Italy Through a Lens 📷

Milan & Beyond:

I recently returned from a week in Italy. Based primarily in Milan, I ventured down to the Mediterranean coast of Liguria for several days before making my way back up to the Swiss-Italian border. This was only my second time visiting the country, and I found myself in many different settings, from sprawling cityscapes to rugged, mountainous regions. I hope to share some of the pictures I took along the way.

Milanese Street. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8, 1/500sec, ISO 160

The heart of Milan was striking, and it made for some excellent opportunities for street photography.

Umbrella Girl. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8, 1/500sec, ISO 160

Through a Window. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8, 1/800sec, ISO 200

Divide. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/2.8, 1/500sec, ISO 160

Italian architecture is truly stunning, and the famous "Duomo Di Milano" is a perfect example of this.

The Duomo. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/8, 1/400sec, ISO 250

The Duomo. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/9, 1/400sec, ISO 200

Stood across from the Duomo is "The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II". Its ornate interior is home to various luxury restaurants and shopping outlets. It is in fact one of the worlds oldest shopping malls, having been built between 1865 and 1877.

The Galleria Interior. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/8, 1/100sec, ISO 400

Banca D'Italia. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/8, 1/25sec, ISO 160

I enjoyed the time I spent in Milan and the surrounding Comunes. Italian cities and townships always seem to carry with them a strong sense of identity. Milan was singular in that its historical backdrop appeared finely balanced against its contemporary trappings. Modern, high fashion fits in nicely with Gothic architecture it seems.

The Coast:

The Liguria region of Italy borders the Mediterranean Sea. It's comprised of beautiful coastal towns with popular beaches.

Italian Riviera. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm @ f/7.1, 1/400sec, ISO 400

I stopped off in a small town called Cervo before moving on down the coast. The pictures below show the church on the hill and its interior.

Chiesa San Giovanni Battista (Cervo). Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 200

Chiesa San Giovanni Battista Interior. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/3.2, 1/30sec, ISO 1250

The shots below were taken off the coast of Varigotti. The water was beautiful and the sea was calm enough to venture out in a pedalo.

Kayaking in Varigotti. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/9, 1/640sec, ISO 125

Coastal Escarpment. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/7.1, 1/200sec, ISO 125

The Pre-Alps & Lake Como

Having visited the Italian Riviera, I didn't believe that I would find a more picturesque setting during my travels. That was before I ventured to lake Como on the Swiss-Italian border however.

Como Pier. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/9, 1/125sec, ISO 400

Como Pier Panorama. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/9, 1/125sec, ISO 400

As I was waiting on the shore of the lake a storm rolled in from the mountains. The thunder echoed across the landscape and it seemed for a moment that the mountains had awoken from a deep sleep. You'll notice the lightning striking in the distance in the shot below.

Lightning on The Lake. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/6.3, 1/250sec, ISO 800

Yachts & Ferry Crossing. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/8, 1/80sec, ISO 500

I caught a ferry across the lake towards the town of Bellagio. The buildings were quaint, like something out of a Wes Anderson movie.

From the Ferry. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/5, 1/100sec, ISO 800

Past Bellagio. Nikon D750, Sigma 24mm A @ f/7.1, 1/50sec, ISO 640

The time I spent in Italy was a truly unforgettable experience. Even the plane journey back offered up spectacular views of the Swiss Alps:

The Alps. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 250

The Alps. Nikon D750, Nikkor 50mm @ f/9, 1/1000sec, ISO 250

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I'm sorry it's not as instructive as usual, though I hope you enjoyed it all the same. Anyway thanks again, I hope you'll follow me for similar content in the future. Cheers for now.

All images present in this article are © Alexander White