Not so blue mosque

I finally did the trip to the old town. Surprisingly, it was not as crowded as Pera. Or maybe there were as many people, but the streets were less narrow?

Anyway, it was a white sky day - hence the black-and-white processing.

Nikon D7100, 105mm, 1/50s @ f/5.6, iso 100

Fluffy monster

Normally, not an animal photographer, but cats (and dogs) here in Istanbul are so cute!

Nikon D7100, 292mm, 1/320s @ f/5.3, iso 1100

Sur le Pont d'Avignon...

I am still travelling and taking photos, there is never enough time to develop them though. Too much happening outside the photo-bubble right now...

Just before the end of the year 2015, I have got a chance to visit Provence and one of the first places there was, naturally, Avignon. Too bad it was winter and the day was very cloudy in addition. Nevertheless, I am pretty happy with the end result.

The picture shows, of course, the famous Pont d'Avignon from the song. At the place I joked - as probably so many other tourists - that it was not worth visiting as it is not even whole. But it was. I just wish I could see Provence in spring, summer and autumn...

Nikon D7100, 105mm, 1/160s @ f/5.6, iso 200

Parc de La Gaudinière

The day was definitely less sunny than on the picture below, but I decided to add the needed warmth nevertheless.

Nikon D7100, 105mm, 1/60s @ f/11, iso 400

Autumn reflected

Another picture from the enchanted place on the Shawinigan River.

This time I felt like bumping up the reflection to be almost on par with the real trees and also added a bit of a white vignette. Enjoy!

Nikon 7100, 50mm, 1/50s @ f/6.3, iso 400

Enchanted place

While in Quebec City during the long Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, we visited Montmorency Falls. What a disappointment! Not only the falls are not that pretty (though large they are!), but also the crowd was almost unbearable. So we just turned around and left without taking a single picture.

On our way to Montreal we decided to visit the town of Shawinigan. Another disappointment. Someone decided to build as many supermarkets in the middle of what could be one of the nicest places to live.

Then, on our way out, we encountered the enchanted place. In the afternoon light, the fall colours looked almost unreal. Add few little waterfalls here and there, play of shadows between areas still lit by the sun and those already dark. You get the picture :)

Speaking of which - I am extremely grateful for the Lightroom panorama feature - it was not intended to be one, but of the few shots I've taken, none was framed right. Only combining two shots gave the effect you see below.

Nikon 7100, 105mm, 1/6s @ f/22, iso 200

Color my world...

In a stark contrast to the previous picture, this one was taken on the same day, but not in the morning fog, but in the strong noon daylight.

As I said before, autumn is just starting here in Quebec. You have to observe the hills and mountains to see the colors, because on the road level they are still just a few specs of yellow here and there. But when you take your eyes a bit higher this is what you're going to see...

Nikon 7100, 105mm, 1/100s @ f/10, iso 100

Fishing

Recently I experiment a bit with Affinity Photo software, which - at least for me and for now - is an "easier-to-grasp" version of Photoshop CC. Though not as powerful as PS, Affinity Photo has many interesting features and - being a new player on the market - it is easier to find tutorials that are actually relevant from beginner's and photographer's point of view.

Anyways, the picture was taken in the wonderful spot in Montreal - Parc des Rapides. Situated on the bank of St-Laurent River, it has multitude subject to photograph: from birds to far-away river landscapes to water cascades.

Usually, I don't take many bird pictures. This one, a heron I believe (?), was still pretty far, so this is the result of a small crop. And - as the contrast with the green grass wasn't particularly great, I decided to develop this picture in monochrome, using Lightroom for RAW development and then Affinity Photo for black-and-white conversion and this silver effect.

Nikon 7100, 450mm, 1/125s @ f/6.3, iso 200

Boats

One more from the Lake George, NY weekend in May...

Sony RX100M3, 29mm, 1/25s @ f/5.6, iso 80

Summer day

On the last day of our US trip (yes, I'm starting backwards) we encountered a weekend paradise for people from New Hampshire and neighbouring states - a river "beach" in the White Mountain Forest. Sun, water (cold, I admit), rocks, little waterfalls and fresh air - that is all one needs to relax and prepare for the coming week.

The image was taken "casually", with the iPhone 5s, upon departure.

iPhone 5s, auto

Sunday special - rain & flowers

It's been a while since I took my camera out with the very intention to take photos. Recently it is more like: "hmmm, I am going to this nice place, if I take a camera, maybe there'll be an opportunity to get few nice landscapes?"

So today, I was walking in the light rain down the street I live on and I noticed all these plants extending their leaves to catch the water. And by the way: the plants are the only ones happy with this kind of summer. People just hate it.

But to the point. Seeing the beauty is just around the corner I geared up and went for a short walk. And now I am publishing not one, not two, but ten pictures!

