Venice in Monochrome - Part 1

A trip to Italy in 2018 included a day in the beautiful but busy city of Venice. Having been a couple of times before I'd got past the allure of the typical classic photos (although I did still take a few), this time I took the Ricoh GRII and although it doesn't have the flexibility of a camera with a zoom lens, it is a great compact for candid shots in particular.

My first pass through the many images resulted in a vibrant, colourful set - but having played around with various black and white "styles" over the past couple of weeks I thought I'd pick some of the previous rejects and seconds (and one or two faves) and give them the treatment. Quite a few of these are not overly sharp and many are not classic compositions, but I've kept the vast majority pretty much as composed in camera.

This is the first part of the set - Hope you enjoy some of them......

1. Play it again Sam
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969606251_c77d6d5634_h.jpg[/IMG]

2. All washed up
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969607691_0bdeb47956_h.jpg[/IMG]

3. Rialto Rise
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969610471_59a83b7600_h.jpg[/IMG]

4. Chequered concourse
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969089793_0a22d1ab6d_h.jpg[/IMG]

5. Underneath the arches
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969089928_300363b2ed_h.jpg[/IMG]

6. Worlds apart
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969869407_08a0b66136_h.jpg[/IMG]

7. That rings a bell!
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969873117_2db9783d10_h.jpg[/IMG]

8. Lunch anyone?
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969092203_f305f0f81e_h.jpg[/IMG]

9. And the band played on
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969604951_eb289c8df5_h.jpg[/IMG]

10. Almost Alfresco
[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49969088723_af8c1955af_h.jpg[/IMG]

Great set of shots John.

Beautiful. Transports me back to when I visited there briefly in around 2015. (I think).

The magic of monochrome revealed for all to see

They have all been consummately captured processed and presented, but the brilliant juxtaposition of the piano and keys against the background of the Piazza San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale is inspired and just would not have had, IMO - obviously, one-tenth of the impact and appeal had it been presented in colour.

Really fine set this John... illuminating and atmospheric throughout... particularly like the soft sense of movement in 4 and 5, and the sense of yesteryear in 7 and 8, but very beautiful all the way through... lovely cross over light in 9 too...

Best

Great set, Lennybloke, I particularly like the dynamics of 1 through 4, and 9 (rendering the busy feeling of the city - of its inhabitants and tourists), balanced by the more peaceful and contemplative feeling of 5, 7, 8 and 10, with 6 acting as a transition between the two groups. Feels like being there (I've never been to Venezia, but I've lived in Firenze - same kind of quintessential italianità keeping its head up despite the unreal level of tourism).

Smashed that one John.

First is a great shot but I would have cloned the bird poop from the roof

4/7/8 i would hang on my wall.

An excellent set of observations, Serge, which made me realise that I had viewed each of these images in isolation rather than as a series. Thereby missing the point of the exercise and much of the pleasure to be had from viewing them

And risk invoking the wrath of the legions of pigeon-fanciers out there whose passions encompass travel and photography

Nice Images

Last time I was there was in November, we forget about it now thanks to Covid-19 but the week I was there (not my fault honestly) coincided with Acqua Alta!! Barely was it starting to recover then Carnevale is cut short in February!!

I go there often, no shortage of new scenes to see.

2. 5. 8. 10.

What a set, really captures an essence of how it must feel to be there. Lots of life in those shots too, very vibrant even though they're 'just' monochromes.

Lovely, thanks!

EDIT: Looked at 10 again. That's the definition of 3D pop right there. Wow.

What a great set, they really capture something of the essence of Venice. I particularly like Nos. 1, 4, 5, 8 & 9, but the whole set just hang together really well.

Phil

What a lovely set to scroll through, well worth revisiting, editing and publishing for us to enjoy.

These are really enjoyable photos - thank you LB. Several times the GRIII has played around with my thoughts, but it is a lot of money for a compact camera that probably wouldn't get much use (excellent though it is; I do like using the KP), and perhaps when it did I think I'd probably miss the zoom of the MX-1...............if only they'd pursued that line.

Philip

How on earth did number 5 get left on the cutting room floor first time round?!