fujifilmx70

Bologna

Bologna

Last year, more in hope than expectation, I applied for the London Marathon. Alas, I didn’t get in, so I looked at Manchester and Brighton — again, unsuccessfully. Then, on a whim, I looked at marathons on the continent and spotted Bologna, a city recommended for street photography by Brian Lloyd-Duckett from StreetSnappers. So this was a win-win — I do the marathon and some street photography. And so last month, my wife and I headed there for a few days, and it was wonderful — from the exquisite food to the gorgeous, beautifully-paletted streets. Sadly, the first couple of days were disappointing on the weather front, but once it perked up (just in time for the marathon, thankfully), I had a delightful time snapping away. It was the first time in a few months that I’d been out on the streets for photography, so I felt a tad rusty, but it was wonderful to get out there, both creatively and mentally. For me, just been out there, leisurely wandering the streets whilst people-watching, is as good for my soul than the pictures I take. I came away from our visit suitably nourished, if a little leg-weary! Here are a selection of snaps, mostly taken with the Fujifilm xT5…

Prague in Transit

Prague in Transit

Before heading to Prague last summer I did some research on what places in the city are best for street photography. A common thread in all posts and suggestions was Prague’s transport system. Upon arriving in the Czech capital I was intrigued to see what all the fuss was about. I was not disappointed. The metro system is stylish and the trams are a wonderful mixture of old and new. This all provides a glorious backdrop for the city’s masses as they go about their days and routines. Going from a to b was never a chore but an opportunity to get the camera out and capture Prague in transit. Here are a selection of shots…

Edinburgh

It was cold, wet and festive Saturday afternoon in Scotland’s capital city. I had caught up with a friend over lunch and we were heading to the train station where he had a train to catch. It was my fourth day in Edinburgh (principally to visit my brother who lives there) and already I felt like I had seen enough to get a good feel for the city.

But as my friend and I traipsed through streets and alleys from where we had lunch, we happened across a steep, winding street replete with tall, brightly coloured buildings. My curiosity and imagination were immediately stirred and I began making a mental note of where it was located to return to later with my camera. With darkness falling even earlier north of the border, I knew time was limited to get in some good daylight shots.

And so I saw off my friend and made a hasty to return to what I now know as being the historic and highly photogenic Victoria Street. Thankfully I was able to get in a few photographs before night began to settle in.

I had to smile at the whole episode. I had bought a guidebook and had a vague idea of what I wanted to do and see whilst visiting Edinburgh. And until that Saturday I thought I’d covered a good deal for a first trip. But if it wasn’t for a brisk walk to the train station with a friend I’d have missed out on an importance slice of Edinburgh’s history and charm. When it comes to travelling, it’s good to make room for both planning and spontaneity.

Some of the shots from Victoria Street are below, as are a few others from the trip. Enjoy!

Vienna

Turns out I arrived on the right day. I had barely arrived at my AirBnb in Vienna when the hosts invited me to the Summer Night Concert at Schonbrunn Palace. I had never heard of the event, and I am not the biggest fan of classical music, but keen to make the most of my few days in the city and delve deep into its culture, I jumped at the opportunity — all the more so since entry was free! There must have been around 100,000 people at the concert, a good majority (including us) on the hill overlooking the palace grounds. Despite being a good distance away from the stage, the beautiful sounds of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra could be heard well. I even recognised a few pieces! It was a lovely start to my visit. Vienna is a stunning city with a rich history and many grand landmarks. What worked for me was taking a 3-hour bike tour one afternoon. It meant I could get a good feel for the whole city, find out small snippets of information on the key attractions, make some new friends (always welcome when travelling alone!) and get in a good dose of exercise. A small selection of photos from the trip are below. One final note: I took the train from Prague to Vienna, a 4-hour seated journey (with good air-con and Wi-Fi), for a bargain £15 through omio.co.uk. Tickets to other European cities are also reasonably priced. Worth looking into if you are planning on doing some travelling on the continent.

Prague

Finally I made it! Prague, the fabled city with its rich history, stunning gothic architecture (including the iconic Charles Bridge) and immensely photogenic transport system. Relatively cheap, too. (No wonder it’s the home of countless stag-dos.) I had wanted to visit for years. Fortunately my three-day visit there last month was not an anti-climax. I was especially looking forward to taking to the streets with my camera. Having attended an extremely helpful street photography workshop with Brian Lloyd-Duckett back in January, and read his useful guide to taking photographs in Prague, I was confident of getting one or two nice shots. It’s only as I’ve looked back on what I took that I have realised that it includes many photographs that I probably wouldn’t have taken a year ago. Whilst I still have a long way to go, I can certainly see that I am growing in the skill, and this gives me encouragement to keep taking to the streets and try things out. Below is the pick of the bunch. Photos of Vienna, where I visited after Prague, will follow shortly.