Venice 1, a photo from Venice, Veneto

Photographer's Note

I have often been to Venice in the past but on Wednesday I had a day there without the family and was able to concentrate on trying to capture my own vision (influenced by Turner) rather than just family snaps.
This is the 1st shot i'll be posting and is of the Lido from St Marks Square.
Tech: shot full into the sun with 3stop ND + 1.5stop grad and dark red filter.
In PS I supprisingly had only to sharpen, crop and adjust levels.

hispic, eleparc, Igel, Emiel_Skyfreak trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Opus (0) 2004-01-23 12:38

One of the better images of the Grand Canal I've seen. Love the use of b&w...tonal range is superb. Very dramatic and a new favorite of mine.

[2]

joseelias (0) 2004-01-23 12:48

Stunning image! Although the sky and place makes us imagine the beautifull colours behinds this scene, your choice of BW is great. To me it works like a teaser and make me wonder.

Besides that the BW enhanced the volumes and textures in a very dramatic way.

The lamp seems to have a distortion but...it's better this way. It creates a stress in the image. Great DOF.

[2]

Vagabond (5848) 2004-01-23 13:04

Excellent picture. A five-stars one ...

Huthmacher (649) 2004-01-23 13:12

When I looks your photo, I conceive in the mind, listen one operates of Verdi.
Suberb. Congratulation

SofiaC (215) 2004-01-23 13:13

Excelente B&W picture!!
It's a wonderful composition!
Well done

JAF (0) 2004-01-23 13:23

Photo trés achevée! .... par un spécialiste du B&W filtré rouge ou Infra rouge !
A mon gout le quai est un poil trop profond
Bravo et merci de cette vision inhabituelle ,propice au rève et à l'imagination !

Ebbe (9625) 2004-01-23 13:37

This is simply great Richard. Dramatic perpective and backlight. WOWOWOWOWOWS!

Surfer31 (0) 2004-01-23 14:27

Impressive shot, one of the best pictures I've ever seen from Venice. The super wide-angle gives it such a dramatic atmosphere. I like how the boats point at the cathedral (?) on the the other side, not to mention the sky. It's just a wonderful image.

RandomCameraGuy (3071) 2004-01-23 14:28

Another great b/w Rich. You've given us a different perspective of this oft photographed location. Love the sky and the many textures.

Since you captured the sidewalk it's too bad there weren't some people walking by. Also there seems to be a slight tilt.

pamastro (7296) 2004-01-23 16:33

This is just an amazing shot. I can't really say much else since I'm just wowed so much by it.

Guzman (577) 2004-01-23 18:26

Very well presented composition, good tones to the greys show up nicely on the flagstones fine combination and use of grad filters (plus point to have some time on your own) beautiful capture gives a relaxed stillness feeling to me, thanks for posting. Bravo

joso (2417) 2004-01-23 18:29

A fantastic B/W, very good use of the filter, Richard.
The "disturbing" lamp is very good placed in the composition, giving height, and the gondels, ponting to the middle, cares for depth.
Very well seen and done.

lemon_logix (1054) 2004-01-23 23:38

simply captivating. I like the use of bw here. What a sky.

Isabelle (9046) 2004-01-24 5:56

fantastic capture, Richard.
i agree with the others here and i would like to thank you for the non cliché perspective.
congratulations.

digiken (105) 2004-01-24 10:28

Really nice! I like how the wide angle and depth of field make the shot quite 3D. The lamp post on the left really helps this. The image, broken roughly into thirds shows a neat combination of textures: Broken sky at the top, boats (curvy shapes) in the middle, and grid-like pavers on the bottom. Level-wise, it's a bit dark for my liking (or my monitor) but it works well.

Motrem (2392) 2004-01-24 16:52

Beautiful composition, impressive, beautiful sky degraded by tones. If I indeed remember myself, it is the place where we can take a "taxi" to move? I still have the recollection and the surprise to have seen this poster. Not the other terms for them to indicate these boats-taxis to move in the canals which serve as streets. Bizarre Venice!

Belle composition, ciel impressionnant, beau dégradé de tons. Si je me rappelle bien, c'est l'endroit où l'on peut prendre un "taxi" pour se déplacer? J'ai encore le souvenir et la surprise d'avoir vu cette pancarte. Pas d'autres termes pour eux pour désigner ces bateaux-taxis pour se déplacer dans les canaux qui servent de rues. Bizarre Venise!

Marcus-G (88) 2004-01-24 21:05

Very impressive shot. It is the second time for me I found one of your picture very familiar.

I think that it is the sign of your undeniable talent: to create new images and yet, to some extent, anchored in our unconscious collective. It is a very interesting experiment

maciekda (19895) 2004-01-25 1:44

yes, it looks great, what a special mood you have managed to create. i like the composition with the lamp on the side and all those shadows, really nice

mike_b (283) 2004-01-26 17:44

Incredible image, I love the drama of the backlit sky drawing the eye towards the building in the background.

claudiaf (4438) 2004-01-28 16:15

Amazing! It's really good. I love all your shots of venice.

hdl (7035) 2004-01-29 16:43

simply great

Josh69 (1437) 2004-02-14 2:01

Very good. I can't help wondering if it is possible to reproduce the same photo in Photoshop from a colour image taken without the red and ND filter that you used at the time:
- apply the graduated ND filter in PS.
- separate the 3 colour channels and use only the red channel.

veroniq (95) 2004-03-11 13:28

WOW - look at this picture!! I love it! .. the light, the choise of BW, the quiet atmosphere... i really would like to go to this place!

