Slickrock and Shadow

 Gordon Smith enjoying dinner in Paris  Unlike a road trip from one state to another state in America, a trip to Europe requires more selective packing. When I traveled there for 3 weeks with my family, we decided that we would be traveling very light. Everything that we took to Europe and everything that we brought home had to fit in our carry-on backpack. Besides the usual requirements of shirts, shoes, pants, socks and shaving equipment, I was most interested in knowing what camera equipment I could bring. What would fit and how heavy would it be to carry? My camera is a Canon 1Ds Mark 3. An all-purpose lens such as the 24-105 f/4 L IS is a no-brainer. If I could only take one lens, this would be it. I took the majority of my photos using this lens. The architectural wonders of Europe also made me want a wider lens with perspective correction. The 17mm tilt-shift lens fit the bill. This lens is very big and heavy but nothing else can do what it can. It made the cut. The 7...

Young women sits in window in Venice. Although you cannot see it, the canal is below her. During my journeys in Europe, I saw many students.  They were traveling overseas or studying abroad and searching for cultural experience.  The deep history Europe offers is undeniable.  You simply cannot be unmoved after touring the Louvre, climbing an ancient castle rampart or watching the sun set over the Salute Cathedral in Venice.  I felt enriched when I first visited Europe as a student and I enjoyed seeing others repeating that same experience.   As a photographer I tried to capture some of that with these photos of young students in ancient surroundings.  The contrast between young and old, life and death, student and history is what I hoped to show. My daughter in the window of Beynac Castle Study abroad: student before ancient tomb in La Frari church of Venice.  

 Gondolas and Venice Lagoon  A great way to have a wonderful photographic city all to yourself is to wander around at night.  The crowds vanished for me as I went from the Accademia bridge to La Salute church and then ended up back at St. Mark's Square.  There are lots of things to keep your camera snapping.   One essential tool is a tripod.  Although it is challenging to carry a tripod while traveling light, I managed to bring my Gitzo Traveler tripod (GT1542) with Markins Q10 ballhead.  This was large enough to support my camera with some medium-weight lenses and yet small enough to fit into my backpack which I carried on to the plane along with all my other photographic equipment.  This allowed me the freedom to take very long exposures and get creative. Italian Couple  Night Water Taxi 

Old Venice This is another discovery as I wandered off by myself.  I found this beautiful opening onto it for now.  Directly across there was the doorway to another building.  I tried to frame these 2 portals so that they would mirror one another, emphasizing the arch on top as well as the rectangular opening on all the other side.

Spooky Alley and Doorway As I got lost in Venice at night I came across this spooky alley.  Nobody was around even though this was only about a one minute walk from a main thoroughfare filled with pedestrians and shops.  You do not have to wander very far to find yourself alone in Venice.  All you have to do is duck into a dark alley to disappear from the crowd.  I tried to capture the desolate, spooky feeling in this photograph. Focal length 45mm; aperture f/11; shutter speed 30 seconds.  Shot with a tripod.

Doge's Palace:  Arches and Columns The Doge's Palace is a must-see to any visitor of Venice.  So much history, power and art are on display here.  The exterior is an architectural wonder.  The interior is also magnificent.  Although photography is not encouraged inside, the details outside can be photographed freely.  Here are some of my shots.  In order to have an empty corridor of arches, I had to arrive very early in the morning.  I came back later to enjoy the official tour. Details of the Doge View from the top of Doge's palace stairs You can sneak a few photos here and there.  I found the "no photo" policy widely abused by all travelers.  Everyone had their cameras out and shot here and there.  For about every 1,000 photos I saw taken, I heard one guide saying "no photo." Art-covered ceiling inside Doge's Palace While I was there I also got to see Manet's Olympia displayed next to Titian's Venus.  T...

