights: Spaccanapoli, San Gregorio Armeno, Pignasecca Market, Maradona murals, Galleria Umberto I.

Suggested Activities:

  • Urban pace, layered crowds, gesture and proximity

  • Shop interiors and transitional light from alleys to piazzas

  • Applying PDF exercises with emphasis on composition and timing

Day 3: Rione Sanità & Underground Naples
Session 1: June 18th, 2026
Session 2: June 25th, 2026

Morning/Afternoon Focus:

  • Rione Sanità & Via Vergini: neighborhood life, markets, intimate streets

  • Napoli Sotterranea / Catacombs vicinity (exteriors/approaches where permitted):
    textures, thresholds, and light shifts

Highlights: Street life in Sanità, antique dealers, courtyards, and architectural layers.


Suggested Activities:

  • Contrast between sacred/votive elements and everyday scenes

  • Juxtaposition exercises (old/new, light/shadow)

  • Narrative sequences that move from street level into transitional spaces

Day 4: Chiaia & Lungomare
Session 1: June 19th, 2026
Session 2: June 26th, 2026

Morning/Afternoon Focus:

  • Chiaia: upscale retail, clean geometry, refined street fashion

  • Lungomare Caracciolo, Castel dell’Ovo, Mergellina: horizon lines, reflections, silhouettes

    Highlights: Seafront promenades, harbor activity, evening glow on façades.

    Suggested Activities:

  • Architectural compositions and reflective surfaces

  • Street portraiture (approach & permission)

  • Working backlight and mixed color temperatures near sunset

Day 5: Vomero Vistas & Markets
Session 1: June 20th, 2026
Session 2: June 27th, 2026

Morning/Afternoon Focus:

  • Vomero: elevated perspectives, funicular access, panoramic layers

  • Markets loop (e.g., Pignasecca/Porta Nolana when active): motion, textures, transactions

    Highlights: Overlooks toward Vesuvius and the bay, funicular stations, lively food scenes.

    Suggested Activities:

  • Storytelling series (arrival, encounter, departure)

  • Light transitions from interiors to streets

  • Rhythm studies: repetition, gesture, and pattern

Day 6: Editing & Post-Production — Different Approaches in a Digital World
Session 1: June 21st, 2026 | Session 2: June 28th, 2026

    • Curate your best 10 images from Naples, plus a few you’re unsure about.

    • Optional: bring a small prior portfolio for expert review.

    • Guidance from Steve and Eolo on edit tightness, sequence, and impact.

  • Practical tools and methods Steve and Eolo use to maximize a photograph’s potential—refining without over-processing.

    • RAW processing with attention to skin tone/texture

    • Basic and advanced approaches to minor corrections for editorial/commercial polish

    • Projection of ~10 images per participant

    • Strengths, areas to improve, and concrete next steps