In normal years I like to travel, especially to take pictures. In 2020 the only place I have been (apart from the Isle of Wight) is Venice. I was there in January and I am absolutely, utterly, desperately longing to go back. One of my most pleasing images from the January visit is a lamppost and the tips of some gondolas tied up in the morning fog, along the Riva degli Schiavoni
( It translates as the slave shore). I particularly like the black and white rendering, though the lamp posts are a gorgeous greeny-blue colour. This one is available as a Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Now here’s a thing I just learned while reading The Silk Road by Peter Frankopan. The slightly slang word for Hello in Italian ‘Ciao’, doesn’t really mean Hello, it literally translates as ‘I am your slave’ and derives from the word Schiavo or slave. I love the Italian language, so musical and warm, and I try to brush up my limited ability in speaking it every time I have a plan to go there. Nevertheless although sometimes the locals are kind about my efforts it’s so much easier that, at least in Venice, all the Italians you come across seem to speak perfect English.
I’m indulging in a new style of photography which takes my mind back to the scenery of Venice. I’m trying to learn how to use the camera quite differently, with multiple exposures. The results are so far not particularly promising as I am highly critical of my efforts, but I can see how Venice lends itself readily to this approach, and that’s another reason I want to go back.
Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) is also something different I’m trying out. This involves making long exposure times so the camera can be moving while the shutter is open. This creates blur which can be very artistic and effective. It tends to produce somewhat abstract images, and they can be quite unpredictable and entertaining. Certainly different from the standard approach to photographing in St Mark’s square! More on that another time.
I love this dark, very early morning image with fog around the lights on the lampposts, and a distant alleyway lit up with what might be leftover Christmas lights. the fog is condensing on the cold, morning paving stones, and a little later when the light has lifted more the result of this condensation is a torrent of water from the gushing gargoyles on the Ducal palace. I was especially taken with the reflections of the ‘rain’ which was completely localised to the gargoyle outputs.
Now, in order to take this image I had to be very low to the ground, so you have to imagine that I’m almost lying there on the paving stones, to capture the bouncing raindrops. Just as well it was January, not too busy and early in the morning, so not too many people to fall over me, or wonder what on earth I was up to!
In pursuit of that perfect picture photographers sometimes do really odd things. So far I haven’t actually fallen into the water I’m trying to photograph, but it’s bound to happen one day.
Another image I’m very taken with in black and white is this side canal where there are two bridges very close to each other. It looks great in black and white and can be obtained as a Limited Edition Fine Art Print
Have a browse of my Venice images in the shop. They can be presented as Limited Edition Fine Art prints (mostly the black and white ones shown above) or modern sophisticated acrylics, with either glossy or mat finish. These are particularly good for colourful images, like the Burano houses. Just as a quick reminder – and a shocking contrast to the black and white images above – here’s how the Waterloo Gallery looks tonight.
So I hope soon to be able to replan a trip and present you with some new images, but for now Toodle Pip!
(she’s been sipping the Wodehouse again!)