up and down the bridges
April 13, 2008
I walked in “Su e Zo per i Ponti” (Up and Down the Bridges) today with the group Quarantenni per Venezia. It’s a measure of my devotion to things local that I did not run screaming from this people-packed event. The calli and ponti were just crammed. We came to a standstill quite a bit. But it’s good fun to walk the city in a deliberate way with a bunch of Venetians. And — because my wagon is hitched to a star — I got to enjoy “winning” the prize for the group with the largest number of registrants. So, 40xVenezia won a large trophy cup and an extraordinary porcelain rendering of the giganti. (Of the latter, here are thumbnails of the porcelain and the original, for comparison.)
The highlight of the morning for me (if I may betray my geekiness) was when one of the organizers of our group handed me her digital SLR to take photos of the award presentation. I am now obsessed with the idea of getting a real digital camera — a serious one. Completely inappropriate obsession at this juncture, but there you are. This too shall pass. Since I handed the camera back eventually, I haven’t seen the photos. In other words, I can’t even verify that they are brilliant, that the proper tool unlocks my real photographic potential. These images taken with a serviceable little macchina will have to suffice.
The full slide show is here:
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| Su e Zo |
It looks like it was a fun event. Sometimes you just have to take in a local event like this to feel like you really belong. You have now been bitten by the digital SLR bug. It will just be a matter of time until you will have one of your own. The creative control they offer is what draws you in.
Oh yes. Between snapping a couple of shots on your beauty and having 15 minutes to play photojournalist yesterday, I’m definitely bitten. I’m trying to resist the urge to obsess, but it’s difficult.