Italy

Walking along Le Strade Nuove let me going into every second building. I was shooting the great galleries and balconies of these unique buildings, where many are a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. I saw that great festive hall which changed colors every 10 seconds on the first floor since the entry was forbidden and secured with a barrier, I was fast with the shooting to capture that great ceiling with those big chandeliers.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 24mm
• ISO: 1600

Lucca is one of the rare cities which have a full city wall around the old town. It’s about 500 years old and 2.5 miles / 4 km long. I have read stories, where the people in the town feel safer because of the wall. Who knows? Being in Lucca made me think about that, and I got something out about this story.

All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall  ➡ song text “Another brick in the wall” by Pink Floyd

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/6.3
• Shutter speed: 1/320s
• Focal length: 33mm
• ISO: 100

A high-speed train brought my wife and me from La Spezia to Genova. The travel time was about an hour, with fully air conditioned carriages. I took a cold Aloe Vera drink as provisions and soon could go out in Genova exploring the city. I can tell you, that is a must see. In my thinking, I had this as a gray harbor city, but the opposite is true. Cultural heritage, full of live and interesting streets and buildings. And a great exhibition of photographer Elliot Erwitt.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/100s
• Focal length: 43mm
• ISO: 320

I was sitting in a street cafe and explored the surroundings with my camera. I had the Sony Zeiss 24-70 F4 with me, so I was a bit limited with the telephoto. For this shot, I had to use my full 70 mm focal length. I like the old balconies with the gray louvered blinds, combined with the color of the house. In Italy often the simple things get interesting. After the shooting session, I took a double espresso with whipped cream and a cold San Bernardino mineral water with a lemon slice.

I was lucky that my wife and I rented a bike, with this we could speed up exploring the city and taking even more photos. 🙂

Post processed with: Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/8
• Shutter speed: 1/500s
• Focal length: 70mm
• ISO: 320

Italy is one of the countries left, where book kiosks still exist. You get all kind of books, old and new, some second-hand, they offer maps in different sizes and notebooks with artfully decorated binders and pictures. Some also have a broad portfolio of magazines and journals. They have their smell of the different papers. Those stores with the architecture around lets you think, you be in a world hundred years ago.

Post processed with: Luminar, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/15s
• Focal length: 51mm
• ISO: 100

La Spezia is the entry door to Cinque Terre, in the city, there are brown direction signs which navigate you to the curvy, uphill street to Riomaggiore. Driving up the serpentines, I got great views of the harbor of La Spezia. I searched for a parking place, which I found at a private property on the opposite side of the street. After going out of my car, there was a dog which was barking like crazy; luckily it was behind a fence. 🙂  I crossed the street and was near a steep slope, where I had only 1 m / 3 ft for standing while shooting my photos.

Post processed with: Aurora, Analog Efex Pro, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7RM2
• Aperture: ƒ/4
• Shutter speed: 1/80s
• Focal length: 48mm
• ISO: 800

Manarola is one of the five villages which make Cinque Terre. I waited until night for the lights of the houses, street lamps and streets to appear. With the warm summer climate and the pleasing salt-breeze, it was a joy. I had plenty of time to place my tripod, to try different lenses and look at the other photographers which were anxious to get their best shots. They were Asians, Africans, spoke different languages, Cinque Terre is a magnet for tourists from the whole world.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Shutter speed: 13s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 100

“Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it’s all right” © George Harrison.
I took that photo on the Italian west coast, one hour south of Genova. You could sell this shot also like the Caribbean, Cuba, Thailand, … however an always great motive, sea, sun, palms. 🙂

Post processed with: Photomatix, Photoshop 

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/13
• Shutter speed: 1/500s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 320

After exploring Cinque Terre from the land side, we decided to give it a try from the sea. At the boat rental, we got a rubber dinghy with an outboard engine and a handgrip for navigation. After a 3 hour tour where I could take some shots despite the rough sea, where I had to balance my body and the shot to stay in the boat and protect my equipment from the water. Then my wife got a bit sea sick, and with 35 C / 95 F, we felt a sunburn, despite the sun-blocker we used, which had sun protection factor 30. All in all, it was a  little (photo) adventure.  🙂

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

On Friday I watched DUNKIRK in IMAX 2D which was a very intense experience. Filmed in the IMAX format with analogous and hand cameras created sceneries where you felt to be part of it. The movie was a very authentic and partially filmed like a documentary. A masterpiece, fully recommended. *****

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/4.5
• Shutter speed: 1/800s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 100

For what is Italy famous for? Fashion is on the top list, even the bridal dresses have a unique Italian chic. Accidentally I entered that street where I saw a bridal shop which gave a cool lighting in this darker hour. I wanted to get the whole atmosphere with the contrasts on one photo, the perfect use for my wide angle Samyang 14mm AF lens.

Post processed with: Aurora, Photoshop

• Camera: ILCE-7S
• Aperture: ƒ/2.8
• Shutter speed: 1/250s
• Focal length: 14mm
• ISO: 800