Venice a Photographic World Apart

The last stop on our Italian tour was Venice.  By that time, the kids had all spun off to various locations of their own choosing, Abby and Grayson to the Dolomites, and Jeremy and Gina to Gina’s Italian relatives in Naples.  After a short stay at Lake Como, we took the train from Milan to the floating City and it was an entirely unique experience.

A World Apart

From Venice’s’ modern train station, we took a brief boat ride across the Grand Canal to our hotel, and to a different world.  Of course, I knew about the canals, but I didn’t appreciate how completely Venice is frozen in time.  The narrow winding streets reminded me of the Boston’s meandering “cow path” roads and, except for the antennas, the city’s buildings have changed very little since the Renaissance.  Despite the crowds this is a place that seems to run at a slower, more relaxed, pace.  Venice’s streets feel much more like paths, especially since no vehicles are allowed, not even bicycles. 

A Photographer's Paradise

You Must Have a Gondola

Italy was a wonderful place for photography, but Venice provided, by far, the most beautiful and varied photographic opportunities.  As I have reviewed my images, it seemed clear that Venice is a city that can best be understood visually – the majestic Grand Canal, the many interconnecting narrower canals, the variety of boats and gondolas, busy Saint Mark’s Square and the quiet narrow streets that invited getting happily lost – thank God for my GPS.  It seemed that every turn provided a new vista.  The canals provided lines of view on the classic architecture and the changing light continually altered the feel of the scenery.  The opportunities for interesting compositions were endless. My greatest frustration was that we only had a couple of days to explore.

Church of  San Giorgio Maggiore

Waterfront Sunset

We chose to schedule our visit a little after the busiest season.  Many of the back streets were quiet but the main streets were still crowded with mid-day shoppers.  On the first evening we found our way to the waterfront for a simple diner and a spectacular sunset, only interrupted by the passage of one of the monstrous cruise ships. 

Quiet Morning Streets

No One on the Bridge

The next morning, I got out just after dawn and, for about an hour, I had the streets and canals mostly to myself.  The bridges were clear of gawkers and the canals were navigated only by delivery barges.  For a moment, it was dream-like and then the people arrived, first the natives heading for work or school and then the tourist signaling that it was time to find my back to my hotel and breakfast on the Grande Canal.  

Saint Mark's Square

The morning brought more wandering eventually leading to a tour of St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.   Our evening stroll included lingering with the crowds on the Rialto Bridge, which arches over the Grand Canal.  I had to work my way to the edge, but the views down the Canal, especially at sunset were spectacular. 

Rialto Bridge Evening

Water Bus to Diner

 For diner we took a water bus to meet friends in another quarter of the city.  Once you figure out the routes the buses are a lovely and inexpensive way to get around.

Doge's Palace

Murano Glass

Blowing Murano Glass

The first half of our final full day in Venice was spent at the glass works on nearby Murano Island.  Murano glass is known the world over for its quality and artistic expression.  It was fascinating to watch the glass blowing and, of course we had to come away with a couple of lovely little pieces of art.  

Not the Murano Glass we Bought!

Rialto Taxi Dock

Back Street Cafes

The afternoon was spent with more walking, and of course, more eating at yet another picturesque café.  The evening was spent on a food tour of best restaurants off the beaten track. We were reluctant to head back to our hotel since we knew that early in the morning we would be taking a water taxi to the airport and our flight home.

Foggy Morning Trip the the Airport

Festival Masks Everywhere

Did I mention that Venice was a photographer’s dream?  It was the ideal way to finish an amazing three weeks exploring beautiful Italy.  Given all the cold damp early New England spring weather, working my way through the glorious Venice pictures this week has been a perfect escape.  Now back to reality - But there will always be Italy :

•  Italy 2017 Gallery 
• Italy Part Uno, Rome to Tuscany
• Italy Part Duo, ( Tuscany )
• Italy Part Tre, (Florence)
• ItalyPart Quatro Bologna and Lake Como

 Jeff Newcomer
www.partridgebrookreflections.com

603-363-8338

Bologna and Lake Como

Plazza d Accusio Bologna

Towers of Bologna

With winter seeming to drag on endlessly, it is a good time to look back to another part of our wonderful tour of Italy last fall.  I still have thousands of pictures which require editing.  I completed a bunch celebrating Rome, Tuscany, and Florence, so it seems a good time to show some of my images from the next phase of our trip, Bologna and Lake Como.  It is frustrating that I have so many pictures that I haven’t had the chance to work on, but I want to show a taste of the rest of our trip, Bologna, Lake Como and finally wonderful Venice.

