A Mediterranean Cruise

We booked a Mediterranean cruise for a number of reasons, none of which were for photographic opportunities. Cruises do not lend themselves to capturing images with good light. Ships arrive in port after sunrise and depart before sunset, the times when most tourist attractions like museums, historical buildings and souvenir shops are open. No worries, this was a “vacation” not a “photography trip”.

The Mediterranean in July and August is prime season and being mid-summer it is HOT. Two more reasons this was a vacation to explore and not capture photos.  In order to enjoy the 17 different ports we visited, we made sure we were among the first off the ship upon arrival. This tactic enabled us to enjoy the local city before the crowds descended and to enjoy the sights before the heat of the day. We then returned to enjoy the ship, which we had almost to ourselves as the other guests were off exploring.

Roman ruins in Taormina, Italy. Our ship is in the background. 

It seemed that we had our own private cruise. We often had our own private tender to shore, quiet city streets to explore, and upon our return to the ship, we had a quiet restaurant and an empty pool. What a vacation!

We soon discovered that we didn’t know what to do with ourselves if we didn’t have a camera in our hand and a subject to capture. It was time to change our strategy.

Medieval Villages

In search of good subjects, we explored many medieval villages.

Back alley of Eze, France

City of Saint Guillaine, France

Explorations from the port

With our feet on the ground and exploring the local cities,  we found some interesting street scenes.

Guard at the Monaco Palace

Park in Barcelona Leading to the Arc de Triomf (map of Barcelona in the foreground)

A visit to the salt mining flats on the coast of Gozo, Malta.

A perfect day for a hike along the Corsican coast

A Different Perspective

We got lucky on a couple mornings when we cruised into port just after sunrise. One of the advantages of being on a ship is that it provides a perspective that one wouldn’t normally be able to capture.

Atrani on the Amalfi Coast

Arriving into Valletta, Malta

Golden light on city of Port Mahon, Menorca

Lighthouse approaching Calvi, Corsica

Arriving into Calvi, Corsica. The old city rising prominently on the rocky outcropping.

Lighthouse entering Olbia harbor, Sardinia

The same Lighthouse looking back across the harbor with the golden morning light .

 

Churches – A New Photographic Opportunity

And the big winner for us was the local churches. They have fewer people and incredible beauty. Most of the churches in Europe are beautiful if not spectacular. Many are several hundred years old if not 1000, and contain spectacular architecture, paintings and sculptures. I captured altars, amazing organs and beautiful ceilings. However, our winning subject was not without challenges. The church interiors were quite dark, meaning we had to shoot with a very low shutter speed and very steady hands.

The Cathedral of the Assumption in Victoria, Gozo, in Malta, was a bit over the top with the red velvet accents. 

This church is noted for its Baroque Style Architecture and a unique  dome.

The dome (above) in the church ia actually a flat ceiling painted to look like it was dome shaped.

The organ in the Cathedral of the Assumption in the old Citadel.

Inside the Church of St. Martin, Portofino, Italy

Inside the Church of St. Joseph, Taormina, Sicily

Organ practice, Palma de Mallorca

The photographers inside of us were now quite happy with a good subject. Jeff became eager to explore the churches in every port, and he joked that he was now going to church as least twice a day. My mom would be proud.

Although this was a “vacation” and not a photography trip, we still managed to satisfy our trigger finger and bring home a couple of memorable shots.