Venice, February-March 2003

Two more of that winged lion motif.

Venice, February-March 2003

Gondolas; and a bridge with reflected sunlight.

Venice, February-March 2003

Two more city views from the St Mark's Square tower.

Venice, February-March 2003

Gondolas whole and closeup.

Venice, February-March 2003

Two more of the city's winged lion: an official graphic, and a sculpture from the St Mark's Square tower.

Venice, February-March 2003

More details on a gondola - a "sea-horse"?

Venice, February-March 2003

Grand Canal, early evening. I never tired of seeing the city - well, over four days, one wouldn't; but I could see myself spending years there just exploring.

Venice, February-March 2003

Gondola details. No wonder they're so expensive, they're so beautifully made.

Venice, February-March 2003

Canal, gondolas, architecture, LIGHT.

Venice, February-March 2003

More masks in a shop window.

Venice, February-March 2003

Another view of the city from the tower in St Mark's Square.

Venice, February-March 2003

Who IS that odd masked man? Just a carnevale-goer.

Venice, February-March 2003


Gondola details.

Venice, February-March 2003

Three more water reflections, the lowest one shot at night. Playing with my favourite subject, having so many opportunities to do so.

Venice, February-March 2003

Gondola details. Kept as the centre of attention by being the only things in focus; off-centre for a more dynamic composition.

Venice, February-March 2003

Canal, bridges, reflections.

Venice, February-March 2003

This complicated image is another attempt to capture different layers of reality in reflections. There's the shop interior AND exterior; and the reflection of the Grand Canal, gondola nicely positioned. I suppose there could be copyright issues regarding the set of postcards outside the shop; but really they're too small to worry about. Also it's a look at classical and commercial Venice in comparison.

Venice. From the bottom up:

Masks in a shop window

Canal tourists

Seafood market

Gondolas (handmade, costing c. US$100 000 to buy and c. 50 Euros per hour to ride)

Mystery woman

A view from the tower on St Mark's Square, mercifully ascended by lift (I waited to be first in line that morning, having seen how long the wait gets later in the day)

Another favourite reflection, the most successful of my Venice window shots. I link this one to the 20th century Dutch graphic artist MC Escher, a favourite of mine, for the way in which it mimics his play with different layers of reality in one image.

the W()RD

Yes, I know I didn't have a W()RD yesterday. Quite busy this week planning a 3-week trip to Svaneti...

This information comes from Wikipedia.org

Venice has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). Together with Padua (Padova), the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area (population 1,600,000).

Venice's nicknames include "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Bridges", and "The City of Light".

Another thing Venice is famous for is its glass. So at bottom today we have a bauble reflecting the city.

Next up, St Mark and the Winged Lion (his symbol, found throughout the city).

Above that, an endearing sculpture whose story I don't know, sorry.

Next two - playing with reflections.

Above - another favourite, shop window.