If you contemplate the miracle we call sight, what we actually see is light reflecting off "stuff" that is received by the sensory organs of the eyes and processed by the brain for the mind to make sense of. So, in a way, our mind is a house of mirrors from which we create meaning, our "lives" and... Continue Reading →
It's been wet. It's been really wet, mild, windy, occasionally cold, but mostly just wet. We are not supposed to have a monsoon season in the UK, but this January was very like one - albeit cooler. All that dampness condenses on glass and makes for interesting opportunities for image making. A new glass bus stop has... Continue Reading →
I've not posted on here for a while: Life has been hectic and in some ways my personal world has been turned onto its head recently. This has all conspired to keep blogging and other creative endeavors to a minimum for a while. Thankfully friendship, my mindfulness practice and photography itself are helping see me... Continue Reading →
As a person disabled by MND, I freely admit there are days when I'm just too tired, ill, stiff, painful (or all of the above) to get out of the house. So in glass half empty terms, my photographic opportunities on those "home-alone" days are limited. When it's hell just trying to get up the stairs, officially... Continue Reading →
This is the second of my posts about the time I was invited to photograph members of the Romanian National Circus in 1992, as they relaxed in-between performances. Part one can be found here. . One of the photos I took during the time I spent in the circus encampment still ranks, for me, amongst... Continue Reading →
Mindful Photos mindfulness reminder - My most recent posts have involved photographs taken a long way from home in locations that are guaranteed to stimulate the senses. For balance, I thought I'd show some examples of how, with mindfulness and a camera, it's possible to see the most ordinary moments of life as though they are... Continue Reading →
As promised, here are some prints from my Romania Contact sheets - We had stopped in Brașov, Romania, during our trip by train through eastern Europe in 1992. Not far from the flat where we stayed with a local family who'd befriended us at the station, were what I took to be a group of traditional Romany gypsies. It was... Continue Reading →
Wow! Yesterday Mindful Photos achieved the highest viewing figures it's had since I started the blog two years ago - Three Hundred and Eight views by Six P.M. and Twenty "likes"! Thanks for all the interest 🙂 I've started to add gallery pages at the top of the website. Do have a look. There are pictures that haven't made it into... Continue Reading →
It was my interest in "street photography" that caused me to pick up a stills camera again five years ago after a twenty year hiatus from taking photographs (in the 80's and 90's it was how I made a living - but that's another story). Even in a place as picturesque as Venice I can't pass... Continue Reading →
My last post showed just how crowded Venice can get. Amazingly, it seems that most visitors don't move very far from St Mark's Square, so it's actually easy to reclaim some personal space by taking a short walk or water bus ride away from the area. Venice is famous for beautifully crafted glassware. The most famous (and... Continue Reading →
Photographs taken with an Olympus OMD EM1 and 12-40mm f2.8 or Olympus OMD EM5 with Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 - In my opinion the perfect mirrorless travel photography kit. All photographs © all rights reserved, Miles Pilling
All photographs © all rights reserved, Miles Pilling
All photographs © all rights reserved Miles Pilling In Venice you cannot avoid gondolas. They are one of those "got to do" things for a lot of visitors. Personally, we made the decision to spend our hard earned money on nice Italian food and water bus fares to parts of the lagoon further away from Basilica di... Continue Reading →
Each of these pictures were taken near Venice's Lido water bus stop on the way to the beach. It was a wonderful surprise to find that Venice can be a sunbathing and sea swimming holiday. The beach was beautiful. As we relaxed, ordinary Venetians carried on their working lives. I like the similarities and the differences of these two pictures of... Continue Reading →
A dog level view of artist Heinz Mack's Sky Over Nine Columns. (Click on the image to see it in full resolution) . While my family walked around exploring this part of Venice, I was quite happy to rest on some steps with my Olympus OMD EM1 watching life pass by. I hope you like this photographic... Continue Reading →
A friend recently told me, with a bit of sadness, that she found the streets of Venice were not garlanded with colourful washing anymore. I may have been lucky, but just a few water bus stops away from the main tourist spots we found areas where the washing lines were works of art. . I spent a very enjoyable hour in... Continue Reading →
I like the way most Italians have an innate sense of style - whatever their age. Here are two photographs of older Venetians who have definitely retained their style mojo - notice the umbrella hooked over his left arm, star-studded belt and the lovely watch. . I took the next picture at the corner of a café that sold the... Continue Reading →
Following yesterday's picture that I captured through the doorway of a Venetian café, here are a couple of candids that I took from inside. A different café, but same camera and lens set up. Olympus OMD EM5 with the Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 OIS lens - I just don't see the point of lugging around a heavy DSLR... Continue Reading →
(Click on the image to see it bigger) Even at the height of the tourist season, when we were in Venice, it was still possible to spot native Venetians amongst the thousands of non-Italians. There are also bars and cafés away from Piazza St Marco where you can pick up a more authentic Venetian vibe.... Continue Reading →
The occasional rainy weather during our Venice trip made for great umbrella pictures! This lady had remarkably found a comfortable spot to dream and contemplate life right next to the San Zaccaria water bus stop. She'd done well, because San Zaccaria is always thronging with tourists on their way to Saint Mark's Square or waiting for a gondola... Continue Reading →
mindful photos 