I’ve been to Venice only once, at Christmas 1998 (which explains the poor quality of this photo: a scan of a bad print — there are limits to what Photoshop can do!). This was when I was living in London, and I always went somewhere over the enforced break. It was chilly, and frosty, but marvellously free of tourists. I wandered many back streets and side canals, awestruck by this beautiful, endangered, city.
Venice

Random Fridays: Venetian mask

There’s something eerie about those empty eyes …
Masks such as this are common souvenirs from Venice. I bought this one in 1991 and it has travelled with me on my various moves between hemispheres ever since. I wish I could read music, because I’d like to know if the notations along the top are real music or just decoration.
Reflections 1
We all have eyes; we all see. Yet what we see is filtered by our minds, our experiences, our expectations. Sometimes, a reflected vision offers a new way of seeing. A world is on offer; go see it.

Venice, Italy: Possibly my favourite ‘Reflections’ photo. I love the arched stairs and balustrade of the bridge behind me reflected in the window, the enigmatic stare of the largest mask, and the way the ones along the bottom seem to be gossiping among themselves.