A Classical Interlude

 So this will be the last selection of images from Venice for a while, although I will be going back there in a few weeks time so no doubt I will have lots more from my next trip that I will eventually want to share with you. But before I move onto a different location I hope you  will enjoy this selection.

The first image is of a statue of the renaissance composer Balassandre Galuppi who was born on the island of Burano in 1706 and this statue stands in a Piazza named for him. He died in Venice in 1785 aged 78. If you click here you can listen to some of his piano sonatas while you read through the rest of this post and maybe have it on in the background while you do some work or surfing etc.

While Burano is famous for lace making its neighbouring island is famous for the production of glass. The second image shows one of the  any craftsmen who work in the workshops creating beautiful ornaments and glassware. An interesting fact is the sand used in glass production in Murano is imported from the region of France near to Fontainebleau as it has the right mineral qualities.

The other images are of scenes around Venice, including the Grand Canal as well as some of the smaller canals. These were all shot during the evening and the effect of the setting sun on the stonework is quite magical. As this light is reflected on the surface of the smaller canals, where there is less traffic and therefore it is calmer, lots of interesting patterns emerge.

I have been lucky enough to visit this city several times now (in Summer and Winter) and I am very excited to be returning, this time in spring when I hope that I will discover something new.

A Gentle Pace

 Here on Burano cars are not allowed so the main form of transport is by boat and every household appears to own one, and unlike in the city of Venice itself, here on Burano bicycles are allowed.

The absence of traffic, the colourful buildings and the pleasant climate creates a relaxed atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. It is a real gem and definitely worth a visit.

The neighbouring island, Murano, is famous for glass making but Burano is famous for lace making and there are several places where you can buy traditional lace goods. The genuine article is very expensive although the quality is exceptional. I sound like I know what I am talking about and having been "dragged" around several of the specialist shops I should know.

You Choose

 In my last post the colours were limited to mostly shades of blue so today I have decided to go with something much brighter and more vibrant but also to provide some balance I have used exactly the same image and edited it in black and white.

This is a street scene from the island of Burano in the Venetian lagoon. Like the main city the island is crisscrossed with little canals but by contrast there are more open spaces and the whole island has a brighter aspect with the tiny houses and shops painted in vibrant colours. It feels like a lively and welcoming place and for a photographer there is so much to see and to capture.

This was shot fairly early in the day, before the cafés and restaurants started filling up and before the main crowds of visitors arrived for the day. 

Most of the pictures I have from my visit on this occasion are full of colour and with more people too and in my opinion they look better in full colour (that is not to say I won't give some the black and white treatment) but for the picture above I think it works a little better in black and white. perhaps it is the angle from which it is taken, the buildings are not the main feature and so the row of tables and the people walking away in the background don't need the full colour, in fact the bright buildings are a bit of a distraction.

What do you think? If you have a view it would be good to hear your thoughts on this. And if you like this please look at some of my previous posts or make sure to come back to see what I post next time.

Insta People

I don't often post pictures of people and I hesitated before sharing these today. However I do like street photography, capturing candid images of people going about their lives and I do like these pictures.

These shots were all taken in Burano, which as you can see from the third image is a beautiful and brightly coloured town criss-crossed with canals and full of character.

As well as the individually painted houses the town is famous for lace which is very expensive but beautifully hand crafted and alongside the artisan glass from Murano perhaps makes the best memento from a visit to Venice.

Visiting in February the streets of Burano were quiet, almost deserted in places; quite different to the summer months when it is much busier although still less crowded than Venice itself. It is a perfect time to appreciate the beauty of the place.

I took these shots because I was amazed to see how virtually all the young visitors to the island town were more focused on capturing selfies and the perfect "instapose" and staring at their phones rather than looking at what was around them. Perhaps I am showing my age but it seemed such a waste. 

More From Burano

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.

Colourful Burano

Today I have chosen two street scenes from the colourful island of Burano. 

It was still early in the morning when we arrived so many of the cafes were only just getting ready for business. A short while after the first shot was taken these tables were full of hungry locals enjoying a tasty lunch. Although it is such a colourful place I think this scene looks really good in black and white.

For the other pictures I have chosen the same scene but from slightly different angles and I have posted one in colour to richness of the gloriously painted shops and houses and one in black and white by way of contrast.

If you have followed my posts before you will know that I love black and white photography and I think from this selection you can see why although I think the warmth of the colour photo really adds something.

Perfectly Framed

Here are three more shots from Venice. Well to be precise two are from Venice and one is from Burano (can you tell which one?)

I really like the first image because of the shape of the stone framework and the ornate ironwork grille but also for the sharp reflection of the buildings on the opposite bank of the canal. It is such a clear reflection that you might almost think you were looking straight through the window to a building on the other side, but when you look closely the reflected ironwork gives it away.

I picked the second image because it is a bit of a curiosity. Obviously there are two windows with wooden shutters and corresponding windows in the upper floor directly above. But what of the third frame? Was there originally a window there and if so why has it been filled in? I love the rich colour of the paintwork and I love the ornate shape of the frames.

The third photo shows a window on one of the colourful houses in Burano. It looks so fresh and clean and the colours are accentuated by the straight lines.