07.09.09

Grand Canal by Night

Posted in Architecture, Travel at 11:30 pm by Warren Williams

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.

Constitution Bridge, Venice
The newly built Constitution Bridge, connecting the bus and rail terminals

Constitution Bridge, Venice


Peter alongside the Grand Canal

Grand Canal Venice at Night
Light trails from passing boats

Chiesa degli Scalzi - Church of the Barefoot
Chiesa degli Scalzi – Church of the Barefoot

Bookmark and Share

Wherefore art thou, Romeo?

Posted in History, People, Travel at 12:00 pm by Warren Williams

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
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


Bookmark and Share

07.08.09

Ancient Rome & Colosseum

Posted in Architecture, History, Travel at 11:45 pm by Warren Williams

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)
Foro di Cesare (Forum of Caesar) – Built between 54 & 46BC

Colosseum in Daylight
Due to the G8 summit, and visiting world leaders including Barack Obama, we were unable to get any closer.

Rome Colosseum reflected
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
Arch of Constantine & Colosseum

Colosseum at Night

Colosseum detail at night with moon
Colosseum Detail with the moon rising

Colosseum and Traffic Trails
Light trails by the Colosseum at which point we had to rush back to catch our last metro and bus around midnight.

Bookmark and Share

Roman Streets

Posted in Architecture, History, People, Travel at 4:30 pm by Warren Williams

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.

Spanish Steps, Rome
The crowded Spanish Steps


Trevi Fountain


Trevi Fountain amongst more massive crowds

Temple of Hadrian, Rome
Temple of Hadrian

Roman Street

Horse drawn carriage at Pantheon, Rome
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, Rome
Fontana del Moro – 1576

Cobbled street in Rome
Cobbled street in Rome

Bookmark and Share

Destination Roma!

Posted in Aviation, Landscape, Travel at 12:00 pm by Warren Williams

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.

G-EZAN - A319 Cockpit
Cockpit of our Easyjet A319 (G-EZAN)

Flying across English countryside
Flying over English countryside

Alps from A319
Flying over the Alps

Rome from Air
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

Don't travel Leonardo Express in Rome
The resulting fine, and expensive first day!

Bookmark and Share

05.29.09

Sunrise over the O2

Posted in Landscape, Nature, Travel at 5:00 am by Warren Williams

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…

Spider
At this point, I also created a sequence of shots that I pieced into a video:
85L @ f2.8 DOF test

O2 Dome Sunrise
Dawn over the O2 Dome


Another version of the same angle


Shooting over the grass

O2 Dome Morning Glow
Silhouette of the O2 Dome

O2 Dome Sunrise

Sunrise over O2 Dome London


Bookmark and Share

05.07.09

Wedding – Rob & Kat

Posted in People, Travel, Wedding at 9:30 pm by Warren Williams

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

Motorcycle Wedding Cake


Candid just after leaving the ceremony

Champagne Flute

London Wedding Photographer


Chocolate Fountain – Fantastic idea, and a great hit with the guests


Rob, surprising Kat with the first dance


And back to beautiful formality

04.16.09

Soaring above Dubai to London

Posted in Aviation, Landscape, Travel at 12:02 pm by Warren Williams

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.

Dubai at night time
Flying into Dubai at 5am local time – Emirates 777

A6-EBA - 777-300ER over motorway
Departing Dubai on a 777-300ER (A6-EBU)


Mountains of Iran

Sea of Azov
Sea of Azov, Ukraine – world’s shallowest sea

Aerial of Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany

04.14.09

Farewell Melbourne

Posted in Animals, Motorsport, Travel at 3:00 pm by Warren Williams

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

Jelly Blubber St Kilda Beach, Melbourne
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:

http://warrenwilliams.co.nz/blog/?p=231

04.12.09

Phillip Island

Posted in General, People, Travel at 6:26 pm by Warren Williams

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.

04.11.09

Werribee, Open Range Zoo

Posted in Animals, Travel at 5:00 pm by Warren Williams

The Werribee Open Range Zoo is a large, open plan zoo, set over a vast savannah.

Meerkat Werribee Zoo
Meerkat

Cheetah Werribee Zoo
Cheetah

04.07.09

Sydney Hop on Hop off

Posted in Architecture, Travel at 2:45 pm by Warren Williams

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

04.06.09

Sydney, Australia

Posted in Architecture, Landscape, Travel at 9:30 pm by Warren Williams

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.

Beautiful Sydney Aerial
(Reposted from last year, showing vast stretch from CBD to the beaches of Bondi in foreground and Manly across the mouth of harbour)

Iconic Sydney Opera House
The iconic Sydney Opera House

Pacific Dawn Sydney Harbour Bridge
The enormous Pacific Dawn passes under the Harbour bridge

Sydney Opera House and CBD from Harbour Bridge
Opera House and CBD viewed from the walkway on the Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge at Night
Sydney Harbour Bridge at night

Sydney Skyline - Harbour Bridge and Opera House
Sydney Skyline from Luna Park

Sydney Harbour Bridge flag
The flag atop the Harbour Bridge flutters at night

03.30.09

Karekare Farewell

Posted in Landscape, People, Travel at 9:30 pm by Warren Williams

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

Rugged Karekare Sunset
A quick run and a scrabble over the rocks at the Northern end to get the sun slipping away

Rugged Karekare


Rough surf waters at Karekare, given the smooth effect through a long exposure


Just hanging by..

03.15.09

Beautiful Flight over New Zealand

Posted in Aviation, Landscape, Transportation, Travel at 7:25 pm by Warren Williams

Thanks to my friend Katie, managed to secure a helicopter flight from Ardmore, tracking north up to Kaitaia along the beautiful coastline.

Rangitito Aerial
Rangitoto Island


Cliff between Mairangi and Rothesay Bay – North Shore

Kawau Island, Mansion House, Aerial
Mansion House, Kawau Island


Stunning clear waters, just south of Bay of Islands

Cape Brett Lighthouse Aerial
Lighthouse at Cape Brett, Bay of Islands

Hole in the Rock - Cape Brett - Aerial
“Hole in the Rock” – Cape Brett, Bay of Islands

Cape Brett HDR - Aerial
Cape Brett

Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands
Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands

Motuarohia Island, Bay of Islands
Motuarohia Island, Bay of Islands

Taupo Bay Aerial
Taupo Bay Aerial

Taemaro Bay, Aerial Photo, Northland New Zealand
Taemaro Bay


Matai Bay


Matai and KariKari previously seen here

Filling up at Kerikeri
Filling up 416 litres of A1 jet fuel at Kerikeri airport

ZK-HMA
The Bell 206L on Pakiri beach, (l-r: Warren, Kate, Katie, Mark – our Pilot)

Katie & Warren
Katie & Warren enjoying the view from the rear

Whangaparaoa Rainbow aerial


Rain over Whenuapai

Auckland / Eden Park aerial
Eden Park and Auckland City

Auckland City Aerial Sht
Beautiful Auckland City, with Albert Park

Hunua Dam - Aerial
After some great fish and chips in Kaiaia – Firth of Thames, flew back north over Hunua Ranges

Bookmark and Share

« Previous Page« Previous entries « Previous Page · Next Page » Next entries »Next Page »