Rodney Campbell's Blog

The fifty second in my Elevate portfolio – a series of top down aerial images with a twist – seeing the normally unseen in our typical urban environment.

Transitions

DJI Phantom 4 - FC330 + 3.6 mm @ 3.61 mm, 1/120 sec at f/2.8, ISO 155

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

All too soon it was time for us to be saying goodbye to Venice. It had been amazing visiting this ancient city living on and surrounded by water.

A Grand Morning

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62 mm, 1/2 sec at f/16, ISO 50

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

We’d really enjoyed our time here but we were looking forward to getting home. The water taxi picked us up at a nearby dock just down the lane from our apartment and we were off.

Venice Water Taxi

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5, ISO 100

One last look back and it was off to Marco Polo Airport (which is actually on the Venice mainland) about half an hour or more away.

Boating outa Venice

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 58 mm, 1/60 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100

Saying Goodbye to Venice

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 40 mm, 1/60 sec at f/8, ISO 100

The Ponte di Rialto was fairly close to our apartment. As this was our last night in Venice I figured I might as well head to the nearby grand canal and shoot along the canal towards the bridge at night before I leave.

Right closeby I found this nice dock leading out into the canal with a clear view down the waterway towards the bridge. With the waterways being so busy with moving boats almost all the time – the hardest part was waiting for the moment to shoot.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 116 mm, 1.3 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

With a midrange focal length and a much longer exposure (dropping the ISO, closing the aperture and adding a circular polariser as a quick ND filter) we can smooth the water and “hide” some of the moving craft.

Ponte di Rialto Nights

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 116 mm, 73 sec at f/11, ISO 50

I also returned very early the next morning (just before sunrise). If anything it was busier with many barges making early morning deliveries.

Rialto Dawn

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 35 mm, 10 sec at f/11, ISO 50

Early Morning Rush

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 160 mm, 13 sec at f/11, ISO 50

For centuries, the gondola was the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. Today when you see images of a gondola you naturally think of Venice.

Navigating the Grand Canal

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 92 mm, 1/100 sec at f/8, ISO 400

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Gondola Moments

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 52 mm, 1/50 sec at f/6.3, ISO 800

At the prow of the gondola under the main blade there is a kind of comb with six teeth or prongs (rebbi) pointing forward standing for the six districts or (sestieri) of Venice. A kind of tooth juts out backwards toward the centre which symbolises the island of Giudecca. Even it’s “S” shape is symbolic of the twists in the grand canal.

Venezia Moments

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 190 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 2200

When leaving the island of San Giorgio we decided rather than catch the waterbus straight back across the lagoon to San Marco we’d catch the number 2 in the other direction and do the more complete 45 minute loop back to our stop.

Dorsoduro

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 78 mm, 1/160 sec at f/6.3, ISO 125

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

We first head up the wide passage between the main part of Dorsoduro and the the island of Giudecca. Then it’s around past the bus and train terminals and then back along the grand canal.

Splat

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 78 mm, 1/80 sec at f/5.6, ISO 500

The Green Door

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 56 mm, 1/60 sec at f/6.3, ISO 1600

The Oval Window

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 98 mm, 1/100 sec at f/5.6, ISO 560

Venetian Relfections

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 135 mm, 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 4500