Jongkind too kind

Ah, Paris! What a great city!

Granted, I did not have much time to go around and shoot, I just chose one particular evening and a place just 5 minutes away from where we stayed. Also, I was inspired by Jongkind painting (the first of the photos is as close as I could reproduced the sight with the 35mm lens), which I saw the very same day in Musée d'Orsay.

Too bad that they have built few new buildings since his time (1864), so I moved closer trying to get a better view on the cathedral. I like the picture taken from under the bridge, but the best, I think is the last one, taken from Pont Saint-Michel. I only wish I had more time that night to wait for all these people to leave...

I added the last picture also in color. I think the photos look the best in black and white, but the color version has certain appeal too.

Nikon D7100, 35mm, 1/3s @ f/9, iso 800

Nikon D7100, 35mm, 1.6s @ f/22, iso 800

Nikon D7100, 35mm, 1.6s @ f/22, iso 800

Nikon D7100, 35mm, 15s @ f/22, iso 100

Nikon D7100, 35mm, 15s @ f/22, iso 100 (same as the picture above)

Another day's over

I know, another cheesy sunset, just like in the previous post. But there is something in this photo that makes me want to publish it as soon as possible.

It is no sunset, really. Just the blue hour after, with the silhouette of a sculpture that looks like a cactus and another - of a backpacker strolling down the beach. I wish I could see this kind of view from my window more often than once a year...

Nikon D7100, 105mm, 1/80s @ f/4.5, iso 400

Eye in the sky

This picture was taken at the rock pool near Los Gigantes on Tenerife. The pattern of clouds makes it as if there was a big eye in the sky. Lovely view and also great place to visit during travels!

Oh, and the land you see on the horizon is La Gomera, the other of the seven Canary Islands.

iPhone 5s, auto

Turkish tea

Turkey is one of these countries where one is not limited to coffee to get a nice boost of energy. Even though I am fan of Turkish coffee, traditionally served Turkish tea matches the caffeine effect. Or maybe I just like sitting outside in February and enjoying a nice cup while watching people rush by?

I tried my best to get blurry background effect with the iPhone, but, alas, no camera app seems to have direct control over aperture. Oh well, doesn't matter, the tea was great!

iPhone 5s, macro mode

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

Look the other way!

This one is a lazy camera play during an evening snack (delicious fresh fish BTW). I like the bokeh and the boy's face expression. In reality he went for a ball, but it looks like he's after the flower :)

Nikon D7100, 300mm, 1/40s @ f/5.6, iso 100

Rocking sunset

This picture was taken around Garachico's rock pools, which were pretty unrestful this day. Tenerife has so much to offer, even in this unwelcoming winter season...

iPhone 5s, auto

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

Bretagne

For sure one of the top 5 pictures taken this year. Maybe even the best of them. Practically off-camera, (almost) without any global corrections and only local dust removal. White balance, contrast, unchanged. Very proud of this one.

We took a car for the weekend to visit few nice places around Nantes. The weather was better than the last time, even though it rained quite a bit during Sunday. Anyway, the sun was there when it mattered - towards the sunset. This shot was taken 1.5 hour before. But we also had a pleasure to watch the actual sunset on the beach of La Baule - no pictures there, eyes were enough. Really, an enchanting evening...

Nikon D7100, 270mm, 1/1000s @ f/5.6, iso 100

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

Urquhart Castle

Nikon 5100, 82mm, 1/50s @ f/5.6, iso 140

Re-edit of the picture taken this winter at the Loch Ness. More summer-like version.

Some things never change (much)

Fujifilm X100s, f/5.6, iso 800, HDR

This holidays I finally visited my hometown after almost 2 years. And it feels like I were off for only few days. Same buildings, same people, same birds, same events (people are waiting for "just married" to emerge from city hall). Only the christmas tree is new/different.
And however boring Zielona Góra may be long term, still it was nice to wander the streets of my childhood. See also Nostalgic Zielona Góra 2013.

People make Glasgow

Nikon D5100, 36mm, 1/50s @ f/5.0, iso 120