Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy-Overlook

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I would have to say that Vernazza, Italy is probably on the top of the list for photographic vistas anywhere in the world. To climb up the steep cobblestone pathways to your own little spot, before the crowds show up at sunset, and to share that spot with a dozen other photographers is quite intoxicating. People around you from all parts of the world converging on this famous cliff-side town, all wanting the same thing..a moment frozen in time to hold onto for a lifetime. I happen to be standing next to a commissioned photographer from Japan who had a dream job. He travelled the world testing new cameras for Sony, Canon and Nikon and got paid for it. Who wouldn’t want to do that. This guy was pulling out cameras like a gunfighter pulling a pistol out of a holster. It was quite exciting to watch him juggle between shots knowing he only had a few minutes with the golden sunset.

Vernazza, Italy Overlook

Colorful Burano, Italy

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As we get back to normal after our Alaska excursion, I find myself thinking about the next trip coming up. As we approach fall, Europe seems to be in the back of my mind.  We stayed away from Europe this summer with the Olympics going on.

Speaking of Europe, I thought I would share some Italian with you.

A short water taxi ride from Venice is an Island called Burano. For day trippers who want to get out of the hustle and bustle of Venice, Burano serves up a treat of pastel-hued homes all painted a different color, canals and bridges to stroll on and over, restaurants and gift shops, all the normal touristy things. As for photographers, you won’t be disappointed. Your camera won’t stop clicking.

Colorful Burano Italy
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Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy

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The picturesque cliff-towns along the Ligurian Sea make up an area called Cinque Terre. Five towns along the Italian riviera welcome visitors to a unique world of discovery that dates back a 1000 years. More Americans are showing up here to spend a week hiking the trails that hug the coastline for some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Breathtaking views at every turn and with the train going between each of the towns every 10 minutes, when you get tired of hiking, grab a train and you’re back to your hotel in a flash.

During the days in Cinque Terre, we would scope out vistas to photograph at sunset, and then return to grab the shot. Afterwords we would sit out at one of the local restaurants and enjoy a meal under the stars. The weather for us was perfect and the fall is a great time to visit. Crowds are less and rooms are much cheaper. You need a week to really do this place right. And my suggestion is stay in a little beach town close by called Levanto.

Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
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Quiet Morning in Venice

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Nothing like a crisp clear morning in Venenzia! Wandering around the walkways and canals, looking for a small outdoor cafe or bakery to sit and relax and enjoy the quiet. Mm.. quiet, Venice is not! How nice that would be, but the canals are typically bustling with activity, people going to work, boats bringing in supplies, kids off to school, saws and hammers pounding away. You have to dig deeper into the backstreets and corridors to find some possible quiet. It’s there somewhere, and it’s nice when you find it! For an impatient photographer looking for the next award winning shot, you don’t sit still long. Of the zillions of photographs taken of Venice, you think you’re going to get that exceptional fine art shot. One can only hope, but in the end, it’s really more about the experience of being there and enjoying the moment..and sharing!

Quiet Morning in Venice
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Rialto Bridge, Venice-HDR

A perfect spot to be in Venice is the Rialto Bridge. It seems to be in the center of it all and every tourist ends up there. We stayed at a hotel right off the bridge where we could sit and  immerse ourselves in it all. Was quite an experience and one we repeated many times in our favorite Europeans city. This HDR ended up being done with one photo due to the rocking of the Gondolas in the water.

Rialto Bridge
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Moonstruck in Siena, Italy

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The dark corridors of ancient Italian villages and towns make for some interesting eerie HDR’s. We happen to be in Tuscany during a full moon, so it just had to be in the pictures. Cobblestone streets lead out to open piazza’s where you will usually find people meandering, restaurants and pizzerias buzzing and shops galore promoting their wares. Searching out dark hidden pathways made it all the more fun and exciting to try out some high dynamic range photography. The older and grainier the better.

Siena Italy
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Island Pastels from Burano, Italy

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A small island not far from Venice is a town of many colors. Each home and business is painted a different color. The rainbow effect splashed down on this favorite spot of  mine. Anytime we go to Venice we try to take a water bus over to this quaint little place that beckons tourist to spend a little time, spend a little money and photo buffs like me a chance to go crazy clicking a way. Beautiful restaurants on the canals and a popular item here to buy and watch artisans hard at work on, is “lace”.

Burano Italy

Levanto Italy

This Italian town is a great place to stay when you’re visiting Cinque Terre National Park. My favorite cliff towns are; Rio Maggiore,Vernazza and Manarola. Everything  in Levanto is within walking distance including the train station to the cliff towns. Beautiful beaches,flee markets, tree-lined streets, patio restaurants, bakeries, B&B’s, you name it, you’ll find in Levanto.

This photo is close to the beach in a square. Our room is on the 3rd floor of the B&B in the background with the window open.

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Levanto Italy

Timeless Venice

The corridors of Venice are like a big maze. If it weren’t  for the signs saying either Rialto Bridge or St Marco Piazza, you would be completely lost. But half of the fun in Venice is to lose yourself to the back streets and get a glimpse of everyday living of Venetians. So it’s hard to do with all the tourist but fun just the same. I have 40 years of remembering Venice with many trips back and it always feels good to me with new places to explore. I’ll never grow tired of my favorite city.

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Venice lif

Cliff Towns of Cinque Terre, Italy

Manarola is one of the 5 cliff towns that hover over the Ligurian Sea in northern Italy’s Italian Riviera. This place is magical with it’s pastel colored buildings hanging from the vertical hills. It’s part of a National Park with hiking trails between each town. You can’t really drive in these small towns, but a train seems to stop every 20 minutes to take you to the next town. We stayed in Levanto and commuted to each town to photograph and enjoy where ancient Romans use to vacation. East of the Cinque Terre, a town called Levanto is a great place to stay with everything Italy has to offer; great restaurants ,B&B’s, beaches, shops, parks and tree-lines streets all tucked in a picturesque cove.  Check it out on Google Earth.

This HDR shot was a walk half-way through town. Had to move trash cans and and as usual patiently wait for tourist to finish enjoying the spot before I could shoot. Part of the job. But what better place to just hang-out enjoying the moment.

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Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
Dave Morgan-Creative Commons