I've been back from Italy for five days. Still exhausted. Unpacking. Taxes are due. Been through 30 days of mail. Jet lag. Watched my grandson yesterday, along with granddaughter Rosie today, which Kathy and I were happy to do. Yard work needed on two houses and I've been working on my book release--coming April 28th. Soooo, I don't have a decent post ready for Dadhood. Yet I want to keep my blog schedule.
Since this blog is sometimes written around photography, I am therefore going to tell you my 10 favorites of the photos I shot in Italy--and why I chose them. I'm sure most of you would have chosen some of the other 200+ photos published in this blog over my ten, and I'm happy about that! Please enjoy, and comments, good or constructive, are welcomed.
Since this blog is sometimes written around photography, I am therefore going to tell you my 10 favorites of the photos I shot in Italy--and why I chose them. I'm sure most of you would have chosen some of the other 200+ photos published in this blog over my ten, and I'm happy about that! Please enjoy, and comments, good or constructive, are welcomed.
Even with the Leaning Tower of Pisa and its Duomo to choose from, I chose this photo taken in Pisa as one of my favorites. I love the architecture, the colors, and the way the street curves. I took a similar photo in Nice, France that I really liked so when I saw this scene, I knew it had potential.
There are so many photos of the Leaning Tower, it is difficult to find something interesting that is new, especially those of all those folks holding it up. (Yes, I took some myself). On the other hand, not too many will take a photo of a Pisa thoroughfare, which I found more interesting because of its lack of notice by the "leaners".
This may seem to be an unusual choice. The scenery is not beautiful. But I like two things about this photo.
1) The roof and railroad tracks converging on the left portion of the photo which, in turn, lead you to the one person in the photo.
2) The absence of any people except for the girl with her hair falling on her left side, large purse, and one bent knee. This photo captures a point in time in March of 2015 in Lucca, Italy and tells more of a story than being a picture of beauty.
1) The roof and railroad tracks converging on the left portion of the photo which, in turn, lead you to the one person in the photo.
2) The absence of any people except for the girl with her hair falling on her left side, large purse, and one bent knee. This photo captures a point in time in March of 2015 in Lucca, Italy and tells more of a story than being a picture of beauty.
I had to choose a photo of Positano, on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. There were many photos that were equally pretty because this town is so photogenic. This one shows the coastline, the beautiful mountainside homes and the wrought iron bench and fencing that frames the town. No talent is required for good photos on the Amalfi Coast!
This may be my favorite photo that I took in Italy. It is from the town of Pienza in the province of Tuscany. First of all, my favorite landscape is tranquil, rolling green hills, not totally forested. This is Tuscany to a 'T'!
I had taken a photo of this same scene at midday but knew it would be even better near sunset. We left Pienza to tour more of the Tuscan countryside and returned before sunset.
This photo with the sun low to the west, lit up the olive trees and better defined the shape of the hills. The signature cypress trees put the exclamation point on the scene!
I had taken a photo of this same scene at midday but knew it would be even better near sunset. We left Pienza to tour more of the Tuscan countryside and returned before sunset.
This photo with the sun low to the west, lit up the olive trees and better defined the shape of the hills. The signature cypress trees put the exclamation point on the scene!
This is another photo of Tuscany taken at sunset.
The road, lined with cypresses, leads to a small farm. The sun defines the crests of the hills. The scene stretches for miles from the nearby foliage to the distant mountains showing the depth and peacefulness of the area.
The road, lined with cypresses, leads to a small farm. The sun defines the crests of the hills. The scene stretches for miles from the nearby foliage to the distant mountains showing the depth and peacefulness of the area.
This is The Church of St. Francis in Assisi Italy. It is near the top of this mountaintop city. Also, this church is actually two complete churches, one on top of the other.
Many tourist never reach this level because of the climb and the mistake of only visiting the lower section of the building. I was lucky to find it.
I positioned myself so the sun was behind the bowed head of St. Francis. The horizon is distant and low, giving away the altitude of this beautiful church.
Many tourist never reach this level because of the climb and the mistake of only visiting the lower section of the building. I was lucky to find it.
I positioned myself so the sun was behind the bowed head of St. Francis. The horizon is distant and low, giving away the altitude of this beautiful church.
No way could I pick a top ten photo of Italy and not include Cinque Terre! This is the first of two photos I chose from there, this being the second village from the south of five, named Manarola. I framed this shot from a low trail using an evergreen and interesting clouds
The rock structure and the multi-colored homes make for a unique picturesque scene that can rarely be found anywhere in the world.
Another location where it is a challenge to take a bad photo!
The rock structure and the multi-colored homes make for a unique picturesque scene that can rarely be found anywhere in the world.
Another location where it is a challenge to take a bad photo!
This is Vernazza, the middle of the five villages of Cinque Terra.
I love this photo for the water, the boats, and all the colors.
The scene behind me was just as beautiful with magificent rock cliffs, lapping waters, and small waterfalls.
I love this photo for the water, the boats, and all the colors.
The scene behind me was just as beautiful with magificent rock cliffs, lapping waters, and small waterfalls.
One day after travelling, we spent a rainy day in Florence. The rain didn't deter many tourists from coming out. I had many photos of people with their multi-colored umbrellas walking the streets of Florence. I almost picked one of those umbrella photos as a top ten.
I settled, however, on this photo with no colorful umbrellas and few people. It has a feeling of a movie from the 40's, 50's, or 60's.
The rain beautifully reflected the streetlights, which merge in the distance from both sides of the street.
A single lady holds her umbrella as she begins to cross the street. The two balls of light in the upper left corner balance the photo and can be found on the first building on the right as you walk onto the world famous Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River. The cross on the right is green and signifies a 'farmacia' (pharmacy).
I settled, however, on this photo with no colorful umbrellas and few people. It has a feeling of a movie from the 40's, 50's, or 60's.
The rain beautifully reflected the streetlights, which merge in the distance from both sides of the street.
A single lady holds her umbrella as she begins to cross the street. The two balls of light in the upper left corner balance the photo and can be found on the first building on the right as you walk onto the world famous Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River. The cross on the right is green and signifies a 'farmacia' (pharmacy).
This is the tenth and last photo, taken on my last day in Italy. I worked very hard to get this photo. First I took the wrong bus on a very nasty morning and wasted a hour or more while hacking all day with a bad cough. I then found the correct route and waited 45 minutes in the rain for a bus. I had another issue which will remain mysterious.
But my delays paid off! Despite the forecast the clouds broke, they were dramatic, and the sun shone on Florence, including the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the Duomo, the tower of Palazzo Vecchio, the Arno River and much more. Taken from the Piazza Michelangelo, this is where many young men propose marriage to their chosen one. It is a classic scene and one of the few places where you can see the sky and mountains surrounding Florence. This is because of the narrow streets and many buildings in the city that obstruct those views.
As wonderful as this trip was, and despite how long we were there, we failed to make it to Venice, Lake Como, and the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. I can't imagine the beautiful photos that would have been possible in those locations.
Thank you!
Mike
But my delays paid off! Despite the forecast the clouds broke, they were dramatic, and the sun shone on Florence, including the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the Duomo, the tower of Palazzo Vecchio, the Arno River and much more. Taken from the Piazza Michelangelo, this is where many young men propose marriage to their chosen one. It is a classic scene and one of the few places where you can see the sky and mountains surrounding Florence. This is because of the narrow streets and many buildings in the city that obstruct those views.
As wonderful as this trip was, and despite how long we were there, we failed to make it to Venice, Lake Como, and the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. I can't imagine the beautiful photos that would have been possible in those locations.
Thank you!
Mike
