Venice from the Sea

StreetObservations.com - I assembled a series of photographs taken from the cruise ship as we departed Venice a few months ago.  I was surprised that the path leaving the city took us directly past San Marco and the other prime sites.  

It was near dusk, so the lights were just starting to come out.  You can see the progression of the darkness from one picture to another.  The picture of the plaza at San Marco seems to me like it could have been taken 100 years ago or more and still look the same.  

Also, now disconnected from the ship, it strikes me how high up the view from the ship is, almost like we're flying over the city.   

Vantage Point

Parking

Up the Canal

Cafe

Gondolier at Dusk

San Marco

Moving Out

Yacht

Top 10 Photographs of 2010

StreetObservations.com - Ah, the Top 10 Photographs I've taken in the year 2010, what were they?  I continue my annual exercise of using the extra days off at the end of the year (and then some) to go through all the pictures I've taken from January to December and select my top 10.  Only 10, no more, no less.  This leads to some tough decisions, as I've come to know and admire many of the shots over the course of the year (as well as some of the people in the photos... known or unknown).  But, because I am a disciplined person, somewhat obsessively detailed and stubborn, and because now it's a ritual, I must continue the tradition. 

There are two developments this year in the equipment category.  First off, I have a new wide angle lens (F2.8 17-55mm... for those who care) that has added a broader dimension to some of the photos (particularly #5 and #6 below). I purchased this in preparation for a trip I took in Venice and Greece.  Secondly, there are two shots that were taken with an iPhone.  These are photos I never would have been able to take, because I wouldn't have had a camera with me. 

Here they are presented in sequence as taken over the course of the year. (Click to picture to see it larger). Some of the pictures have been previously discussed in my StreetObservations.com blog. Clicking (More...) will take you back to those entries.

1. Free Colonial Concert - This is one of the iPhone shots.  I was walking up Wall Street and noticed the "orchestra" at the foot of the George Washington statue.  I rattled off about six shots, but this one captured a sense of irony as the red coats below nonchalantly pass by.  This shot was "short listed" for the EYE'EM awards presented for mobile device photography.  (More...)

Free Colonial Concert

2. Crossroads - This was taken from the steps of the TKTS office in Times Square looking south.  I patiently waited as the news zipper moved along.  I was looking for key words to freeze upon.  I think the word "NEWS" was appropriate.  This picture was included in a slideshow about the "World's Worst Traffic Jams" on the TravelandLeisure.com website.  It was selected to represent New York City.   (More...)

Crossroads - Times Square traffic chaos

3. Thirty Years Later - A bus passes and a young woman transitions to her future self (her umbrella does become more stylish as she ages).  A slow shutter speed made the bus blur.  The thought is that this is a comparison of two women at different times in their life.  

Thirty Years Later

4. Crossing with Twins - Another iPhone shot. My wife noticed them as they prepared to cross Sixth Avenue.  It was Fleet Week in New York. 

Cross with Twins - Fleet Week Marine with twin daughters

5. Brooklyn Bound - From the walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge. Someone thought this was an HDR photograph, which is a technical technique that merges multiple photos to even out the light.  But, it was a cloudy day which made everything balanced (not HDR).  I did do some work to bring out the detail in the clouds though. 

Brooklyn Bound - Brooklyn Bridge taxi below the New York City skyline

6. Determined - I was attracted to the corner of the building and the lighting.  I took about 20 pictures of different combinations of people.  The conviction of this guy's walk and the bright color of his shirt made this one memorable.  It was one of my most popular pictures on Flickr this year. 

Determined

 7. Gondolier Glimpse - Walking the alleys in Venice.  A quick reaction as the boat passed by under the bridge.  Three shots and this one was just right.   (More...)

Gondolier Glimpse - Venice gondola

8. Venice Alley - Something about the way laundry is hung within alleys brings out the old world feeling in this remote part of Venice. 

Venice Alley

9. Returning Home - On the Greek island of Mykonos, there is a mix of tourists and locals.  Those who are residents live above in the alleys that wind up the hill.  They are generally protected from those who are in for the day.  But, they do come down for shopping.  This woman attracted my eye, and I was pleased with the framing on this. 

 Returning Home - Mykonos woman

10. Beckoning Cafe - Also in Mykonos, I was focused on the tables but got an extra dimension when the two people came into view up the road. 

Beckoning Cafe - Mykonos street photography

For reference, my previous selections go back to five years and can be found here:  2009, 2008, 2007,2006, and 2005.   

Acqua Alta

Venice has a problem.  At certain times of the year and during certain tidal periods, it gets wet.  It's not technically flooding, it's high water.  Called Acqua Alta (Italian for High Water).  Since the Piazza San Marco is on a low spot geographically, despite its popularity, it becomes filled with water.

People get around it by walking on platforms constructed over the wet spots.  This is what it looks like:

Hotel Panorama

So, it was three years since an "exotic" vacation.  I chose the itinerary for this trip to allow a chance to expand my photographic horizons, so to speak, by going to beautiful places.  It was primarily a cruise vacation, initially departing from Venice, then heading to Split, Croatia, then four stops in Greece.  All beauties when viewed through a lens (or an eyeball). 

We left 6:30pm from Newark and landed in what would be late the next day in Venice.  Then, it was a boat ride to our location of rest, the Hotel Panorama.  It is positioned on the island of Lido, overviewing the lagoon with a vista that includes St. Mark's square across in Venice itself.  Part of the hotel selection process, besides the view, was that the boat let us off directly across the street from the hotel. 

Our room was located on the corner of the building with the excellent primary vista, and the second view was looking towards the boat terminal. 

Since the island is well populated by bicycles and their riders of all ages, it was an interesting perspective to look down into the square and watch the commuters out the south window.   Also the interactions and activities down below were fascinating.  A busy-ness that, in a way, reminded me of the activity in New York.

 

After our two day stay, we took another series of boats to reach our big boat which was departing through Venice at dusk.  We could make out the yellow hotel as we passed by, headed out to the Adriatic Sea.