A Good Photograph is Knowing Where to Stand

Peeking at Bridge of Sighs
with Marco Secchi

Photography is essentially documenting a point in time by producing your artistic interpretation of it (emphasis on your). Good photography requires patience, dedication, creativity, good luck, and a lot of hard work. The advent of digital photography (as well as social media) has not changed that, all it has really done is open new doors with promises of instant gratification, numerous shortcuts and the ability to click away at no additional cost thereby increasing the likelihood of a good shot. But is that good photography; well yes and no, and really that depends the intent of your photograph. Digital photography has made photography more fun and available to the masses. Many of my personal favourites are from family and friends sharing a special moment from their day. They make me smile and wish I was there, which was their intended purpose.

Ha'Penney Bridge, Dublin Photo Tour 

Digital photography means almost everyone carries a camera (cell phone cameras are cameras) and that is definitely true for travellers. Therefore the growth and proliferation of Photography Tours was a natural progression of this reality. Photography tours can range for several hours to photo adventure vacations, tend to be comprised of relatively small groups and are for all levels of photographers. The concept can be appealing: travel around with a pro photographer who can show you all the great places to shoot.

Barcelona Building Facade with Stefano Markovina
Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona

Now, I am an enthusiastic amateur with good knowledge of my camera gear so doing a day (or half day) photo tour is not about enhancing my camera skills per say, rather it is about working with a professional photographer who can suggest alternate venues to visit and photograph other than the traditional tourist sites. This is not for everyone but remember local photographers are extremely knowledgeable about both photography and their locale. Ansel Adams stated "A good photograph is knowing where to stand” and local photographers know where to stand. The upside to doing a day or half day photo tour is that they are significantly less expensive than workshop or vacation photography tours, and these photographers definitely know all the off-the-beaten-path shooting locations. A big plus is you can schedule the rest of your trip around your time and other interests.

The Eiffel Tower
with William Lounsbury

When hiring a local photographer, make sure they know exactly what you want to photograph. I tend to send them links to my blog and Flickr site, as well as any for my travel companions who will be taking the tour with me. This gives them an idea of the skill levels and interests.  Furthermore as the group size is limited (usually 4 or less at a fixed rate), this is a cost effective private tour focused on your interests. Be prepared to walk and use public transport.  No chauffeured rides for these type of tours. The best ones will schedule tours for the best light conditions; early mornings, dusk or night. It really is all about the light. Ultimately working with a professional results in some great photographs and yes, the bonus is you will always learn a thing or two about photography!  So here's to taking a good photography by knowing where to stand...and a little help does go a long way especially when one has time constraints.

Venice Photography Tour (with Marco Secchi)

A gentleman who knows and loves Venice (http://www.marcosecchi.com/).  During his tour, Marco suggested several places to visit to us based on our interests and that definitely helped make this trip memorable.  This was the first Photography Tour I took and he is the reason I try to book one in most cities because the experience was so great.  

Sunrise over The Grand Canal

Piazza San Marco - Up Before the Birds! 

Bridge of Sighs - A Little Different Perspective

Sprucing up - Venetian Facades

Paris Night Photography Tour (William Lounsbury)  

I wanted to do some night photos in Paris but I was by myself.  I figure it was safer to do a night tour with a photographer (https://www.wlounsbury.com/about/).  Great decision.  I got some great photos despite it being a fairly breezy night.

Louvre Pyramid

Taxi!  

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile
Sometimes it's the right location but due to a variety of circumstances it's the wrong time for the perfect tourist photo.  

 

Barcelona Photography Tour (Stefan Politi Markovina) 

The photography tour we did with Stefan (https://www.stefanopolitimarkovina.com/) focused on area surrounding Las Ramblas particularly the El Raval Neighbourhood.

This mural "Together We Can Stop AIDS" by Keith Haring was done in 1989 in Barcelona’s notoriously drug-infested Barrio del Chino. In the mid-90’s, the mural was disintegrating, so a tracing was made, and the mural was transferred to an outdoor wall at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona (2014).

Alone! 

Statue in Plaza Catalunya with Hotel Barcelona in the background

La Boqueria Market

Dublin Photography Tour  (Darren McLoughlin)

This was a great tour which started out with street or urban art near our hotel that we would never have found.  Darren's knowledge about both Dublin and photography made this tour worthwhile and totally enjoyable (www.darrenmcloughlin.com).  Add in some great tourist attractions and it was a day well spent.  The Street art was so fascinating on this tour that I did a blog specifically about it. https://sandrawhiteway.blogspot.ca/2015/11/the-medium-is-message.html .  

Chapel Royal and Record Tower, Dublin Castle

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

The Morrigan, a Celtic Deity by Friz at Tivoli Theatre Car Park.

