Travel Pics - My trip to Venice

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Spurred on by Rhubarb's inspirational Hong Kong night shots, I've finally processed the pics from my short break in Venice earlier this month.

Other than the classic 'bobbing gondolas' and 'crowds in St Mark's Square' I didn't really have much idea of what I was going to find (I usually like to know what I want to shoot before I arrive) so I wasn't prepared for just how great it was. Getting up before the sunrise we were the only people around - interestingly, all the other tourists with cameras appeared just after sunrise and missed the best light.

I found it difficult to pin down the definitive 'Venice in a nutshell' pic because everywhere you look is another great image. Here are a couple of views you've probably seen before:








However, take a few steps towards the edge of St Mark's Sq and...








Somehow the surroundings make everyday activities worth a picture...






Even the cemetery is interesting:






How does everyone else approach pictures on holiday? Do you head straight for the postcard shops to see what other people shoot, or wander round for a bit and see what the place feels like?

I can't help thinking that although I'm happy with the individual pics, the group has a slightly uneven feel. I've done B&W versions of some which seems to tie them together better, but perhaps it's not possible to do classic 'tourist' pics and something a bit more in-depth at the same time.

C&C welcome!

Edited by S. Gonzales Esq. on Wednesday 26th March 17:57

[miniman]

I like the fact that you've got a lot of shots with people going about their life, whether it's tourists or locals. Looks like some tripod / monopod shots too? Two things I've not really felt comfortable doing yet - dragging a tripod round a city and taking snaps of people. Anyway, I like them.

Some from my recent Venice trip here:

www.binaryimage.net/albums/venice/

[_dobbo_]

Nice pics, I'm not sure some of them benefit from the moving people but I suspect you had little choice in that.

I'm off to Venice myself in a fortnight. I plan on shooting mostly with my Holga, but will get the DSLR out a fair bit I think.

As for getting up before sunrise - I doubt we'll manage that!

[cliff123]

Lovely pics, jut the sort of pics I want to take on holiday, but don't. Very nice, well done.

[Fetchez la vache]

some crackers there... love the comp & pp on #4

ETA- though I'd be happy with any of them - nice shots! Do love Venice & have been meaning to go back as the wife has never been. As you say it's the simple things in the different setting that makes it. I saw a funeral procession on the boats - felt very strange indeed.

Edited by Fetchez la vache on Wednesday 26th March 22:23

[Rag_It]

Some brilliant shots there, as commented on before i think having the tripod has allowed you to get some amazing shots with people carrying on with every day life!

Top Work, and again not sure i could just set up pitch with tripod and snap away!

Dave

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Rag_It said:

not sure i could just set up pitch with tripod and snap away!

Dave

Believe it or not, I found that using a tripod made snapping people easier. I could compose the shot, work out where I wanted the people to be and then stand back with the cable release, waiting for my moment. If you don't look through the camera, or wind it on/check the screen after looking at them then you don't attract attention.

Every other person in Venice has a DSLR around their neck, so no-one took any notice of me (except one guy on the Rialto bridge who asked what the camera was). Carrying the gear was a pain though, so it was early mornings and evenings for pics, rest of the day for actually being on holiday.

Fetchez la vache said:

love the comp & pp on #4

Ta very much - I think it's my favourite too, with a subtle use of HDR. If you'd like me to explain how it was done, let me know.

[nickd01]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Rag_It said:

not sure i could just set up pitch with tripod and snap away!

Dave

.....

Fetchez la vache said:

love the comp & pp on #4

Ta very much - I think it's my favourite too, with a subtle use of HDR. If you'd like me to explain how it was done, let me know.

I'd be interested if you've got 5 mins to explain what you did...

[beano500]

All good -

Numbers 1 and 4 for me though.....

[Fetchez la vache]

nickd01 said:

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Rag_It said:

not sure i could just set up pitch with tripod and snap away!

Dave

.....

Fetchez la vache said:

love the comp & pp on #4

Ta very much - I think it's my favourite too, with a subtle use of HDR. If you'd like me to explain how it was done, let me know.

I'd be interested if you've got 5 mins to explain what you did...

Yes, that'd be great thanks. Been pondering HDR for a while and it'd be good to know how it's used apart from landscapes

[EmmaP]

Lovely shots! Number four is beautiful. The tones are lovely and I think the couple and the fact that they are blurred really add to the atmosphere.

I admire your discipline. I'm quite lazy when it comes to photography on holiday, with the exception of when I went to NYC.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Thanks for all the comments - description of shot number 4 is now available here.

Emma - have you posted your New York pics here? The forum search function isn't working again so I can't check.

Edited by S. Gonzales Esq. on Thursday 27th March 18:09

[rhubarb]

They are lovely shots, the football one really appeals to me. For me holiday shots mostly end up being snaps. My wife has the patience of a saint, but there's no way I could ask her to hang around while I took all of the shots I wanted, so mine tend to be snatched snaps where as yours appear very much more considered. Of course it's a different matter if I'm on my own (hong kong was a business trip). As for the tripod, I must admit I really used to feel self conscious using one and would cower in the corner not getting the shots I wanted, but I think you're right once you do get it out people just get on with their days and not really notice.

BTW what tripod do you use, my manfrotto 055 is great when you drive from a to b, but lugging that thing round all day as real pain, I really need to get something a little smaller

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

rhubarb said:

BTW what tripod do you use, my manfrotto 055 is great when you drive from a to b, but lugging that thing round all day as real pain, I really need to get something a little smaller

Being too mean/lazy to sort out a specific travel tripod means that I end up lugging my usual work one around. It's a Gitzo Mountaineer - I forget the model but it's around 2.5m with the column up. I then undo all the benefit of the carbon fibre by having a Manfrotto 229 head on top, which will easily cope with a large 5"x4" camera.

The only reason I don't get fed up with the weight of it is the fact that the bag with the Hasselblad in also weighs a stupid amount, so a heavy tripod keeps me balanced.

Edited by S. Gonzales Esq. on Thursday 27th March 22:25

[beano500]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Hasselblad

Ooooooooooooooooo You're using a Phase One P20, eh?

[EmmaP]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Emma - have you posted your New York pics here?

I entered one in a competition last month on here, but aside from that no. I'll email you a couple.