Bologna

Street Market, Bologna

Four days exploring Florence wasn’t nearly enough and I was reluctant to board the train west to Bologna.  For some reason I pictured a dull, working city, but Bologna was the biggest surprise of our trip. 

Portico

Bologna is a relatively quiet University town with a wealth of well preserved Medieval and Renaissance architecture.   It is home to Italy’s oldest university, founded in 1088, and currently has over 8o thousand students. Bologna is also famous for its nearly 40 kilometers of porticos.  In medieval times, these were built to expand the floor space of upper stories, but they became a valuable addition to public space. In 1288 the city passed an ordinance requiring all new houses to have porticos.  The structures were required to be tall enough to allow a man to ride through on a horse.

Basilica di San Petronio Festival

Soaring, Basillica di San Petronio

On our first night in town we were on hand for a religious procession as hundreds of priests carried relics from the  Basilica di San Petronio around the Piazza Maggiore.  After escaping the ring of priests, we explored the wonderful web of ancient narrow streets lined with open air markets and cozy restaurants.  We returned to the Piazza to try to shoot the full rise, but given the height of the surrounding palaces, I could only capture the moon long after the blue hour had faded.

Moon-Rise Piazza Maggiore

Dissection Theater

On our second day we had a private tour of the city with Giamoco, a wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable native of the city.  The tour was as much about the local food as the architecture, but I especially enjoyed a tour of Bologna’s old medical college.  The elegantly wood paneled dissection theater was a tasty supplement to our dining stops.

Garisenda and Asinelli Towers

Bologna is known for its many towers.  In Medieval times a family’s status was often measured by the height of the tower on their house.  During the 12th century Bologna had over 100 towers of which 24 are still standing.  The two most famous are the Garisenda and Asinelli Towers, both of which are leaning.  They are still safe to climb, but there was no way I could convince Susan to scale one, even if they weren’t leaning.

Student Parade, University Quarter

The greatest attraction of Bologna was the chance to wander the ancient narrow porticoed streets.  We explored the large University District and met Abby and Grayson for a drink at a bar which was converted from an ancient church.  From here we finally broke away from the kids, but it was wonderful to share so much of our journey with our children.  Bologna was a pleasant surprise and, as was true for all our stops, we could have spent much more time there. 

Endless Street Cafes

The next morning we got up early for a train to Milan and then a car to beautiful Lake Como.  

------------------------------------------------------------------

Como  and Swiss Alps from Brunate

Lake Como 

Como Harbor

Lake Como is located in Northern Lombardy close to the Swiss border and the Alps.  It is of glacial origin with steep surrounding mountains and is about 146 Square kilometers in area.  

Lake Como Ferry

We stayed in a lovely hotel on the lake.  It was just up the shore from the town of Como and had panoramic views up the lake and to the town.  On our arrival the winds were quite blustery and it kicked up a serious chop on the lake. On the next day, the winds had calmed allowing a comfortable boat tour up the lake.  The cozy villages and extravagant lake-side villas were lovely. 

Torno, Lake Como

Brunate in Moonlight

 After more exploration of Como, I was actually able to get my height adverse wife to ride the Tram up to the hill-top village of Brunate.  The view took in Como, the lake and the snow covered Alps and Susan actually survived the trip. Lake Como reminded us of the mountains and lakes of New England.  

We were beginning to feel ready to get home, but there was one more stop on our itinerary, wonderful Venice.

  

Basillca di San Petronio

More to See:

• Italy 2017 Gallery
  
• Italy Part Uno, Rome to Tuscany
• Italy Part Duo, ( Tuscany )
• Italy Part Tre, (Florence)
  
  
  Jeffrey Newcomer
  www.partridgebrookreflections.com
  
  

2017 Retrospective Part 3

Bunelleschi's Dome, Duomo, Florence

In this third edition of my 2017 retrospective, I am picking up a few less dramatic loose ends of the year’s activities.   Loose, but nevertheless important parts of my photographic year.  Finally, I will touch on the most exciting part of 2017, both personally and photographically, our family trip to Italy.