London Photography Tour (with Andrei Botnaru)  

Our Photography Tour with Andrei (http://www.andreibotnari.com/) was booked through Aperture Tours and they will design a tour specifically for you as it is a private tour.  They recognize that not everyone wants to shoot the tourist attractions.  We went to Kentish and Camden Town areas and had a blast.   

Meeting in Progress!  Do Not Disturb.

Grand Union Walk Townhouses
Built in 1988 to a design by the renowned architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw.

Bucks Head Roof Garden (Buck Street, Camden)

An Affair to Remember or is it Really One For The Ages

I told my husband that I am having an affair!  Now, now; it's not with another man but rather with a museum.  Growing up I remember telling my mother in my early teens that I was going to go visit Paris to see Versailles and the Louvre. I can't remember why I wanted to see them, but for some reason I did. My first overseas trip was to London and then onto Paris; my own modern version of "a tale of two cities".  My love affair with the Louvre started before I visited and continues to this very day, even after multiple visits.  

The Louvre is massive and IS NOT for everyone (embrace that) because to be honest art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The Louvre in reality is a place that should be savoured like a meal prepared by the finest chef and not like fast food. Alas for many of us tourists, the fast food version is often all the time we can spare. I probably have walked most if not all the rooms and the permanent exhibits housed within the Louvre; but I can honestly say I have yet to see everything.  Every visit I discover something new. The most important thing when visiting the Louvre is to plan a day or two (yes that can indeed mean 7 or 8 hours) for your visit (it's closed on Tuesdays) and to buy your tickets in advance; else expect long queues (lines) and to use a year's quota or more of patience in them. Choose your entrance wisely; there are four or five entrances and with some preplanning you can avoid the long queues. My recommendation would be to enter through the Carousel entrance (or preferably the Porte des Lions entrance (do confirm that it is open on day of your visit)) and exit through the Pyramid entrance. You get in quickly while still experiencing the chaos and wonder that is part of the pyramid entrance experience.

A small crowd visiting Mona (yes this qualifies as small).

This is the one place I truly recommend doing research and planning in advance of your visit to determine what you want to see. Also to be blunt, focus on your interests not on someone else's top 20 list. The least crowded areas of the Louvre are the top floors of Richelieu and Sully Wings which house the French and northern-European paintings (they really are fantastic by the way). These areas were nearly always empty on all my visits as most visitors (and tours) don't seem make it that far and therefore it will be quieter and cooler. Also expect to be subjected to a form of sensory overload as art can invades ones every sense and to be honest can exhaust you in ways you will never expect or can explain.

The Mona Lisa is arguably the Louvre's most famous piece, and seeing her is a bucket list cliche. Why I really can't explain; other than most people go to see it because it's famous (albeit only after it was stolen in 1911). I have seen it and am still amazed at how small it is (77 x 53 cm or 30 x 20 inches). Of course having it showcased directly across from one of the largest (if not the largest) painting in the Louvre (Veronese's "The Wedding Feast at Cana") does emphasize how small it actually is. Furthermore it is a dark piece, covered with bullet-proof glass and flanked by guards. So you may get to see it close up for 30 seconds and maybe snap a not so great picture if you are lucky. Most days you can hear the crowds in that section of the gallery long before you see them. Honestly there are many other treasures by Da Vinci that are far more worthy of one's attention but IMHO Mona probably isn't one. I am obviously not a fan but I will admit it took viewing it, to reconfirm that original impression.

As good as it gets during tourist season.
Take with 5D Mark III, ISO 800, Sigma 35mm F1.4 

With over 35,000 works on display at any given time, there really is something for everyone. When I first visited the Louvre, I found I was much more interested in the sculptures than the paintings. That position has evolved over time and with multiple visits. The Louvre is much more that the art that is housed within. It's grand scale and architecture including the breath-taking ceilings and opulent marble fireplaces make the building itself is a piece of art.  Remember to "Look up, waaaaay up!" (my shout out to a beloved Canadian children's show; "The Friendly Giant") ....as the ceiling panels are as beautiful and ornate as many of the artworks housed within.

The Louvre has an extensive online database at
(http://www.louvre.fr/en/moteur-de-recherche-oeuvres?tab=3#tabs) which provides basic information on a vast number of the pieces on display and lots of good information about the museum as well. If paintings are your thing, than the "The Louvre All the Paintings" by Erich Lessing and Vincent Pomarède is a fantastic reference.

A Few of My Louvre Favourites

The Wedding Feast at Cana; Paolo Veronese ca 1563 (approximately 1/6 of the painting is shown here).
Depicts the Bible story of a wedding banquet at which Jesus converts water to wine
Located across from the Mona Lisa.  