dib (277) 2004-03-12 5:52

Nous n'avons pas l'habitude de voir venise, dans un Noir/Blanc, mais c'est tres reussi, cela ouvre les portes secretes de Venise

piozac (2065) 2004-03-12 12:28

That's a great shot Richard! Goes to my favourites. Superb composition and shot into the sun, what I like a lot...
You're b&w master for me.
Best regards!

tuanjim (44) 2004-03-29 22:31

This has got to be one of my favorite shots yet on TrekEarth. Truly amazing shot! The sky, the rhythm of the boats,church,lamppost knocks me out! I don't understand what you mean by a 3stop ND + 1.5 stop grad though...? If I could this more smiles I would:)

Proxilva (2157) 2004-04-06 13:35

have been watching for five minutes to this shot now... in-cre-dible!!!
gonna make some coffee to wake up :)

eleparc (24063) 2004-04-10 13:51

yet another great shot from venice; I am positively impressed! congrats! the light, the angle of view, the compo, the DOf , everything is perfect for me!

RGatward (20108) 2004-04-14 11:50

Just looked back at more of your stuff, after seeing the church, this one cuaght my eye first. Nothing to add to the others.

pascalbene (1717) 2004-05-05 17:07

Nothing to add. This pic is really really amazing...

kaychambers (1198) 2004-06-23 7:47

Awesome imagery and phenominal PS work!

A zillion congratulations. Fully deservant of more than just 2 points.....

Regards,

Vic, Singapore. 23rd June 2004.

umbrellaphotos (1901) 2004-08-02 13:31

Amazing picture and yet done so simply.

morganommer (765) 2004-08-11 0:34

That is an amazing shot. perfect light and no wandering tourist wearing shorts. well done .

naxius (16685) 2004-09-02 7:29

This is a remarkable composition. I like it very much and you have been very concentrated to make this shot.
Congrats.
Alexandre

travelyurt (276) 2004-10-12 13:33

What a wonderful picture! I really think you nailed everything you needed to here, the B/W makes it work and the framing and comp include lots of interesting elements that come together to make it look very dramatic and interesting. There may be a slight horizontal tilt but I would not even have noticed it before I came to TE.

recepyuksel (18640) 2005-06-28 10:40

Muhtesem bir kompozisyon, bize sadece bakmak dusuyor. Brawwo.

keribar (43841) 2005-10-16 3:20

Hello Richard,

Very impressive BW contre-jour shot of the gondolas and Isola San Giorgio. It gives me ideas for the next trip to Venice in February. But I doubt I'll find the place empty during the Carnival.
Excellent!

I wish you a good Sunday - Izzet keribar

teric (339) 2005-11-01 13:31

hello
I just don't know what to add because everything was said about this photo. Really great done shot!
regards,
Maciek

pia (34) 2005-11-16 12:45

Wow !!!! Es una bellisima foto, es increible todo lo que transmite. Felicidades Richard.

AiresSantos (56155) 2005-12-20 7:04

Hi Richard,
I was looking for your portfolio and loved this photo.
Magnificent, with very good POV.
I like the point of view, texture and the light.
Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes, Aires

Manguy (138) 2006-01-19 11:06 [Comment]

Show Comment

jsec (2154) 2006-05-04 19:22

This image is packed with drama leading to a unique capture. Totally a step above the usual photos from this well worn place. I return there next week. Will have to step up my game! Thanks for the inspiration.

m_s_s (1691) 2006-05-09 15:12

Stunning picture. Great that's in B&W. nice light and sky. wonderful.
good luck!

tonikrou (463) 2006-05-20 11:39

you have a great style in photo thanks for share

andreineamtu (466) 2006-07-31 16:05

very very good photo, congratulations. perfect contrast and light use. i like the sharpness of the picture, and the clarity. look at the waves at the bottom on the light pilon.. the vertical elements go well together in the composition. thank you for this photo..

swimmer (817) 2007-01-06 7:16

Super Q on this one Richard. At first I thought it was taken as a HDR as it shows so much detail ! And all those composition rules are in the image as well ! Regards Chris

peter1892 (1681) 2007-01-06 7:23

A very good B&W image - the light is fantastic & gives really good contrast between the darker & lighter areas in the sky. the composition works well too, with the Gondolas leading towards the buildings in the distance.

joshack (455) 2007-02-20 18:44

Beautiful sky! I think color shots do Venice more justice, but maybe it is worthwhile to see familiar things in unexpected ways.

Emiel_Skyfreak (3002) 2007-07-04 5:17

Hi Richard,

I encountered this photo by searching on ND grad's in the forums, I wanted to know a bit more about them..so I found this photo, I think a perfect example of great use of these filters. This is just a superb B&W image with great detail in every part of the scene, I think the gradual ND did a lot for this photo. The sharpness is really good! Great exposure, details and composition with this lantarn well placed on the left side of the photo.
Very well done!

ps I've been there once, in Venice on this square, nice location!

giorgimer (35017) 2007-07-04 5:30

Hi Richard,

incredible shot! I love it! One of the best I saw on Venice. Excellent light and composition.

Well done!

Giorgio

dijjac (1569) 2007-07-23 7:53

Hi richard
Atmosphère crépusculaire magique pour cette sublime photo
Bravo
Amicalement
Jacques

Katkat (72) 2007-12-01 4:06

wow! wonderful picture!!

difty93 (545) 2007-12-17 7:28

Wow...I like very much this black and white...Congratulations!!
CiaoCiao, Vivi