Fenway Park

On a good year we will get to Fenway to see the Red Sox several times.  This year it was only once, but we had good seats and a chance to join our daughter Abigail and her boyfriend, now fiancée!!, Grayson.   Before the game, we enjoyed seeing all the team’s kids frolicing on the grass.  It still takes my breath away when I first glimpse the brilliant Fenway green

We had beautiful July weather and, although the sox were not victorious, it was a great time. Photographically I had a chance to use my little Canon SX50HS with its ridiculous 1200mm zoom. At sporting events, I am never sure that my monster DSLR will be allowed into the venue, but my little SX50HS is unobtrusive, and still has that great reach.  Also, its tiny sensor provides a wider depth of field for the action shots.

• I Get My Dose of Fenway

Full Moon Rising

Full Moons provide great opportunities for exposing for the detail in the cratered surface while there is still light in the evening sky.  It is the one time when the bright moon and dark sky do not create impossibly stark contrast.  This year I only got out for one full moonrise.  I planned to catch the early December super moon rising behind the holiday decorated Nubble Lighthouse in York Maine.

Using Photographer’s Ephemeris, I was in the perfect position along the beach south of the light.  Unfortunately, the clouds did not cooperate.  I was only able to see a momentary sliver of moon as it first peaked above the horizon.  It was not yet in the perfect location over the lighthouse, but, zooming in, the reflected sunset light made the moon appear like a golden sunrise.

It was not the perfect result for which I had hoped, but it was still a dramatic shot and a nice trip to the coast, and Susan actually came along for the shoot!

• Making the Most of a Not So Super Moon

Learning Lightroom

The last couple of years has been all about Adobe’s Lightroom.  Lightroom is an amazingly powerful program for managing editing and sharing digital images.  Its database image management system makes it a choice for many professional.  Although Its editing tools are not as robust as those in Photoshop, it is capable enough to meet the needs of most amateurs, and its intuitive workflow makes it much less intimidating to master.

I am now finishing up the fourth offering of my Introduction to Lightroom Course.  The course has been a lot of work, but it is also great fun to share my understanding with so many enthusiastic participants.  Each session has been an opportunity for me to discover more about Lightroom, especially since the program keeps evolving.  Part of the my learning, has been to write blog articles about special aspects of the program, and this year, I have published eight blogs, from the mysteries of the Lightroom Catalog to what’s new in Lightroom CC Classic.

• Sharpening
• Noise Reduction
• Slide Shows
• Lightroom Catalog
• Lightroom Reference Tool
• What’s New in Lightroom CC Classic
• Lightroom to Photoshop, When to Jump
• Ten Favorite Lightroom Shortcuts

Photographic Editing Index

Check out more links to image editing articles in my Blog Index.

Our Villa in Tuscany

Adventures in Italy

Piazza del Campo, Siena

Last autumn, Susan and I explored Italy for a three-week celebration of her birthday.  We traveled to Rome, Florence, Bologna, Lake Como and Venice, but the most magical part was nearly a week sharing a villa with our children and their significant others in the Tuscan countryside.  Beautiful landscapes, great food and even better wine. It was amazing.  After Tuscany the kids followed their own itineraries but still joined us for parts of our explorations of Florence and Bologna.

Gina and Jeremy Florence

Best Family Lunch, Montalcino

Of course, I did bring my camera along and I am only beginning to wade through the 4,000 images.  You can see some in the blog articles and the Italian gallery, but there will be more to see and to write about whenever I can get to it.

Lake Como

• Italy Part Uno, Rome to Tuscany

• Italy Part Duo, Tuscany
• Italy Part Tre, Florence
• Italian Gallery
  
  
  

Bologna Market

Grande Canal Venice

January 2018 Storm

That should be sufficient looking back for now.  When it comes time to review, I am always surprised by how much we have done in a year.  I still have thousands of pictures calling for my attention, but now we must look forward to 2018.  The winter is beautiful and pristine, and Spring is coming!

Jeffrey Newcomer

partridgebrookreflections.com