How to Shoot Illuminated Buildings
After the recce, the window of my fourth-floor Novotel room and the widest lens I had, became the partners for this shot. To capture light trails, I mounted the camera on a tripod for a steady shot. And used a remote to eliminate any camera shake caused by pressing the trigger. - How to shoot illuminated buildings - Travelure ©
Making a shot against the light
There are times during our travels we end up shooting against the light. Few such instances are a wrong-time-of-the-day visit to a landmark, music concerts, sunrises/sunsets, public functions or processions, etc. - Making a shot against the light - Travelure ©
Shooting Grand Ceilings – Cathedrals, Tombs, and Palaces
These ceilings pose a different challenge. The distance between the floor and ceiling is not large enough for normal lenses to capture the entire grand ceiling or the dome ceiling. Also, these structures are not well-lit. A camera shake blur could also be a concern. - Shooting Grand Ceilings - Cathedrals, Tombs, and Palaces - Travelure ©
Composing spiral staircases – Cathedral of Our Lady, Kutna Hora
You may recall the Fibonacci spiral or the golden ratio/spiral gives photography the rule of thirds but is better than that rule. - Composing spiral staircases - Cathedral of Our Lady, Kutna Hora - Travelure ©
Shooting dark interiors against bright ambient light – Tea service, Radun Chateau
The challenge was to shoot the subject against the light and still exposing it well enough to capture the aesthetics of the setup. - Shooting dark interiors against bright ambient light - Tea service, Radun Chateau - Travelure ©
Unmasking Ibiza – Dalt Vila and More
Ibiza was the first line of defence for mainland Spain against the seafarers! The original Acropolis had low and narrow walls. Suited for the mediaeval warfare of spears and swords. - Unmasking Ibiza - Dalt Vila and More - Travelure ©
Auschwitz – Homage to the WW-II Holocaust Victims
‘The plunder of human beings was complete. They chose the healthy ones for a slow death through overwork, exhaustion, and starvation; while the others were straightaway shot, or gassed.’ - Auschwitz - Homage to the WW-II Holocaust Victims - Travelure ©
Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad
With no water supply, no heating facility, and no provision for cooking, these tiny houses advocate traditional simple living. This spartan lifestyle continues to define the Church Town, even now. - Sweden’s best-preserved Church Town, Gammelstad - Travelure ©
Charles Bridge Prague Czech Republic
On this graceful epochal edifice of the Bridge Tower, it was a pity to see the terrible repair work. Despite regal decorations, the refurbishing seemed more an overhaul that a careful restoration. Still, UNESCO rightly lumped the bridge with the Old Town Centre of Prague to inscribe it on its World Heritage Sites List in 1992. - Charles Bridge Prague Czech Republic - Travelure ©
Kremlin Red Square Moscow Russia
I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. At the height of the cold war. Before Gorbachev was the leader of Russia. The two oft-heard terms in the news were the ‘Kremlin’ and the ‘White House’. These hallowed precincts would smack out statements that affected world politics and economy. - Kremlin Red Square Moscow Russia - Travelure ©
Royal Observatory Greenwich London
Let’s travel to that landmark where our planet comes full circle. And, East meets West. Beyond establishing the relative location of places on our planet, it provides the basis of relative time across the globe. I talk of the Prime Meridian. - Royal Observatory Greenwich London - Travelure ©
Historic Areas of Istanbul Turkey
Straddling two continents, and between two seas, Istanbul enjoys a unique position. A European and an Asian side. A natural strait - Bosphorus - separates the two. Earlier going by the names Byzantium and Constantinople, it is home to over 15 million people. - Historic Areas of Istanbul - Travelure ©
Gaziantep Turkey – A UNESCO Gastronomy Creative City
In one room, over a dozen traditional chefs were at work. They were creating sheets of white flour, thinner than muslin. The room had a haze of flour. The rolling pins were a yard and a half long. These sheets were being sheared off the pins in delicate layers. And all this, happening on a table over 25 feet long! - Gaziantep Turkey - A UNESCO Gastronomy Creative City - Travelure ©
Eiffel Tower Paris France
You are born a deer with a lifespan of a mere 20 years. Along the way, you turn into a tortoise with a lifespan of 130 years and counting. Pray, you can only be Eiffel Tower! - Eiffel Tower Paris France - Travelure ©
The Catacombs Paris France
Insides of the Catacombs felt like a wine cellar. Cool, damp, and dark. Knowing what lay ahead made it eerie too. A short walk later we saw the first stack. Of human bones. - The Catacombs Paris France - Travelure ©
Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris France
Once on the roof, I figured why they called it Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris). It almost seems to be watching over the city of Paris. I also realised the gargoyles were ornamental decorations for rain spouts. - Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris France - Travelure ©
Chateau de Versailles Near Paris France
As we entered the palace, the first significant chamber we saw was the Royal Chapel. Corinthian columns, gold accents, and an intricate ceiling mural gave it grandeur... Château de Versailles Near Paris France - Travelure ©
Hohensalzburg Fortress Salzburg Austria
As I boarded an OBB train from Vienna, a few scenes from The Sound of Music replayed in my mind. The baroque city centre, the invincible-looking Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the meandering River Salzach. And of course, the cemetery crypt where von Trapps hid before their escape. - Hohensalzburg Fortress Salzburg Austria - Travelure ©
Rock Church Helsinki Finland
It looked nothing like a church. As he walked away, I looked around uncertainly if I was in the right place. A couple of benches and patterned cobblestones greeted me. Unsure, I walked towards a couple of bulletin boards. To my relief, the pinned notices settled it. I was in the right place! - Rock Church Helsinki Finland - Travelure ©
The Underground M1 Budapest
'How do I get to Szechenyi Thermal Baths?'
'Take the M1.'
'And to Opera?'
'M1.'
'Hero's Park?'
You guessed it, 'M1.'
A post by Travelure ©
Windmills of Kinderdijk Netherlands
After a particularly devastating flood that killed thousands in 1421 CE, the survivors discovered a crying child in a crib that was kept afloat by a cat that had been jumping around the crib to keep the balance. This led to the christening of the village as Kinderdijk or Children’s Dyke... Windmills of Kinderdijk - Our Planet's Landmarks Series #18
Long Glacier Langjokull Iceland
Soon, we were in the middle of never-ending whiteness. The glacier had begun. The flat white expanse mesmerised us. The snaking tarred road we drove on seemed to be a fine black line. Drawn by an artist on a huge blank canvas. - Long Glacier Langjökull Iceland - Travelure ©
Canals of Amsterdam Netherlands
Amsterdam is regarded as the Venice of the North. It is hardly surprising as the city has 165 canals. With a combined length of more than 100 km. Plus 90 islands. And, 1280 bridges! That is three times more bridges than Venice!
Schonbrunn Palace Vienna Austria
As one of the more popular tourist attractions of Vienna (over 3,800,000 tourists visited it in 2017), its sprawling gardens offer a healthy competition to the brilliantly manicured gardens in Chateau Versailles near Paris.
