I am an avid photography enthusiast and I always take a lot of photos when in Europe. Of course, some of the scenes that are most dramatic to the eye don't always look that good in a photo. I am now planning a trip for the summer of 2003 and would like recommendations on where to go for the very best and most exciting shots.

Any back canal in Venice<BR>Amalfi<BR>Any vineyard in Italy or France<BR>The flower market in Amsterdam

honesty, no joke I love contrast.. so Amsterdam would be nice if I were a photogropher.. I'd take pictures of junkies and depraved punters. and then contrast it with Amsterdams obvious beauty...

Cardinals on cellphones on via della Conciliazione in Rome or Roman cats sleeping on the ruins; anything in Tuscany or Umbria; setting sun over the Seine on the Pont Alexandre III in Paris.

Wayne, I don't know what level of photography you aspire to, or what sort of camera and gear you use, so please forgive me if I am telling you some things you already know. <BR><BR>You wrote, &quot;some of the scenes that are most dramatic to the eye don't always look that good in a photo.&quot; Try using a different lens or filter or even film stock to better recreate on film what your eye sees. Invest some time in a photo class or workshop to improve your skills, and you may find that it is no longer a matter of where you go to find the best scenes, but rather how you shoot what is already in front of you.<BR><BR>For example, the first time I ever used Fuji Velvia was on a trip to Japan. When I looked at my slides, I was amazed and delighted to see that the saturated colors actually looked just the way I remembered them in my mind's eye.

Thanks, Marilyn, and thanks to all. I will take your advice to heart. What I had meant by saying the photos don't always do justice to the scenery was really a case of either not being able to get into the right location for the best shot, or not having the right time of day for outdoor scenes. That doesn't reduce my enthusiasm for doing my version of amateur photography, and fortunately a few of my shots have been absolutely spectacular. I have enlarged a number of them, framed them, and placed them on the walls at home. After years of doing this, I am now surrounded every day by some piece of Europs as I walk through the house. It's almost like being able to take another trip without the expense.

Wayne, that is so lovely that you have your prints framed in your house. I would say that our photographs are our most precious souvenirs from our travels.<BR><BR>My photographer husband has been known to endanger his life to get the right angle for a shot (I'm not kidding. He once made me let him out of the car on an overpass with no shoulder on the autostrada in Tuscany, then drive to the next exit, come back, and pick him up after he got the shot.), but sometimes it IS impossible. <BR><BR>He has also dragged me back to certain places for that late afternoon sweet light. (Have you tried a warming filter? It will give you that effect.)But when it comes to the beauty of first light, I'm sleeping in and meet him for breakfast!

Wayne, You sound like me--my den and several other locations in the house have collages of various trips. I am creating one on my Venice shots now. <BR>I am still taking primarily slides and I agree that Fuji Velvia is the best. However, that means picking out the best and having prints made for framing.<BR>The step has been enhanced recently by discovering Dale Labs in Hollywood FL who I now use to develop my slides and to do the enlargements--great stuff !

I take a lot of photographs as well on every trip. I am very disappointed AGFA does not make AGFA 50ASA film anymore as to my mind AGFA colors are the best. B&amp;H Photo in NYC advised me to try Konica ASA50 which is comparable (their opinion) and also to try Fuji Velvia or Reala. AGFA ASA100 is probably fine too; I just like the extra sharpness you get with 50ASA for outside daylight shots.

Try Velvia if you haven't yet. Also Provia by Fuji. Some people think it's a little too &quot;green&quot;, but I mostly like it. Used to love Lumiere (100 ASA) but it's not around any more either.

Wayne, I know what you're saying about a great scene not always translating into a great picture. It's especially difficult with &quot;big&quot; scenes. In addition to any technical tips, (and let me add that a monopod or tripod is just about indispensible if you can deal with dragging it around), I've found a wide angle lens to be just about indispensible in certain situations. You don't want a fish eye that distorts things, but just something to pull it into a little tighter composition and give you that extra depth of field that turns an otherwise adequate shot into a really great one. Also don't forget to flash-fill some of those outdoor shots to brighten them up and take out the shadows. (You might know all this stuff already!)

Back courtyard of the Pisa museum. Lovely view of the garden with the Leaning Tower in the background.

The best photos I took this summer in Scandinavia (aside from the midnight sun photos) were the ones I took walking inside driveway tunnels where there are long rows of buildings to the inner courtyards. They are usually some dramatic color inside, like burnt orange or mustard yellow, and had lines of bikes against the walls. Made a really neat collage of three photos of the same type of subject (you know, like three photos of bikes leaning against a wall, or doors, or ancient windows).

Shannon, that's a charming idea to put 3 similar subject together. I have seen some simple wood frames with 3 openings that would also be an interesting way to hang them.