Dominique’s old stones (mostly)

[Blue439]

The highest village in Europe (2016)

There are hamlets that are at a still higher altitude, but Saint–Véran, at 2,042 meters, is the highest full village in Europe, complete with town hall, school and church. It is, unsurprisingly, located in a département (the French equivalent of a county) called Hautes–Alpes — High Alps!

Nikon D810, Nikkor 35mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

A cathedral by the sea (2015)

The San Niccola Pellegrino Romanesque cathedral in the coastal southern Italy town of Trani is one of the most beautiful and impressive Romanesque churches I have ever seen. Construction on this enormous cathedral began in 1099 and was completed by 1149, i.e., at a time when the Puglia province was under Norman domination. This photograph shows the lower part of the façade with the beautifully sculpted blind arches framing the main portal. In tne background is the Adriatic sea.

Nikon D810, Nikkor 24mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Room with a view (2015)

The bedroom in our rented house on the Costa Amalfitana offered very nice views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, although that day, it was somewhat compromised by mist...

Nikon D810, Nikkor “Nifty Fifty” 50mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Amsterdam, September 2017

In September 2017, we spent a few days in Amsterdam. This was the last time I used my Fuji X–Pro 2. That trip finished to convince me that, in spite of all its many qualities, the Fuji gear was not quite up to speed with my Nikon kit, especially regarding the performance of the sensor, and particularly in terms of color fidelity, dynamic range and general image quality. However good it is, the crop sensor cannot, in my opinion, rival the full–frame one, even though from a user interface standpoint, the X–Pro 2, like its predecessor, was a pleasure to use with its retro looks and amazing hybrid viewfinder. The lenses were excellent, but a good camera is the combination of body and lenses, and the former wasn’t up to speed. I re–sold all my Fuji shortly after that trip.

I just wish Nikon would launch a full-frame, retro-styled, Leica-like (or Nikon S-like!) 21st century rangefinder with a Z-mount maw...! I’d buy one or two right away!

Fujifilm X-Pro 2, Fuji XF 24mm, ƒ/1.4 R lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

A Normandy Manor (2018)

In October 2018, as I was enjoying a couple of months of pre–retirement furlough, I went for a week to Normandy, and more specifically the Pays de Caux (Upper Normandy). The manor of Archelles is a lovely 16th century manor where I stayed for most of my week in Normandy, as it was well located with respect to the places I wanted to visit. Its charming architecture was also a pleasure to photograph in the golden light.

Both photos Nikon D850, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Early morning, somewhere in Sardinia (2018)

Nikon D850, Nikkor 35mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

A Normandy Manor (2018)

A couple more photographs of that lovely 16th century manor of Archelles in Upper Normandy. My bedroom when I stayed there was the left window on the top floor of the central house, and the luxurious bathroom was in the tower! The decorative use of alternate brick and white limestone is typical of the region and period.

Both photos Nikon D850, Nikkor 24mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Sardinia, Summer 2018

The wild and rocky coastline on the western side of Sardinia, near L’Argentiera —a name etymologically reminiscent of the silver mines that existed around here a long time ago.

Nikon D850, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Montmartre in the Spring (2018)

Nikon D850, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus. Handheld.

 

[Blue439]

A Summer in Rome (2012)

The fountain of the Four Rivers on Piazza Navona, “the belly button of the world”. This fountain is by Bernini, who also designed many other masterpieces, including Saint Peter’s Square. Rival architect Borromini designed the Sant’ Agnese in Agone church just behind it, and so Bernini made the statue of the Nile avert its gaze so as to not see it because it was so ugly, and the statue of the Rio de La Plata raise its hand in defense for fear the church might collapse from poor design... Those Renaissance guys knew how to play a good joke on one another...

Nikon D3S, Nikkor 14-24mm, ƒ/2.8 G lens. Gitzo tripod.

 

[Blue439]

Venice in Winter III (2018)

In the dead of Winter, Rosa Salva, my favorite tea room in Venice, is deserted, whereas it is normally packed, plus the people waiting in line outside...

Nikon D850, Voigtländer Nokton 58mm, ƒ/1.4, manual focus, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Tide coming in, southern Brittany, December 2018

Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 35mm, ƒ/1.8 S lens. Long exposure, Gitzo tripod, ND1000 filter.

 

[Blue439]

S’Archittu (2018)

“The Arch” in Sardinian, on the western coast of the island. Why was the limestone more eroded just here than right next to it? No one has a clue...

Nikon D850, Micro-Nikkor 60mm, ƒ/2.8 D macro lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Flowers in May (2018)

The “Central Park of Lyon” (or Presidio, for those of you guys nearer the West Coast) features a very nice botanical garden which is a very good place to practice a bit of flower photography.

Nikon D850, Micro-Nikkor 60mm, ƒ/2.8 D macro lens, handheld. Natural light, single exposure.

 

[Blue439]

The Louvre in the Spring (2018)

In 1700, the French Crown jewels were the largest collection of jewellery and gold-crafting masterpieces in the world. Less than a century after that, most of it were stolen and dispersed, mostly via England and The Netherlands, during the French Revolution, The precious few that were recovered or escaped the disaster are no displayed in the Louvre Museum, such as this tiara and this crown.

Nikon D850, Nikkor 85mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

[Sorry for not posting anything over the past few days. I'm experiencing a difficult personal time. Thank you]

A patriotic test (2017)

December 2017: I had just bought my new Nikon D850 and took it out for a test run around my little town.

Nikon D850, Carl Zeiss Apo-Sonnar T* 135mm, ƒ/2 ZF.2 lens, handheld.

 

[Blue439]

Sardinia, Summer 2018

Chiesa campestre of Nostra Signora di Cabbu Abbas.

Nikon D850, Nikkor 35mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

 

[Needa]

Sardinia, Summer 2018

Chiesa campestre of Nostra Signora di Cabbu Abbas.

Nikon D850, Nikkor 35mm, ƒ/1.4 G lens, handheld.

View attachment 417895

Glad to have you back.

 

[Blue439]

Glad to have you back.

Thank you, Needa. I'm sort of back, for now.

 

[Blue439]

Happy Easter to you all, in spite of the Pope’s passing on this fateful day.