So it might not be everybody's idea of fun but I think that creating stacks of river pebbles like these can be challenging and fun.
Frozen in these images they look sturdy and secure but they are in fact precariously balanced and the smallest slip of the hand or a gust of wind can turn this artistic creation into a pile of rubble.
Once they are built the fun doesn't stop as you try to find the best angle to photograph them. For these which were built right on the rivers edge it was necessary to stand or rather squat in the river. On the slippery stones on the river bed it was quite trick to keep my balance but I think it was worth it.
The first of today's images is a different view of the stack I shared yesterday and the others are two slightly different views of my second stack of the day. It was a little more adventurous than the first one although I used the same number of stones. I have some more views of this one that I will share tomorrow and then I will post some pictures of my third and tallest stack of the day so come back tomorrow to see more.
I am taking a short break from the shots from Venice and over the next couple of days I will be sharing a selection of pictures of a stone stacking adventure on the river Wyre in Lancashire.
I had gone out for a landscape photo session with my son but the light wasn't very good so we headed down to the river near Scorton in Lancashire, a spot I had found a little over a year ago on a camping trip, to build some stone stacks.
Here are two slightly different views of my first effort of the day. I have chosen one black and white and one colour shot. I think the poor light and the absence of any strong colour in the scene means the black and white image is actually the stronger of the two showcasing the form of the stack and the contrast of textures, light and shadow.
Yesterday I posted three pictures in Black and White and I promised to post something colourful today.
I really like these shots of a hidden courtyard framed beautifully by the big arch and the narrow cobbled street. With the clear blue sky you might think this was a summers day but in fact it was early in February.
The next two pictures are an interesting insight into daily life for Venetians; it's the bin men... I spotted this small convoy making its way over the bridges and thought it would make a good image.
Having posted abstract pictures over the past three days I have reverted to more familiar images of back streets and buildings around Venice.
In contrast to the bold colours of the past few days I have gone full on black and white for today's post and I know that is not everyone's taste especially when the city is so colourful and the sky was so blue but I really love black and white photography.
For those who prefer colour please come back tomorrow and I will mix things up a bit.
Here are two more abstract reflections of the sunrise in Venice. I love the gold and green in these images, unlike the pictures of the last two days where there was a bigger variety of colours. It gives a real sense of sunshine on the water.
When you look into these images you can make out the windows of the building that is reflected and each time you look you will see something different, like the contours on a map, or a heart, or maybe even some cartoon faces. Maybe you don't see any of these things but hopefully you will find these eye catching.
I will post something different tomorrow but I have more abstract images to share in the coming weeks.
So from the title of today's blog you might have been expecting to see the sun coming up above St Marks Basilica or some other Venetian Landmark but if you have seen the post from yesterday you may have been prepared for these more abstract views.
Just like yesterday's images these show the sunlit reflections of Venetian buildings in the surface of the canals. The sun was still low in the sky so the reflections weren't washed out. With the naked eye and given the rapid movement of the water the light was glinting brightly and the reflections seemed more complete but by freezing the image and looking a bit more closely all of these intricate and unique patterns appear.
I am really really pleased with these pictures because they are so unique.
Feel free to leave a comment.
I hinted a few days ago that I had taken some different types of image around Venice.
I wonder if you can work out what you are looking at here...
When you think about Venice you most likely think "canals" or "Gondolas" and you probably expect photos of Venice to show picture postcard images of the canals and bridges and beautiful architecture but as well as photographing all of that I wanted to show something different.
On an early morning walk around the city I had been taking pictures of a city waking up but as I was looking at the canals I spotted some wonderful reflections as the early morning sun hit the buildings and was captured in the gently rippling water. My focus shifted from the formal architecture and street scenes to these abstract views. I took a series of photographs that morning and throughout the day to capture what I think is a special view of the city. Each picture is totally unique and every time you look at them something new is revealed. As I say I took a whole series of pictures I will be sharing some of this series over the coming days so hopefully you will keep a look out for them.
This approach is something new for me and so feedback would be very welcome.
Today here are a few images from Burano, a couple of picture postcard views of the coloured houses and canals and also of an old church viewed across the lagoon from Burano set against the backdrop of the snow covered Italian Alps.
There are a couple of shots of one of the posts that line the canals, I have chosen one in colour because with the colourful buildings behind it looks really good, the other one I have posted in black and white because it isolates the post from the background which was the effect I really wanted and I think it looks fantastic.
Walking around the backstreets of any city will reveal little gems and hidden treasures and that is certainly true of Venice.
Strictly speaking the first picture in today's selection is not Venice, it is from Burano, an island famous for fine lace and its colourful houses. The focus of today's images is doorways and arches and in this first shot shows a couple of colourful doorways. I think this one makes a nice image but I think it is important to be respectful when taking pictures of someone's home and I have tried to show these at their best.
Sadly while visiting this island there were many people showing a lack of respect by posing for instagram shots by standing in the doorways and even pulling the curtains around their heads like shawls. On one occasion I noticed a woman waiting patiently as two young girls posed in the doorway, at first I thought she was politely avoiding walking into the shot but as they took shot after shot trying to get the perfect "instapose" it became apparent that she was actually waiting to get into her house.
The second image was taken at the end of a passageway that ended at a canal and on the opposite side was this little archway leading into a hidden courtyard. I like the colour of the brickwork, I like the shape of the arch and I love the mystery of what might be in the streets and spaces beyond.