Centaur & Cupid, Marble. Ca 1st - 2nd A.D. Imperial Roman
Roman copy of Greek statue by a sculptor of Aphrodisias

The Caryatid Hall, Ground floor, Sully Wing.
Four female figures sculpted by Jean Goujon in 1550 that supported the musicians' gallery

Aphrodite of Milos better known as the Venus de Milo; Hellenistic marble
Attributed to Alexandros of Antioch ca 130-100 BC 

The Vow to the Madonna.  Jean Victor Schnetz 1831
This painting was originally intended for the Church Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris

Assembly of the Gods. 1868.Louis Matout.
Study for the ceiling of the Salle d'Auguste in the Louvre Museum 

The Death of Sardanapalus, Eugène Delacroix 1827.
  Portrays the legendary Assyrian king, destroying his possessions before committing suicide.
His concubines, his horses, and his slaves would all be burned and destroyed.

Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman 1483. Sandro Botticelli
Originally decorated the walls of Villa Lemmi, a country villa near Florence owned by Giovanni Tornabuoni
https://www.flickr.com/photos/21108304@N02/32888717775/in/dateposted-public/

Paris is Always a Good Idea!

Notre Dame Cathedral

I somehow developed a fascination with the Louvre and the Chateau de Versailles when I was growing up. The reasons for the fascination escapes me, but I remember telling my mother I was going to visit them. My first trip to Europe included Paris and both places were on my agenda. I'm sure my husband was not expecting to spend 2 days at the Louvre, nor to be back several times since. My next visit is little more than 6 weeks away.  It's a 2.5 day stop over enroute to Sicily for the biennial girls trip. Time to order my Paris Museum Pass. I'm not going to debate it's value, except to say, I don't do lines.  I plan to enjoy every minute of my time. 

I think Paris will make an excellent prelude to Sicily. I can visit museums, indulge in French food, pastries, fine wine, and get accustomed to being on my feet for 10-12 hours a day and not on a golf course! I am actually considering something different, taking a Paris Night Photography Tour. We did a Photography Tour in Venice and loved it. 

Basilica of Sacré-Coeur 

This will be a solo visit and after the pickpocket incident last summer, my husband doesn't want to visit Paris any time soon. When one travels several times a year, sooner or later an incident of some sort will happen and in Paris pickpocketing is a profession. Our story was one of 90% vigilance with a minor lapse, stealthy fingers and the ideal set-up. When we exited the metro on a visit to Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur, his first comment was "take care as this is the ideal place for pickpockets". No kidding, there was no visible security, lots of tourists and just as many professional thieves of all types. The metro was basically empty with no one standing behind us while we waited at Anvers Station. Upon entered the car, my husband got separated from me and boxed in by 2 men who got on as the all clear signal sounded. I tried to get his attention but they would not move and were talked very loudly drowning out my warnings to him.  When I got his attention, we were at the next station (Pigalle) and all three jumped off (including the one who had been seated with a walking cast and crutches and who was obviously part of this gang). They got his wallet out of a front pocket that had a zipper closure; getting away with some euros, his ID and credit cards. This is where the story should have ended; but as we made our way back to the hotel, two young girls (8-10) with an adult handler tried to pickpocket him as we watched in total disbelief. The Metro was not crowded and I now suspect at least half the passengers were professionals. So take heed, vigilance is always required. Adding insult to injured pride, my travel lens broke making the visit to Montmartre an expensive one. The good news was the credit cards were cancelled within 20-25 minutes of being taken as we had photocopies of them back at the hotel. The passports as well as my credit cards were in the hotel safe.  The hotel advised us that Blanche, Pigalle and Anvers stations on the Blue line 2 were notorious for pickpockets.  We were lighter in pocket but wiser (at least I hope so).    

Château de Versailles

I have bought a security handbag as an added precaution and off I go. I can safely say a visit to the Louvre is definitely on the agenda, I need to visit some of my favourites (and no the Mona Lisa is not one of them). Who knows, maybe it's time for a return visit to Versailles but with a 2.5 days visit, there is only time for a taste. Add in a few favourite sites such as Notre Dame, Rodin Museum, Museum D'Orsay, the Paris bridges, the Eiffel tower at night and the time will fly. The wiser and more cautious me still thinks that Paris is always a good idea!

Place du Panthéon

Institut de France

Eiffel Tower At Sunset

Les Invalides

Place de l'Hôtel de Ville

More of my photos of Paris can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/21108304@N02/sets/72157603265823104/

or from the Louvre at  https://www.flickr.com/photos/21108304@N02/sets/72157643117226995/