Through the eyes of a travelling photographer
The beautiful city of Venice is built upon 118 small islands, connected by 177 canals, and a whopping 400 bridges. Arriving in the early evening after a long day driving from Rome, Peter and I decided to head into the city for an hour to take in a view of the Grand Canal.
The newly built Constitution Bridge, connecting the bus and rail terminals
Peter alongside the Grand Canal
Light trails from passing boats
Chiesa degli Scalzi – Church of the Barefoot
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
Passing through the historic city of Verona, Northern Italy, our tour dropped by the scene of Juliet’s Balcony.
Romeo & Juliet Balcony
Many Gelato Ice Cream vendors – much needed in 30°C heat!
Funny moment as Richie from Perth has an unexpected visitor
A scene from the movies
Every angle of the streets of Rome is a marvel, with ancient ruins and cobbled streets viewable in every direction.
Foro di Cesare (Forum of Caesar) – Built between 54 & 46BC
Due to the G8 summit, and visiting world leaders including Barack Obama, we were unable to get any closer.
Reflections on Niki
With the hassles of not being able to shoot the Colosseum up close or inside, Peter and I decided to venture off later in the evening once the area was reopened.
Arch of Constantine & Colosseum
Colosseum Detail with the moon rising
Light trails by the Colosseum at which point we had to rush back to catch our last metro and bus around midnight.
Quickly acclimatising to the Italian heat, Peter and I ventured West of the city of Rome to our start of our action packed 16 day tour. Our first two nights were to be spent at the modern and clean facilities of Camping Roma. Being wary of directions from their website, we found the correct metro and bus connections to arrive just after lunch time. First stop, pizza!
Meeting our exciting tour leader Michelle, and coach driver Billy for the first time we ventured back to central Rome.
Well known shopping street of Rome, with top brands including Armani, D&G and Prada.
The crowded Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain amongst more massive crowds
Temple of Hadrian
Pantheon – incredibly built in 126AD
The open ceiling causing light to filter down from the 142 foot tall roof
Piazza Navona
Street artist in Piazza Navona.
Fontana del Moro – 1576
Cobbled street in Rome
With one of my best friends from New Zealand visiting, decided to tag along on a 16 day Eastern European tour with the Top Deck company. We had to rendezvous our group at 2pm in the city of Rome, so needed a fairly early departure from London Gatwick to get there. Flying in with Easyjet to Rome Fiumicino, it was a smooth non eventful ride.
Cockpit of our Easyjet A319 (G-EZAN)
Flying over English countryside
Flying over the Alps
First view of Italy, village on outskirts of Rome
Following this, we caught the recommended train from the airport with the Leonardo Express. This is where our first bit of trouble happened, as we weren’t told we had to validate tickets on a machine, despite just buying them from a cashier next to the trains. The €11 tickets, soon became an extra €50 on the train, after the conductor wasn’t accepting our lack of knowledge as an excuse.
All smiles, about to board the Leonardo Express
The resulting fine, and expensive first day!
With London having such a high latitude, sunrise/sunset in the middle of the year is rather extreme. This mornings sunrise was up before 5am, which meant leaving home at 330am to venture towards the Isle of Dogs near Canary Wharf for a view over the Thames and O2 Dome. What a beauty of a day, she turned out to be…
At this point, I also created a sequence of shots that I pieced into a video:
85L @ f2.8 DOF test
Dawn over the O2 Dome
Another version of the same angle
Shooting over the grass
Silhouette of the O2 Dome
Rob & Kat were married at the lovely Crondon Park – Golf & Country Club in Essex. My friend Rich (Swaffs.co.uk) was the main photographer, and chose me as his assistant. We both ended up shooting a large variety of shots, with Rich focusing on the formals, whilst I grabbed some candids from various angles. Rob & Kat were a load of fun, with their passion for motorcycles evident!
Kat having her final touches of makeup done
Candid just after leaving the ceremony
Chocolate Fountain – Fantastic idea, and a great hit with the guests
Rob, surprising Kat with the first dance
And back to beautiful formality
After an uneventful evening departure from Melbourne via Singapore to Dubai, had 16 hours of night time flying to catch up on the lastest movie releases. So sadly there were no Australian desert, or sub tropical Asia to take photos 40,000 feet above.
Flying into Dubai at 5am local time – Emirates 777
Departing Dubai on a 777-300ER (A6-EBU)
Mountains of Iran
Sea of Azov, Ukraine – world’s shallowest sea
Berlin, Germany
My last day in Melbourne, spent walking around Albert Park, which hosted the opening 2009 Formula 1 race just a few days prior, followed by St Kilda beach.
Albert Park, with fencing from the F1 still in place from last weekend
Massive Jelly Blubber! Hundreds washed up on St Kilda beach
Another kite surfer
Took other shots, but many repeats from similar conditions a few months back:
Phillip Island is another popular tourist destination featuring rugged coastlines, an international racing circuit and wildlife such as penguins and seals at the western end – The Nobbies.
Cowes – largest town on the northen point of island
Rits, about to get a dunking near the Nobbies
Dramatic coastlines from the Nobbies centre, though closed at sunset, so no dramatic photos possible.
The Werribee Open Range Zoo is a large, open plan zoo, set over a vast savannah.
Meerkat
Cheetah
Spent the second day in Sydney doing a hop on, hop off bus tour. Quite a productive day, with a walks around Kings Cross, Woolloomooloo, Botanical Gardens, before lunch in Darling Harbour.
View from Mrs Macquaries Point
Approaching Darling Harbour
Centrepoint
Flew into Sydney during the early hours of the morning for a three day quick sightseeing trip with my mum who lives in Melbourne. Sydney is Australia’s largest city with just over 4 million residents, surrounding the beautiful Sydney Harbour and coastline of New South Wales. First day in Sydney involved plenty on long walks around the CBD, Opera House and finally a walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, for a spectacular view of the bridge and CBD from Luna Park.
(Reposted from last year, showing vast stretch from CBD to the beaches of Bondi in foreground and Manly across the mouth of harbour)
The iconic Sydney Opera House
The enormous Pacific Dawn passes under the Harbour bridge
Opera House and CBD viewed from the walkway on the Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge at night
Sydney Skyline from Luna Park
The flag atop the Harbour Bridge flutters at night
On my last chance to visit a local West coast beach, decided to head out to Karekare, as I had yet to visit this summer. Took along my youngest sister Candace, before jetting off to Australia and London.
Candace with the 85L 1.2 lens
Seagull goes beyond the rays at Karekare
A quick run and a scrabble over the rocks at the Northern end to get the sun slipping away
Rough surf waters at Karekare, given the smooth effect through a long exposure
Just hanging by..
Thanks to my friend Katie, managed to secure a helicopter flight from Ardmore, tracking north up to Kaitaia along the beautiful coastline.
Rangitoto Island
Cliff between Mairangi and Rothesay Bay – North Shore
Mansion House, Kawau Island
Stunning clear waters, just south of Bay of Islands
Lighthouse at Cape Brett, Bay of Islands
“Hole in the Rock” – Cape Brett, Bay of Islands
Cape Brett
Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands
Motuarohia Island, Bay of Islands
Taupo Bay Aerial
Matai Bay
Matai and KariKari previously seen here
Filling up 416 litres of A1 jet fuel at Kerikeri airport
The Bell 206L on Pakiri beach, (l-r: Warren, Kate, Katie, Mark – our Pilot)
Katie & Warren enjoying the view from the rear
Rain over Whenuapai
Eden Park and Auckland City
Beautiful Auckland City, with Albert Park
After some great fish and chips in Kaiaia – Firth of Thames, flew back north over Hunua Ranges
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