Eight Massive Columns inside Saints John and Paul Cathedral In Venice there is a wonderful church in the north part of town.  Nobody goes there at least not very many people.  However it is incredibly beautiful, religiously peaceful.  I felt like I had made a wonderful discovery when I walked through the doors of Saints John and Paul Church.  It is not named after the John or the Paul in the New Testament but you do not need to know that in order to enjoy the beauty. Altar Extremely wide and high pillars stretch forth the ceiling.  The ceiling itself is a wonderful work of symmetry.  As you can see from the photos, the place was empty.  I did not have to Photoshop anybody out to have a clean view. Light of God Cathedral Heights At this church I used my 17 mm tilt-shift lens almost exclusively.  In order to prevent lens distortion, I shifted up and composed very carefully for taking the shot.

Water-level view:  taken from a gondola Here's a collection of several canals and boats that I saw while in Venice. Green Boat Reflecting back on Venice Gondolier at work Grand Canal photo taken from Accademia Bridge at sunset

Black lantern within St. Mark's Cathedral Photography is forbidden in St. Mark's Cathedral.  However everyone around me was taking pictures.  The peer pressure was too much and I broke out my camera and started shooting.  You have to shoot quickly and you cannot have a tripod.  A big tripod and a slow photographer would attract too much attention from the understaffed guards.  A discrete photographer with a high ISO and a steady hand is able to come back with a few good pictures of this incredible historic religious building.  The mosaics are breathtaking, truly magnificent.  Please enjoy. The floor is a rolling irregular mosaic Golden chest from the Treasury Gold Mosaic of Christ washing the feet of Peter Incredible Golden Dome Inner Sanctum Mosaic detail Enormous mosaic of the house of Israel and all the branches.  This was huge. Angel slaying a dragon

Shooting under the horse to frame the campanile beneath its' chest took me to my knees and required an acute neck angle to get this shot. Just like in Paris, Venice challenges the photographer to discover a new composition.  This ancient city has been photographed millions of times and has also been painted by the old masters.  How could I possibly go to this location and come back with something original? Well, I am not sure if I did come back with anything original but I tried.  I tried by getting down on the ground and shooting up, I tried by using my telephoto lens to pick out just the details and bring pieces of buildings closer in a photograph than they appear in real life.  I tried by getting up early in the morning and I tried by staying out late.  I also tried by not having specific locations programmed into my mind.  I let myself wander and discover. Here are some photographs of Venice that I hope are unique. This shot was muc...

Passo Pordoi Lift to the Mountaintop The Sella Ronda is the term used for going around the Sella Mountain group.  This particular group of mountains is surrounded by several skiing towns.  Some people travel by bicycle, automobile and hiking.  I was with my family and we traveled by car.  Some of the great highlights include 3 high mountain passes.  These are Pordoi Pass, Sella Pass and Gardena Pass.  The first pass is Pordoi.  This pass has a list that goes to the top.  It opens earlier in the summer than most other lifts.  We took the ride.  I would highly recommend doing so.  In just a few minutes you ascend thousands of meters into the clouds.  While we were on top, beautiful sunshine hit us in the face.  20 minutes later it was snowing.  Unforgettable.   Sella Pass Sella Pass has 3 ragged peaks shooting into the sky.  As you drive from pass to pass, your neck might start to hurt becaus...

Colfosco, Alta Badia This entry will be brief but to the point. If you are ever in the tiny town of Covara, you should get up in the morning and see that beautiful light on the mountains and churches. From the town up to the top of the pass, the scenery cannot be beat. It is a time you will not forget. Gardena Pass Peaks Lower in the Valley of Alta Badia Dolomites and Dome Mountain Hut

Gardena Pass Church at sunrise I found myself on top of Gardena Pass waiting for the sun to rise in June.  According to my calculations and the Internet, the sun was due to rise at 5:20 AM.  I was in position at 5 AM.  I wandered up and around a lovely church.  Above the church the trail extends farther into the mountain peaks.  The wind was blowing and warmth nonexistent.  The storm had come through the area the previous several days and today the storm had finally cleared out.  A few clouds were here and there.  I expected it to be a beautiful sunrise. Slowly the light grew.  I was in position to catch the very first light shining on this beautiful mountain church surrounded by rugged peaks.  5:20 passed.  Now was 5:21, then 5:22 and still no sun.  Because I was so cold, time slowed down and 10 minutes seemed like an hour.  The sun finally rose at 5:30.  I've never known the sun to be tardy before but on t...