Photos from Venice
Discussion
I had a bit of a hard time getting photos I liked in Venice - mainly because although it's easy to photograph, it's hard to capture the atmosphere. I've written all about the trip on my website if you are interested to read my blithering.
Here are some of the shots I did quite like, first some panoramics. you'll need to click on them for the full effect.
And now a couple of 30 second exposures taken at night:
Of the rest I took (almost 400 shots) as I went through them I just never really felt that I'd done the place justice. I've put a few more on my website anyway.
Thanks for looking!
Here are some of the shots I did quite like, first some panoramics. you'll need to click on them for the full effect.
And now a couple of 30 second exposures taken at night:
Of the rest I took (almost 400 shots) as I went through them I just never really felt that I'd done the place justice. I've put a few more on my website anyway.
Thanks for looking!
Relax Andy - some of us might have been waiting for a chance to read the blog before commenting.
It sounds like you felt almost exactly the same as me about the place - potential pictures everywhere, but a struggle to capture the essence of the place. You seem to have been unlucky with the weather which can't have helped, but the detail shots (masks, statues) on the blog brought it right back to me.
I like the first panorama a lot, but feel slightly uncomfortable about the converging verticals on the night shots. If you're using dramatic perspective for effect then OK, but I'd be tempted to avoid (or correct) them.
I'm wondering about a return trip later in the year - flooding in St Marks Square, Gondolas in the mist, that kind of thing. Here's a detail shot from my recent trip:
It sounds like you felt almost exactly the same as me about the place - potential pictures everywhere, but a struggle to capture the essence of the place. You seem to have been unlucky with the weather which can't have helped, but the detail shots (masks, statues) on the blog brought it right back to me.
I like the first panorama a lot, but feel slightly uncomfortable about the converging verticals on the night shots. If you're using dramatic perspective for effect then OK, but I'd be tempted to avoid (or correct) them.
I'm wondering about a return trip later in the year - flooding in St Marks Square, Gondolas in the mist, that kind of thing. Here's a detail shot from my recent trip:
Andy M said:
I'm surprised these photos haven't received further comments.
IMO it's befitting at the 'quality' of this forum, rather than the quality of the photos,
Blimey Andy, hold your horses - they were only posted 7 hours ago! People might just be working - I've been nowhere near a computer all day and I might not be the only one...IMO it's befitting at the 'quality' of this forum, rather than the quality of the photos,
To the OP, photos are lovely, but you were hit by the light which is depressing (although a good excuse to go back). I'm quite interested in having a go at panoramas for our holiday this year so I'll be having a closer look when I have a bit more time.
Thanks for the comments everyone. You're probably right Nick, I guess I am a bit too critical of my own work, and sometimes need to take a step back from it.
I've got 5 rolls I shot with the Holga which I'm waiting to come back from Peak Imaging, no idea how they are going to turn out!
Tony - I fixed the converging verticals in a couple of them, but didn't think to do it in the night shots. I might revisit them and see how it works out.
FunkyNige - I just selected whatever aperture would get me a 30 second exposure (as Nick says, the maximum shutter length without going to bulb mode). Even though Mrs Dobbo is patient, I didn't want to take the piss and have to use manual mode and risk having to redo them.
Caroline - you don't want Wilf, trust me. You'd give him back after 24 hours!
I've got 5 rolls I shot with the Holga which I'm waiting to come back from Peak Imaging, no idea how they are going to turn out!
Tony - I fixed the converging verticals in a couple of them, but didn't think to do it in the night shots. I might revisit them and see how it works out.
FunkyNige - I just selected whatever aperture would get me a 30 second exposure (as Nick says, the maximum shutter length without going to bulb mode). Even though Mrs Dobbo is patient, I didn't want to take the piss and have to use manual mode and risk having to redo them.
Caroline - you don't want Wilf, trust me. You'd give him back after 24 hours!
Andy M said:
I'm surprised these photos haven't received further comments.
IMO it's befitting at the 'quality' of this forum, rather than the quality of the photos, that these haven't been commented on.
I like them a lot. But who wants a string of replies saying 'Wow that's great!'? It gets rather boring.IMO it's befitting at the 'quality' of this forum, rather than the quality of the photos, that these haven't been commented on.
'Execellence fitted as standard' or something.
This chap just needs about 2 degrees CCW:
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 17th April 21:34
Simpo Two said:
But who wants a string of replies saying 'Wow that's great!'?
Well, it's not bad for the old ego! Especially if you're not sure about your shots to start with. 
Simpo Two said:
This chap just needs about 2 degrees CCW:
So it does! I gave it about 0.5 degrees which straightened up all the buildings through the middle, but some still look out a bit. I suspect it's down to them leaning, which is pretty common in Venice! It's a bit better now anyway.Rotating 2 degrees leaves the buildings down the middle out - and also means you have to cut off too much of the top and bottom, so I'll have to live with it as it is.
Edited by _dobbo_ on Friday 18th April 09:33
_dobbo_ said:
Well, it's not bad for the old ego! Especially if you're not sure about your shots to start with.
The latter I agree with; you're looking for comments good or bad, not merely praise. But we know it can go horribly wrong. I suppose people post with different objectives:1) This is my photo but I'm not happy with it - please help.
2) This is my photo and I'm quite proud of it but what do you think?
3) This photo is an example of excellence to you all; look on my works ye mighty and despair.
_dobbo_ said:
Rotating 2 degrees leaves the buildings down the middle out - and also means you have to cut off too much of the top and bottom, so I'll have to live with it as it is.
Agreed; I reckoned that as it was a panorama you were probably stuck with it! Not sure what you mean by 'leaves the buildings down the middle out' though?Am I picky? Well, if someone shows me a photo and asks me to comment, my eyes go round and across and up and down it, perhaps the visual equivalent of winetasting. Only the bits that stick out get noticed! But it's generally such a high-risk area that I prefer not to start anything, and dishing out insincere praise to all comers is pointless if not harmful in the long run.
Having said that, I'd like to reassure you that your photos are definitely more absorbing than 'this is my car' and you obviously put a lot of thought and work into them.
Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 18th April 09:43
Simpo Two said:
The latter I agree with; you're looking for comments good or bad, not merely praise.
I'm comfortable enough with my photographs now that I'll post most of the time without specifically asking for anything - just with a view to sharing what I learned or problems I encountered. If anything I post interests people that's good enough for me. I've posted enough threads and not got any comments at all that I had to stop hoping for praise! Simpo Two said:
Not sure what you mean by 'leaves the buildings down the middle out' though?
What I meant was that with 0.5 degrees rotation all the buildings in the distance in the middle of the photo are now all straight - but the buildings at either end of the panorama are not. Like you say though, I'm stuck with it either way. Simpo Two said:
The latter I agree with; you're looking for comments good or bad, not merely praise. But we know it can go horribly wrong. I suppose people post with different objectives:
1) This is my photo but I'm not happy with it - please help.
2) This is my photo and I'm quite proud of it but what do you think?
3) This photo is an example of excellence to you all; look on my works ye mighty and despair.
I think the chances of it going horribly wrong increase markedly as you move up that list 1) This is my photo but I'm not happy with it - please help.
2) This is my photo and I'm quite proud of it but what do you think?
3) This photo is an example of excellence to you all; look on my works ye mighty and despair.
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