The third picture is taken looking back towards the colonnade that you can see in the fifth image. I Took this opportunistic shot as a city worker was unloading brushes from a boat, they were being stacked at strategic points in the locality for the street cleaners to help keep the streets and passageways clean and clear of rubbish.
The fourth image was a real hidden gem that I really could not have expected. As I approached it I thought at first it was just a passageway but if you look carefully it is actually a tiny chapel, complete with wood panelling, beautifully painted walls, oil paintings, statues and icons. It was a real find and although it was a thoroughfare in constant use it was immaculate.
The fifth image is of an arched passageway along the side of a canal, the columns supporting the building above. You may just be able to make out the supermarket cages at the end of the passage, that is because that is the loading point for the local supermarket.
The final image is of the hotel I stayed in on my first visit to this beautiful city. I have chosen this shot because of the entrance to the hotel directly onto the canal. There is another entrance just around the corner through a beautiful courtyard but I think this is another little gem. It also leads onto a lovely little breakfast room where I enjoyed the best breakfasts during my first European road trip, yum yum.
The morning commute for most of us means getting into our cars on our bikes or hopping onto trains or buses to get to our offices or other place of work. It is often frustrating as we jostle with others for space and at the end of the day we do it all again in reverse.
In Venice the commute is somewhat different. Of course many people cram onto the vaporetto (water buses) that travel along the main waterways but many others walk the narrow cobbled streets or take a small boat through the many canals which are the main thoroughfares.
Today's pictures show firstly one of the refuse collection vessels which is moored up while the workers go door to door collecting the city's waste. The next two shots show a couple of bargees getting ready to go off to collect their load for the day.
I like these images of the real Venice, away from the tourist sights and crowds. Of course at this time of day there were very few tourists about and it was a nice experience being about as the city woke up.
I really like a nice fresh scallop, they have such a unique and delicate flavour and when cooked right the texture is so so good. But, I have to say they are pretty weird to look at although laid out like this they look fantastic.
Under the lights I think the colours stand out but when I took these shots I had in mind using the colour splash technique I have used in the second image. I wasn't 100% sure how it would turn out but I think it works really well. It is a very simple subject but the shapes, patterns and textures combine to make this a really strong image.
For today I have chosen a few shots from my early morning visit to the fish market in Venice.
It was really interesting watching the traders setting out their stalls, laying out the fish with great care in beautiful displays. Under the lights the fish, squid, octopus, langoustines and clams etc glistened in a myriad of colours. If you have seen my blog before you will know that I love black and white photography and often can't choose whether an image looks better in black and white or colour and today I have given two of the images dual treatment just to compare.
I wasn't sure whether I would be welcome poking my camera in while the traders were so hard at work. I tried to stay out of the way and be as unobtrusive as possible and most of the time they ignored me and got on with setting everything up. I caught the eye of a few of the stall holders and I think they thought I was a bit odd, maybe I am. However, odd or not I really like these images and hope you do too.
While in Venice I got up early a couple of times taking to the streets before the crowds of tourists to witness the city waking up and going to work.
There were so many great photo opportunities and one of my favourite places was the fish and produce market close to the Rialto bridge. Watching the fishmongers and greengrocers laying out their wares was fantastic, the attention to detail, the colours and smells, wonderful.
I have chosen this picture as a first look, looking through one of the ornate archways to the brightly lit store front and a few early morning customers hoping for a a bargain.
I was talking to someone at work this week who had visited Venice briefly on a cruise, they were underwhelmed I think and I could understand their point of view but they didn't experience the city in the way I did, walking the quiet streets on my own and I got a feel for Venice as a real city not simply as a tourist destination.
This is an iconic view from Venice. Early evening with the winter sun setting off to the left and a lone Gondolier plying his trade along the Grand Canal.
In February Venice is not as busy as during the summer months and on previous visits I have seen this stretch of the canal literally heaving with Gondolas weaving between the Vaporetto, pleasure boats and traders.
So it is Valentine's Day and in honour of that I am spreading the love with shot that I captured last week in Venice, well more precisely on one of the brightly coloured houses in Burano.
Love and Hugs XOX
For me there is something special about ancient rooftops and looking out across the city from the hidden gem that is the Scala Contarini del Bovolo (more of which in days to come) there are some fantastic views of the richly coloured terracotta tiles.
Each roof is a unique patchwork of tiles and you can see how new and old tiles lie side by side adding to the rich patina which gives these views added character.
Looking across the city you can see the tower and Basilica in St Marks Square which are two of Venice's most iconic landmarks but for me the rustic rooftops are just as much a part of the character of the city.
Given the warm colour of the tiles it may seem strange to post one last shot in black and white but I think this shot shows the contrast between the old and new.
I just love the colours in the folds of this silk scarf. The way it is looped round it creates perfect images with texture and depth.
I have just come back from a trip to Venice and as you can imagine I have hundreds of photos to sort through.
It is such a beautiful city and so I have lots of shots of canals and buildings and lots of street life. I also have some cool abstract shots that I am looking forward to sharing.
What I wasn't expecting to shoot any wildlife but I was pleasantly surprised. The weather conditions were excellent and while there wasn't a lot of variety I managed to get some good shots of some Great Cormorants, a black necked grebe with its almost fur like feathers and a stunning Yellow Legged Gull.
