Howards pictures are "ravis-hing"! [I couldn't resist!] <BR> <BR>Please go to http://geocities.com/dhfsbf/fodorite/fodor.htm and click on pictures. You won't regret it!

Indeed very beautiful pics. Lake Como deserves it!

Topping for those of you who have given up the pretence of anymore work on Fridat. <BR> <BR>These pictures ARE special -- they will either make you sigh and dream or MORE mad that your vacation is over -- it's all in the attitude

These are beautifully designed and composed photos of wonderful views--some of the best photos I've seen in a long time. But, Sally, I couldn't access the Ravello pic--got some error message re how it couldn't be found on Geocities. (Considering how good Howard's photos are, I don't want to miss any.)

Great photos! I've GOT to get to the Italian lakes on a future trip. <BR> <BR>And, not that I'd really want to see it but...no photo of Howard's End? :~)

It's time somebody took Capo and Forster to go back to the bad pun thread where she belongs. (Apologies, if you're a he, Capo )

Now, now Capo <BR> <BR>cmt -- I'll check the site and fix it if it needs fixing. Sometime geocities gets just plain cranky. [Like this forum on a Friday afternoon maybe??]

Well my bad. Ravello WAS missing -- and a glorious picture it is too! It is safely where it belongs now

Photos are fabulous, It would be interesting to know what cameras people are using. I would think something more than a point and shoot. There may have been camera posts before but these could match the photographs, maybe its a special film. We got advantix Ultra in Uk and pictures were superior to others taken with regular advantix,both were 400 speed. Thanks Joyce

I'm sincerely pleased by and flattered by and appreciative of your gracious comments about my photos. I hope that the fact that I use a $250-$300 point-and-shoot Canon with a 120 zoom lens will encourage some of you! The film is Kodak 200. (However, I soon plan to change to 400, based on comments made on the forum.) My secret? More than anything else, I think, is my "habit" of taking that extra 15-20 seconds to really notice how I have framed the picture before snapping away.

Well they ARE fabulous Howard -- I'm still using 200 ASA -- I gather the 400 has gotten less grainy, but I know what to expect with 200 and I'm good at holding my breath when I need to!

Howard, I think your compositions are wonderful -- the way you distribute land and water to make a beautiful design, and the way you place things so you get interesting shapes like diagonals or triangles instead of straight boxy shapes, and the way you avoid boring symmetry which can look static. The best, fanciest, most manual camera couldn't make better pics if the compositions were just plain boring. I hate 400 film; I think 200 is much better unless you're in fairly dim light. <BR> <BR>P.S. I'm NOT a photo expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I used to draw constantly until about 20 years ago. There are drawings that have movement and that stimulate the viewer, and there are dull stiff static drawings that are a bore. Your photos are the equivalent of the former. <BR> <BR>This is so wordy I'm embarassed to sign my real initials, but I will anyway.

Nice work Howard. Makes me really wish my October Italy trip would hurry up and get here. Also goes to show you don't need fancy equipment to take good photos. Good point about taking time to compose. I wouldn't go completely to 400 speed. As long as you are taking shots in the sun, 100 should be fine with about any camera.

cmt and Dan, you are both very kind!cmt, you have so accurately expressed what I try to do very often when taking pictures. Sure, I have the streotypical symmetrical shots...but then one is faced with trying to take a picture of the Duomo in Florence. There's no way to capture the entire building. (Trust me, I tried!) So instead, I have about a dozen shots of the edifice in pieces. <BR>Dan, you will not be disappointed photographically on your trip to Italy. Especially in Venice, where you'll marvel at the wonderful sun--my wife calls it a "Monet sun." <BR>Thanks for the tips about 400 film. I certainly will try it out before my next trip to Italy in 10 weeks, when I hope to add the Tuscan countryside to my Italy photo collection!

Howard, those are, sincerely, a sample of some of the best pictures I've seen of sights in Italy. Thank you for sharing. Time to go back, isn't it?

Maira, to Howard's and now our own great benefit, Howard is indeed going back to Italy...in just ten weeks. I can hardly wait to see his new photographic masterpieces!

The Fodorites Africa Pictures site is now up and running! It took me some time to get started but with Sally's much appreciated help I finally managed. For the time being only my own African pictures, but I invite all Fodorites to contact me if you want me to make a picture site of YOUR African pictures. Please visit at: http://geocities/com/vt_addict <BR> <BR>

Aww shucks myriam -- you did the hard work

howard, <BR> nice pictures. may i know what model of canon did you use for the pictures. <BR>May i know also the time of the day you <BR>took those pictures (ex. Duomo, Venice canals). <BR> thanks, <BR>ofelia

Ofelia, the model of my Canon camera is Sure Shot Classic 120. Coincidentally, I happened to see the June LL Bean catalog today, and I believe I sas the camera for sale there at a price of $229! You don't need an expensive camera to take good pictures! <BR>As for the time of day when I took the pictures, the one of the Duomo was midday, while the Arno River was mid to late afternoon. The Grand Canal, I'm guessing because of the light, was taken mid to late afternoon. The other Venice ones, I'm not sure, but somewhere between 10 and 3, I would guess. The ones in Varenna were early afternoon. The one of Lake Como from my room was taken either around 8 a.m. or mid to late afternoon. The shot in Ravello was during a rainy morning. And the shot of the Colosseum was mid-afternoon. <BR>Myriam, now I'll check out your Africa pictures.