A little bit of Italy

[Mj]

So I've been very absent for some time but trying to keep an online appearance whilst traveling is still quite a pain.
Good to see the usual suspects still flying the flag so to speak and sharing some cracking good work...
Thought I might provide a few happy snappies so here they are... somewhat hit and miss as I travel with a non-photo-sympathetic partner.

[Remorhaz]

Great to see you back MJ

I don't mind the first two but find the vignette a bit strong in both

The green doors are pretty funky but I kinda want to see a little more up those blue stairs - perhaps a step or two to the right and that would also have solved the slight keystoning as well

That bridge is fascinating - are those houses built on it?

[Mj]

Ta...

I agree re the vignette but it's just kinda what I felt to do with those... interestingly many non-togs really like them that way (go figure).
The doors are more an affect of wonky walls I think, but I'll check... what I was hoping to capture was a resident to poke their head out but I was ordered forth before the opportunity was to present.
The bridge is the Ponte Vecchio in Florence... I might suggest a somewhat overhyped landmark... full of tourists and touts selling junk.
The buildings are all full of jewellry shops awash with gold these days.

[Glen]

Envious of your trip MJ

The scooter image looks like it could be used for a postcard.

[Matt. K]

First image is superlative! The images have that 'Fuji' look to them???

[Mj]

Matt ... I bet you can pick a Fuji image at 50 paces !!!

Whilst away all I took was an x-e1 body, 18-55 lens, 8mm samyang manual fisheye and a couple of SD cards... all up weight was a relief.
The fish proved useful but a real challenge to use cold with little practice.
None of these shots were with the fish but I'll see if any were worth a post.

[chrisk]

Mj, these are great images. I agree with Rodney about the stairs, they would have made a nice color injection to the image. I quite like the vignette. Loving the scooter image, what pp did you use for that ? Fabulous. Wtf with the houses on the bridge ?? That's awesome ! Would love to see more.

No idea what is "fuji look" about the images. lol

[Mj]

The scooter had a few enhancements mostly in LR5.
Gave it a medium contrast boost and some sharpening followed by a radial filter for the vignette.
Also some desat on the background. In PS I removed a couple of items in the background to clean up the image and retain focus on the scooter.
A final square crop I I left it at that... there's always other treatments or simply more touch up that I could do but unless it had a commercial purpose I'm happy to leave it as is.

[zafra52]

Great photographs. I think the first one is the best.

[Mj]

A couple of dining options in Venice...

The boogieman restaurant


A grand canal estate

[Sylvia]

Wow,
Really the last one. Opulence comes to mind. The only thing I find distracting is the table right at the bottom. But..

[ozimax]

These are fantastic. The first is extraordinary & the scooter is just, well, quintessential Italiano. Your Fuji is singing, but it takes a backseat to the skill of the photographer.