Tutorial led by Editor Michel Romaggi (kanadel) in collaboration with the author Vanja Tajnsek 
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 29th of April 2026 

‘Tuscan tree-couple’

Vanja, can you tell us about the different steps involved in creating this wonderful shot?

I love mornings when a veil of mist covers the hills. I wanted to capture that sense of mystery. The hilltops and trees emerge from the mist. However, it's one thing to admire the landscape in real life and quite another to then look at the photo on a computer screen.

1. Frame

Here is the original photo. To me, the composition seemed inappropriate.
The photo I present is therefore a cropped version of the original, including three interesting elements that are unfortunately too far apart.

That’s why I decided to crop it.
The trees thus fill the space, providing a visual focal point and wonderfully balancing an otherwise empty composition.

2. Colours

As the sun was about to illuminate the landscape with its yellow tones, and I was no longer in that place, I added this interesting colour gradient in post-production in Photoshop, recreating the colourful morning in a way.

·      I added a gradient of colours characteristic of the first rays of the sun spreading over a misty landscape, which usually lasts only a few minutes.

·      The chromatic transition between warm yellowish tones and colder bluish tones adds depth and a subtle ambience. This makes the photograph seem  minimalist and soothing, with a strongly accentuated atmosphere of fog that creates a sense of silence and space.

For me, the scene with soft colours is correct; it's exactly the one on my computer desk. When another photo taken in the morning was published, a critic wrote that I had succeeded in creating a pale and boring photo if that was my intention.
I admit to yielding somewhat to the demands of the average future viewer during the editing process, making the colours and contrasts as attractive as possible.
Yes, sometimes we also create for others, and there is nothing wrong with that.

What equipment did you use?

I took this photo with an old Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera, which I really liked using for my photography.
Lens: Canon 70–200 mm f/2.8 L IS USM II

Settings: F/7.1, 1/125 sec, ISO 500
Although I now work with a Canon R6 II, I am still a fan of my old Canon 70–200 mm lens.

Why are trees so important to you? Tell us about your series, 'The Trees: These Majestic Beings'.

Because my job is so demanding, I really enjoy wandering in nature in my free time. There, I find peace.
I love trees, and I love mornings when the mist adds an extra touch of magic to my surroundings. I love the peace and silence, and the trees, which are beautiful in all seasons and must be respected more because they bear strong stories. I have loved them since childhood. I enjoy being in their company, touching them, photographing them and including them in the news articles I write. I often try to associate them with birds.

‘Foggy Morning’

‘They are coming 4’

To conclude this tutorial, please tell us more about your relationship with photography and yourself.

I am a photographer and writer from Slovenia. Through my lens, I observe humanity in all its contradictions, from raw vulnerability to silent tenderness. I am always seeking to capture moments of sincerity that transcend mere appearance. While I enjoy capturing critical moments in society, I also seek to counterbalance this by finding patterns in nature. While I am drawn to bright and contrasting colours, I also find magic in monochrome compositions and simple graphic lines. I often explore the boundaries between light and shadow, and between the abstract and the real. I try to capture a moment before it slips into oblivion. Each photo serves as a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the world around us.
I published the book Vanja RAW: Through the Eyes of a Photographer, in which socially critical motifs are accompanied by short texts in Slovenian and English.
I have received several awards for my literary and photographic creations, but my favourite is the Slovenske Fotografinje 2023 (Slovenian Photographers 2023) contest.

‘Good morning Tuscan Tree’