kimbofo

Wooden doors

Place: The Jewish Ghetto, Venice, Italy.
Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

What stories these doors could tell, if only they could speak!

This photograph was taken in the Jewish Ghetto, a once-enclosed quarter of the city where the inhabitants were kept isolated from the rest of the republic until they gained the full rights of ordinary citizens in 1818.

This trio of unobtrusive, slowly decaying wooden doors was located along one of the walls in the main square, which is known as Campo Gheto Novo. Why the difference is size I wonder? And where's the handle for the door on the right?

You can find out more about the Venetian Ghetto here.

Reflections

Place: Venice, Italy.
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

The waterways of Venice are like giant mirrors, reflecting the often crumbling buildings that line them on either side. This stretch of canal, in the St Croce area if I remember correctly, was a little unusual in that the nearby buildings were in fairly good condition and brightly painted. All it took was a little bit of winter sun and perfectly still conditions for the looking glass to showcase her wares so beautifully. It's just a pity that the sky in the background has 'blown out' or I'd be printing this picture to frame on my wall!

Gondolas at dusk

Place: Venice, Italy.
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

We were scurrying back to our apartment after a hectic day of exploring Venice on foot when I took this photograph. All the lights were coming on as darkness transformed day into night. I didn't have a tripod with me, hence the blurring, but there's something about this image that says 'Venice' to me: the inky black-green water, the gondolas, the poles, the lights shining across the canal and the domes of the buildings beyond.

In the pink

Place: Burano, Italy.
Date: Thursday, November 2, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

Burano, situated in the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon, is a quaint fishing village known for its lace and brightly coloured buildings. It's a picture-postcard perfect type of place, because everything looks so fresh, sharp and vibrant in contrast to Venice's much-loved crumbling, decadent grandeur.

It was an achingly cold day when we arrived at Burano, via a 40-minute boat ride from Venice, although the sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue and the sun was high above us. As we wandered around admiring the brightly painted houses, I wanted to frame everything in my camera so I could take it home to keep forever. It was almost like every step I took, there was another 'surprise' waiting to be photographed. In many ways it reminded me of Hellsingor in Denmark, which also has an abundance of colourful buildings arranged around pretty cobblestoned streets and squares.

The above photograph shows one of the many shops in Via Baldassare Galuppi, the main street, selling lace and other crafty items, much of which is tatt and doesn't really appeal to my tastes. But lace-making is such an integral part of the island's history it seems almost sacrilegious to say that!

A Canaletto view of the Grand Canal

Place: The Grand Canal, looking towards the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy.
Date: Friday, November 3, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

On our last full day in Venice I was conscious of the fact I had not taken any photographs of the Grand Canal, so as we hurried on back to our apartment before it got too cold and dark we briefly stopped at the Accademia Bridge to take a few snaps. As you can see, the sun was very low in the sky: the  clouds resembled half-melted marshmallows, the buildings were cast in a golden glow and the canal waters looked inky and mercurial.

I emailed this picture to the office today in lieu of a belated postcard and two of my colleagues responded. One said, "Nice piccie from the sickie", while the other responded, "(Your photo shows) a proper Canaletto view, albeit with everything at a very slight angle to the vertical, not usually a feature of the Italian master etc etc. Looks wonderful."

Cheeky buggers.

Window box

Place: Venice, Italy.
Date: Wedneday, November 1, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

It might be winter in Venice, but try telling the flower boxes that! Everywhere we went little burst of colour or explosions of greenery would catch the eye. I loved how such boxes soften the often harsh, crumbling edges of the buildings they adorn.

Detail of the Salute

Place: The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy.
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2006.
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-W1.

This vast octagonal building, the largest church in Venice, is a distinguished landmark on the Venetian skyline. This photograph was taken late afternoon, just as the colours of the light grey Istrian stone were changing to warm gold -- and later pink -- as the sun set lower and lower in the sky.