I am not a professional photographer but I like to take pictures during my travels as I do usually print out a travel photobook per each destination. From time to time, when I feel nostalgic or friends ask about a place I have been to, I open the book and provide them with an idea of what to expect.

I have been using a non-professional Nikon reflex which served me quite well for long, but it was pretty heavy to carry around, so when few years ago I had been diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc (thankfully under control) doctors recommended me to avoid carrying heavy bags on my shoulders. I decided to accept the recommendations provided by few friends, who are professional photographers and switched to Canon. I discovered that photographers are pretty well divided into Nikonists or Canonists. The first ones seem to capture reality while the second seem to enhance the colours, thus moving from Nikon to Canon is kind of a crime for some and a good decision for others, and vice versa.

Among the several recommendations I collected I choose a compact Canon Camera that is something in between a professional and an amateur camera, which help me make some very good pictures, despite I am not a photo genius. I have been using it for 4 years now and I am pretty satisfied. However I didn’t abandon completely my Nikon because I have a better zoom on it, thus I keep using it on travels that involve more comfort such as Safaris, where I can put the bag on the chair and forget about it.

I have been to Venice for the week end and, before sharing 3 off the beaten path itineraries I prepared before going, that I will post in the next days, I decided to use a function of my camera that I have never tried before. It’s called “miniature function” which allows to focus on a subject and to capture the surroundings as if it was a cartoon or, actually, a miniature.

Here below is a collection of Gondolas and canals which I hope you will like, but remember: as much as you like taking pictures, do not only look at the places you visit through the lenses of your camera or you will miss the essence of it. Take a picture and then put your camera away for a while.

Despite the color of the sky, which looks grey in some pictures, due to the high level of humidity, it was a very sunny day and tenperature was around 30° Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).