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/320s @ f/2.8, iso 400

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/50s @ f/5.6, iso 1250

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/50s @ f/2.8, iso 3200

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/50s @ f/5.6, iso 1000

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/50s @ f/5.6, iso 560

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/250s @ f/2.8, iso 400

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/50s @ f/11, iso 1250

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/80s @ f/11, iso 400

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/50s @ f/9, iso 1600

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/250s @ f/5.6, iso 400

Classic postcard from Charleston

Another mansion from Charleston, SC. This time I shot at the gate to capture the "inviting" character of the alley.

The original RAW was a bit too green for me, so I switched to monochrome. And then I decided to give it that classic postcard look with white vignette and a bit of sepia, courtesy of Silver Efex.

Sony RX100M3, 24mm, 1/50s @ f/5.6, iso 320

Picture-in-picture

One of the charming qualities of Charleston, SC - beautifully preserved old mansions along the main roads. Sometimes you can get a full view but just going around, but most of the time you are limited to just peeking through a gate. However, even those gates can be a marvel. Look at these crafted patterns, the gas lamp at the top. I am still not sure if the bird just happened to be there or was part of the metal artwork.
From the pictures I took, I chose to publish this one, where I caught my friend's hand taking a picture too! Hence the title...

Sony RX100M3, 24mm, 1/200s @ f/5.6, iso 1600

Ice cream and fudge

When I saw this store I knew it will end up on the Flickr's Adirondack Chairs Group. But there is also the general cuteness of the scene - remember, it is still the day before the opening of the season. No people, shop closed.

Sony RX100M3, 39mm, 1/30s @ f/5.6, iso 80

Sony RX100M3, 39mm, 1/30s @ f/5.6, iso 80

Soothing sight

Few steps from the shore, where the previous picture was taken and there is another sight. The lake is still there, so are the Adirondacks hills, but now we find ourselves in the green...

I really liked the park just on the other side of the Beach Road. And the bush on the first plan looked like it just bloomed to greet the visitors coming for the Memorial Day weekend.

Sony RX100M3, 44mm, 1/100s @ f/5.6, iso 80

Boat ride

Another little trip and again not that many pictures taken. And not much time to explore golden or twilight hours. But having the little Sony RX100M3 on most of the walks I was able to catch some nice sights.

This one is from the first afternoon on the Lake George, little town on the southern shore of the lake with the same name, upstate New York. We have arrived there on Thursday, just before the start of the season, which is inaugurated on the Memorial Day weekend. Almost empty on Thursday and Friday, suddenly it filled with people on Saturday and Sunday. The picture below accurately reflects the Thursday emptiness :)

This is not HDR even though - after the post-processing in Color Efex it looks a bit like that. I bumped details quite a bit, because I wanted to show how clear the lake waters are.

Sony RX100M3, 24mm, 1/160s @ f/5.6, iso 80

Low-hanging fruit

Another very typical view from Vang Vieng: mountain ridges in the background, hint of a river in the foreground, afternoon golden time and some kind of activity the visitors love to try there. This time it is a hot-air balloon allowing to admire all the beauty from above.

I did not try it personally - was too busy kayaking and hiking, but I've heard the view was indeed breathtaking. 

Nikon 7100, 75mm, 1/80s @ f/16, iso 400

Going places

Maybe not the best quality pictures of them all, but I like the framing and the story behind them.

Unable to get a bus in Kong Lor, which is a very small village in the mouth of the famous cave, and having a lot of distance to cover to get to Si Phan Don as quickly as possible, I got a songthaew (truck taxi) to ride me to Thakek. Later on, on the junction with north-south Route 13, I had to switch to a more crowder taxi, but this one I had only to myself!

Instead of sitting on a bench, I took the floor, my back against the cab. I had lots of fun listening to the music and watching the landscape pass by...

Sony RX100M3, 57mm, 1/60s @ f/11, iso 125

Sony RX100M3, 60mm, 1/80s @ f/11, iso 160

Buddha Park

Sony RX100M3, 24mm, 1/30s @ f/11, iso 200

If you ask me, Vientiane is not the most interesting place to visit. Night market, Patuxai, Pha That Luang. In the evening few drinks near the fountain and that would be all.

The actual place to go lies 30km from Vientiane and is called Buddha Park. Wonderful spot to chill in the afternoon, provided you paid your song thaew driver to wait.

And of course the widest lens I had was 24mm. Too bad...

Postcard from Mekong

Sony RX100M3, 24mm, 1/50s @ f/11, iso 125

The Mekong River around Luang Prabang is so photogenic that it can be photographed almost at any time of the day. Morning shots yield a veil of mystery, while in the afternoon you can find your ideal postcard shot.